The Van Buren press., 1866-06-09

Richmond and Aqua Creek railroad
fOrresisting any attempt the landing OF
an army mt that point for the invasion Of
the State. in which the Regiment partici
pated ir some slight artillery practice
with the gun-boats on the Potomac, the
lst Arkansas was not called into active
service until the 2ist of July, at the bat
tie of the first Manassas p
Beyond the moral influence of its pres
ence OH that field, and being exposed for
a time to the play of some formidable
batteries of ri1ed field pieces, fro:n which |
itssuffc:::sA no casualties, it had but little
share in the achievements of that well
known conflict In September following,
Lieut.. Col, then Major, Thompson was
ordered, with detachment to man the
batteries near Evansport, higher on
the Potomac, by means of which the riy-
er was held in efTectual blockade, until
January 1862, to the sore annoyance of
the Federal authorities at Washington,
the railroad, in consequence, being their
only means of transportation Of supplies
of material required at the capital, in the
armories and navy yards, and for the ar
my there.
At the expiration of the twelve months
term of service for which the 1st Arkan-
sas had been mustered in, Major Thomp-
son was elected Lieur. Colonel, instead
of Lieut. Col. Monroe, who was not a
candidate, and through his influence, the
men were the first in any regiment in the
service to re enlist for the war. In March
1862. the Regiment was ordered by Pres
ident Davis to report to Gen. Albert Sid
ney Johnson, then at Corinth, collecting
the great army, with which he fought the
battle of Shiloh, near Pittsburgh Land
ing, on the Tennessee River, in April fol
lowing, in which he lost his life, as did
also Lieut.. Col. Thompson. The Regi-
ment was placed, on its arrival at Corinth,
with Gibson's Louisiana Brigade, in Rug
giles division, Braggs Army Corps, and
for some time before the battle had been
on picket half way between the two ar
mics, at Monterey, a little place ten miles
from Pittsburg Landing. sas
On the 4th of April, the main body Of
Gen. Johnson's army came up to the out
post at Monterey, on it's march against
the Federal force, then strengthening
themselves at Pittsburg Landing, prepar-
tory to making an advance against John
son. On the fifth, the regiment marched
forward with the main army, in the direc-
ton of the enemy's camp. On Sundays:
the 9th Of April, Notwithstanding the
slow approach Of the Confederate army,
upon advancing skrmishers upon the
camp of the enemy, and following them
Immediately with the entire army, pre-
pared for a decisive engagement, the en-.
emy seem to have been taken by surprise,
and made, at first, but feeble stand,
abandoning their baggage and camp
equipments into the hands of the Confed-
crates, after brief struggle, in which,
however, many lives were sacrificed on
both sides. Steadily advancing, the Con-
fedcrates eventually met with much
stronger resistance, and in parts of the
line found thY enemy SO strongly posted
and opening upon them such destruc-
tive fire from their matchless artillery
and superior small arps, as to be unable
to advance without renewed exertions.
Gibson's Brigade found itself in this sit
uation at one time, and the 1st Arkansas
regiment was marched third time in as
sault of position occupied by the enc-
my in the excavation Of the road which
ran parallel to the Confederate advance,
and was manned with the best artillery.
AT the third charge the regiment carried
the position, Thompson falling under the
fire that rcpulsed the second change,
wounded IN seven places, in several pla-
ces mortally, from the effects of which he
died the same evening, in the presence of
his friends, with smile on his features,
expressing his qualification at being per-
mtted to give his life for the cause which
he asserted to be the cause Of liberty and
his bleeding country. He exhorted his
| Colonel and the friends around them, to
lose no time in availing themselves of the
promises Of the gospel, and they could
then realize when called on, he said, hol-
ding up his arms, both of which were
broken by Minnie balls, how sweet it was
to die, even in his situation, the death Of
the righteous, satisfied Of the justice Of
his cause, and the mercy and goodness Of
his Almighty Father. His sword and
pistols had been taken from him when
the regiment fell back, but his watch was
left which he bequeathed to his wife, a
vO,Inp pracafn1 and charming ladv whom