The Van Buren press., 1866-06-02

brave men of his regiment, by this time
used to such consequences, with the same
desperate energy with which they began
the charge, pushed on, and after short
but murderous struggle over the breast
works, stood upon them the victors of
the field; the enemy disappearing in the
shades of tins atjacent groves, ami night
with its darkness and silence settling up
on the scene, red with the blood Of con-
tending combatants, in which wounded
and dead lay in indiscriminate hosts. The
Arkansians had not only withstood the
fire from the enemy in front, but had suf-
tered .:crribly from destructive fire
directed against them by their friends in
the rear, who mistook them as they ad.
vanced ahead in the dusky uncertainty Of
the hour, for the lines of the enemy.
| There being no water, the main army
after almost unparalleled march, and two
battles, had to he marched eight miles
back to the little creek before mentioned
where they did not arrive until nearly
midnight, having left but a brigade to
hold the field at Pleasant Hill. Too ex-
hausted to prepare a meal, albeit they
had not eaten one for twenty. four hours,
they fell upon the ground and slept That
night and the next morning, the surgeons
and infirmary corps were engaged in re-
moving and attending the wounded. The
enemy continued his disastrous retreat
down Red River, and Taylor urged pur-
suit with the whole army. Smith, how
ever, divided his force, and sent Walker
and Churchill Immediately by forced mar
ches, to oppose the further march of
Steele through South Arkansas. How
the handful retained for the defence of
Louisiana embarrassed the retreat of the
Federal forces, is shown by the great
numbers of them captured, and the mar
row escape of their cooperating feet of
gunboats on the river.
Col. Yell was removed to Mansfield,
where, lingering but few days he died.
In his death Arkansas lost one of its
brightest ornaments. He was of medi-
um height, gracefully formed, with dark
red hair, shadowing massive brow and
handsome face, which marked, though
not marred by freckles, denoted intelli-
gence and refinement, and was lighted by
a sparkling but most kindly blue eye and
genial smile. He was about thirty years
and leaves a youthful widow, the daugh-
ter Of the late Stephen Caster. At one
time, before the troubles in which he lost
his life, he was the Representative of JEFF,
ferson County in the General Assembly
of this State, and young as he then was,
wanted but few votes of being elected
Speaker Of that body. But for the des-
olating war which has swept so many il
lustrious men from existence and plunp-
ed their survivors in almost hopeless mis-
cry and ruin, Col. Yell would have un-
doubtedly welded great and salutary
influence in the society and affairs of Ar
kansas. lie had been as distinguished
from his youth for his unimpeachable
private morals and the dignity of his
tone, as he became for his professional
and public standing; and all, of every
class who knew him, will lament his un-
timely fall as long as the recollection of
the living shall preserve the memory OF
the illustrous dead.
His military services, though not of
character to attract the general attention,
on account OF the inadeqnacy fthe rank
to which his superiors had seen proper,
to confirm him, were always rendered
with promptness and faultless efficiency
characteristic Of every thing he did. Had
ne occupied higher and more fitting po-
sition from the beginning, he would have
written his name high on the scroll of
fame His conduct was always such as
to disarm malice, and even envy. He died
mourned by the brave men who had fol-
lowed him in battle, or on the wasting
march, and regretted by the State. 1t is
to be hoped his survivors may vet pay
the poor reward of a monumental trib-
ute to his worth and devotion in what he
deemed her cause. eR
EEr Mr.. Jacob Thompson, President
Buchanan's Secretary ofthe Interior is in
Paris, wl6ther he arrived with his family
from Egypt, few days since. Mr..
Thompson, in conversation with Nor
thern man few days since, stated that
he accepted the situation;" and more,
that were the ban removed from him, and
the stigma which rests upon his name,
upon the charge Of having been engaged
in the assassination conspiracy, he would
60 to Mississippi and do his best to aid
in the reconstruction. He says there is