New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-27

% ,,e Notifications But imagr opr s,rn-iec when
we found them abandoned .Sot a Rebel was TO be
seen They had felrgaS s Washington, expecting,
Gen Steele then took tn camden road and made al
possible speed ior 0alu n marching day and night
distance Of about ~ % m Our division Gen Thaye
NAMED in camp ". about noon the next day when We
were attacked ~ about 5000 Rebels. Quite brisk
fight ensued aid lasted till dark, when the Rebels with
drew from IRE field and We resumed the march. Our
loss was aout 90 killed and wounded, the Rebel loss
about 80. The Rebels then tried TO get into Camden
before rs and attacked our advance twice but were re-
pulsed both times with little loss side. We TOOK
the place on the 10th Of April without fight. Some
cornmissary stores principally sugar. captured
The roads very bad, especially across the creek
bottoms and many Of the mules gave out and we're let
The tents were ali burned, excepting officers tents and
many Of the wagons also were burned. IL was nara
trip on the poor mules. They were driven III they
could 90 more and then left onthe roadside all GOV
cred with mud, and some in mud holes, struggling Tor
| life.
| We went into camp in and around the town, ana
some of our artillery was planted inside the ioftnc"'
TONS Gen. Price after took possession Oh the
town. oamped within miles of II, and near the odu VIC
came in Our pickets were frequently hreG on
and we were constantly alarmed and eXpeeted an ATTACK
every day while we remained there. The day AFTER we
took possession OF the place, forage tram OF leo
oDs and escort of about 600 men and pieces OF NJ
tilery and howizers. was sent back on our Ioau.
had loaded and was returning when il surrounded
bv about 900 Rebels. Col Williams OF the ISL Cooreu
was in command and his regiment supported the art-
cry which was charged three times, ana theh my
took il only when our ammunition was exhausted. ne
Colonel then gave the command, "every man or MN.
self" and there was perfect stampede Ihey avale9
themselves of little gap left open by the enemy ana
came into camp through the woods in small squads
Some of them two or three days coming IN Oniy
about 900 were missing. The Rebels. as usual
showed the negroes no quarter They lost heavily ana
IL was q dearly bought victory 70 them This disaster
occurred on the 18th Of April, and caused gloomy
feeling among us all.
The next day our much admired Col Cloud arrived in
camp having come through with a supply train iron
Little Rock. He made speech TO us IN the evening
which somewhat revived our dropping spirits.
Soon after this heard 81 the capture OF our supply
train near Pine BuT while returning for supplies and
also the whole escort consisting Of brigade Of In
antry and some artillery We also heard that Kirby
Smith with L. eco men was marching upon tamden
We then evacuated the place on the Goth OF April
and commenced hasty retreat for Little Rock. We
were all night in crossing the Washita River on the
pOnOOn bridge. Being short Of wagons, much of our
camp eQupage was destroyed. Kirby Smith followed
us and overlook at Saline River and gave us battle
the 30tn. while our train was cruss ng on the pom
toOn. The battle ragged nearly all day, and the Rebels
were repused with great loss of men and three pieces
Of artillery. Our loss was about COO. Our wounded
were left the battlefield with men In care Of them
1t rained heavy the night previous and also during me
day of the battle The battle fought In swamp u
heavy timber and the mud and water in some places
was kneedecp. The Rebel dead and wounded were
half buried In mud and water.
But the next morninganohor painful scene OF the de-
Struction Of Government property followed. The re-
mainder Of wagons. about $50, with all our camp
eQupagc that Of officers too burned. The plea
that could not get them through account Of ad
roads. The ammunition train alone was saved but n
great portion Of the ammunition was destroyed. We
then came through in three days 90 Little Rock and
were more harassed by the Rebels.
Bitter complaints made against Gen. Steele. IL
was truly very badly managed campaign. We believe
that might have whipped Price either at Praire de
Ann. or at Camden. and then hed Camden and spared
half army escort supply trains II Is also be-
eyed that orag. train might have been saved by
sending rcJnfOrcemonts 20 IT, The lighting was plainly
heard ~ Camden and Gen. Thaycr earnestly requested
permission 10 rc-enfurce IT, but refused. Also nc
Saline River. Gen Steele opposed 20 fighting, but
was oyeTpOWered by cur Brgaders especially Gen.
Rice who wounded in the foot during the action.
Poor discipline exercised over the troops here, and
drunkenness prevails alarming extent AID large
number o. soldiers have been shot In drunken rows and
no measures seem TO be taken 20 prevent II.
Oag drove OF mules Will the men guarding thcm hal
just been captured by the Rebels. SECOND kANsAs.