The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-15
yerely. at commencement of the fight. Quite q
| number Of line officers were lost

yerely. at commencement of the fight. Quite q
number of line officers were lost.
THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
TWAS known that the enemys loss exceeded
ours, and numerical strength more than TWO 10
one. AT the close Of the engagement our troops
were in the entire possession of the field, the
enemy having withdrawn. Our forces were
faced about and while retaining our line OF
battle as near as the nature of the ground per-
mitted, marched back to the ferry, and flied
across the pontooD partially spanning the
Saline After our forces had crossed the river
a party of rebels came down the ferry road,
capturing those of our wounded who were
unable TO be moved and left In hospital, in the
rear Of the battlefield, in charge of DR.. Stuck
lager, LIST surgeon. 18th Kansas infantry. After
those of our wounded who were able to stand
the transfer had been started towards Pine
Bluffs, the army continued its march towards
Little Rock, Ark, arriving there the 4th of
May, having made lis miles in four days and
nights, carrying full knapsacks, but empty
haversacks; the roads being in horrid condi-
tien, as it had rained almost continuously for a
week.
] append the General Order issued after
reaching Little Rock, Ark:
HEADQUARTERS. DEPARTMENT oF~ARKANsAs,
LITTLE Rock, ARK, May 8, 1864
General Orders, No %
TO you. the troops of the It'll army corps. who
participated in the recent campaign designed TO
cooperate with General Banks movement against
Shreveport. the major-general commanding ten
ders his earnest and grateful thanks. Although
you were compelled to fall back without seeing
the main object of the expedition accomplished,
you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you
have beaten the enemy wherever lac has met you
in force and extTcated yourselves from the peril
position in which you were placed by the
reverses OF the cooperating column. This let
loose upon You superior force OF the enemy,
under of their best generals, causing loss OF
your trains, total interruption of your commune
cation ano rendering it impossible for you TO OBJ
tain supplies. You have fallen back over rivers
and sMainps while pressed by superior force ol
the enemy And this you have done successfully,
Furnishing the enemy severely at the same time.
The patience with which you have endured hard
ships ard privatious and your heroic conduct on
the battlefield have been brought TO the notice OF
the Government and viii furnish page in the
history Of this Of which you may well be
proud +. STEELE,
General commanding.
Such is the record, imperfectly written
sketched from meager reports published at the
time, partially from memory, aided by my
l4ocket diary, containing few notes as chance
v permitted them being taken. This is no record
Of big battles, but / undertake TO say that, fol
the numbers engaged, the furnishing condition
of the men, the condition of the battlefield III
I being knee-deep in mud and water, no more
+ stubborn fight could have been made, unde
/ ike circumstances, in the Army for the Union
ALEX. MACARTHUR,
Captain, Co. G, 18th Kansas Vol. Inf.
DENVER, Colo.