Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-10-05

army, attacking the attenuated line of
defence, made gallant dash at Battery
G., drove the Infantry supporting it from
the breastworks, aud captured the bat
terry Then the First Indiana Cavalry dis
mounted, and Led on By Bieutent Colonel
Pace, then in command of the regiment,
we're ordered forward to check this ger
loas advance. They did 50 most effect
uallF, = drove the enemy back, eapturs
ed 100 prisoners, and, aided by the SD
Iowa, retook the battery. Had this res
pulse failed, Helena, in ali probability,
would have fallen.
On the 18th Of August, 1868, General
Steeies command startsd from Helena to
eaptars Little Rock. The Fret Indiana
Chen during the sb ssnce of c. lionel Pace,
commanded by Major 0sen) formed
portion Of the advance, throughout the
s5tire route; assisting at the, capture Of
Little Rock, on the 10th of September,
1868. ~
On the 26th Of September, 1863, the
regiment was ordered to Pine Bluff,
about forty miles southeast Of Little
Rock, on the Arkansas River There
ehey were joined by the 5th Kansas,
(easalFy) Colonel Clayton, who con-
nanded the post. aag NFaf-
Il was ct this place, on the 25th Of
October, 1863, that the First Indiana
shared, With the 9th Kansas, in one of
ibe most brilliant little actions Of the
war.
The entire force at the post consisted,
on that day, Of the two cavalry regi.
msnts already mentioned, not then mum
beripg over 600 men, a portion of each
being absent on detached duty.
Early in the morning 8 picket came
in . fall gallop announcing the near ap-
proach Of considerable force. Asthe
place was without Notifications, Colonel
Clayton, 20 give a little time, sent de-
taehmeni Of the First Cavalry and one
gun, 10 check the enemy approach. In
this way about an hours time for pre-,
paration wss given. sAa 81.
The Court Heuse Square Of Pine Bluff
10 bonRled on the north By the river, and
built mp on the east, vest aud south. II
Is approached by FIVE strsetA Here Il
was determined to make stand 10 :
With the command we're some $50 ne
groes, and in the Court House Square q
number OF bales Of cotton. The negroes
were set TO work 10 barricade, with these
bales, the entrances to the Eve streets;
there were but eight small pieces Of eau
non; namely, three Of the small steel
pieces already spoken Of and Ave
brass howitzers These we're placed
behind the cotton bales, 30 as, 10
rake the streets Of approach. The horses
we're corraled close to the courthouse.
Thus prepared, they awaited the at.
tack Of the enemy's force, amou unting. as
was afterwards ascertained, 10 four thous.
and men under General Marmaduke,
9Th eighteen pieces Of cannon, many OF
them lspouBders. As at Helena, they
came on, confident Of sueeess, unpre-
pared. indeed, for any resistance from a
haasfal OF troops, little more than one
seyeaah Of their Owe nambar, and over
matched "a artillery almost as much as
10 men Their assaults. renewed at IN
teEvals, continued fer sir hours. Bar at
each approach the cannon aEspt their
ranks, and well directed ERE OF car,
blues from behind the cotton breaat-
works, added 10 their confusion. Again
and again they gave way. At last, de
apairing OF carrying the square by as
sanlt, Generai Msfmaduke detached q
| portion OF hk co4asaand to set Gre TO The
~est side OF The Sqnafe. They succeed.
ed 10 firing the buildings ia several
| places, making general assault at the
same time TO distract attention IL vas
a critical moment Every thing was ai
stake. Had the whols range Of hoases
fairly taken fire. the wind being from the
vest nothing could have saved The day,
| for the heat within The square would
have been insupporsAble. Bat here again
the negroes supplied aid in time Of need.
MAJOR Oven, who was 10 command Of
the vest side, instantly organized a line
| OF them to carry water frcmethe river, q
supply OF baekess being found in the
court thonse; men were detailed to enter
The houses and clear out all intruders;
many rebel ineendiaFies were killed, and
one officer shot with aioreh ia bis hand.
The fire was quelled aud finally
extinguished By the negroes, of whom.
however, thirteen we're killed and wound
ed on the roofs Of the threatened build
ingG s'Ap ..s-
With the failure Of this last effort the
courage Of the rebels gave way. They
had lost in killed aud wounded, as was
Afterwards aseertaiHed, about Eve hun
/ dred meu-nearly two hundred graves Of
fallen being found ia a church yard on
The Inns Of retreat They abandoned
the attack, and we're afterwards pursued
/ for many miles by our. cagaIry. The
Union loss, beside the negroes shot while
extinguishing the FIRE, was forty men
/ killed and wounded MAErn nduke never
Eentursd > second assault upon Pius
Bluff. ,r-,s ..t.s.. s1afalsl
! At subsequent period, namely, in
April, 1864, the post having been rein,
forced BY a body OF 500 infautry, an ad-
vance occurred not Of serions conse-
quenee, fox the Numbers engaged were
very small; bat il was marked with a
/ daring, and crowned with a success, OF
which examples caI be found only among
cool and tried veterans.
Col Clayton, whose name was terror
to the surrounding eouatry, learning
that Gen. Dockery, with loo men, was
/ stationed st Monticello, on the east side
Of Saline river, resolved 10 ATTACK hiu.,
4 aaa with this view marched, with his en-.
tire command, TO Mount Elba, on The
Salins. river, % miles west of PiSe
Bluffs, and about 40 miles .belor Monr-
leeAo. His plan.Ess to send bis cavalry
500 strong, down the west bank Of the
Saline to Long View, where Doekesy had
pontoon bridge, with orders 10 destrty
! that bridge, and thus cut OF the euemy'I
retreat But learning, OF bis arrival
that Gen Shelby. With force of ,2,5O(
men, was posted about twelve miles
moth of Mount Elha, and therefor.
: fearing to weaken his force BY send
j ing of all his cavalry, be despatched
: Lieut.. Grearhoase. of the IFirst Indians
Cavalry, with one hnndred picked men
selected Ia part from that regiment anC
/ in part from the 5th Kansas, with ORDER