The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-23
AROUND LITTLE ROCK.
Lively skIrmIshins on the Arkansas PraIrIes.

Lively Skirmishins fIe Arkansas Pralries.
To THE EDITOR: On Aug 10, 1862 while the
army under Gen. Steele was laying ut Claren-
don, Ark, preparing to cross White River and
proceed TO the capture of Little Rock, Co.'S A,
Il, Z and ID, of the 18th III. Cav, were loaded
on a barge, and accompanied by company OF
infantry and a "tln-clad," were towed to
landing on the west side of the river, some IL
or 10 miles down from Clarendon. Rebel pick
cts guarded the landing. but a shell or two
from our convoy scattered them, and the in
fantyy getting on shore deployed as skirmish-
ers anG gave the cayalrymen a chance to land
their horses. BY this time il was dark and
we prepared 10 get little rest. Quietly orders
were passed To us that at 3 o'clock the next
morning we would start. Promptly at Co. \
fell into line and got the post of honor-the
advance. We were then told the object of the
expedition was TO reach Grand Prairie, some
five miles from the landing, then cut across the
prairie to the road leading from Clarendon to
Little Rock, and on that road return TO Claren-
don. As we were the only troops on the west
side Of the river and as the country was full
of the enemy watching for the coming Of Gen.
Steele's command, We began 10 realize that we
would, no doubt, see some fun before we got
back TO Clarendon, If We ever got there. Four
teen men Of Co. A, the writer among them, were
given the advance guard, and Maj. Lippert
personally told us that in case we were fired
upon 10 give our uOEStS the spurs anu push
ahead, and he would follow US with the bal
ance of the cavalry, the infantry to remain at
the landing guarded by the "tin-clad." The
advance guard started out, each man grasping
his trusty navy in his right hand and holding
a tight grip on the rein with the left. On
reaching point about mile from camp
shot from a rebel picket informed us that We
were not going to have things all our own way.
The road was good one and we dashed after
that picket in fast gallOp. Two or three
more shots passed harmlessly over us, and soon
we began 10 see the open prairie ahead OF us.
Just as we got almost 10 the edge of the pral-
rie, a sudden Halt" from the obscurity star
tied every man. The extreme front of our
advance had run almost against the horses
of line Of rebels-lrawn across the road.
Surrender, you Yankee -" came from the
direction of the voice that had cried Halt"
"Go TO -" responded Pat Shay, and the
next instant came the word " Fire !" from the
rebel officer. At this % sheet of flame seemed
TO encircle us, and the kissing sound OF bullets
and 5ucksbot was not the most pleasant in the
world. Fortunately the rebels had shot high,
only one of our command being wounded, while
the hats Of many of the boys were cooler for
Summer wear after that vOlley. Thrown into
momentary confusion by the sudden hating of
our horses and the binding vOlley Of the enc
my, many of whom were not over 20 or 80 feet
from us, we recovered our presence of mind
otht luelu Dulltt5 from our EeFOANtIS III
return. The firing was lively for two or three
minutes, and by that time our pistols were
empty, and our commander, First Serg't Hes
ter, had given the order 10 draw sabers and try
a little cold steel on the fellows in the road,
when the balance Of our command, with Co.
far in the lead, came laundering to our assist
ance. At this the rebels skipped out and left
us masters of the situation by this time dawn
began 10 appear, and We halted for daylight.
One wounded comuade and prisoner taken
were sent back TO camp and We started out on
the prairie. About mile out we saw our
friends of an hour ago drawn up in line OF bat
tic waiting for us. For our four companies TO
get into line and draw sabcrs was the work of an
instant. At last, we thought, we were to have
a chance TO put our saher practice 10 some use,
for here was the first prairie we had seen since
we left Illinois, and the enemy waiting for us.
The order TO advance was given and We started
for those Johnnies with will, but although
they outnumbered US two 10 one they did not
like the flash of our sabers in the early sunlight
and departed for the interior. We followed
them for several miles, found several bloody
beds at a farm house, proving that some of our
shots had taken effect, and then turned our
horses heads for Characteristic rebels keeping
a respectful distance behind US
Having come out on the prairie by the lower
road and returning on the main road we took
in three or four unsuspecting rebel pickets.
who had no idea that any laukS had crossed
the river. We got TO Clarendon about noon,
fed our horses, and then retracod our steps to
our camp of tie night aelOre. On reaching the
edge of the prairie oI> II return we espied two
rebels on horseback VI. ahead OF US, and the
first four men at once ut after them. beau
tiiul run OF at least three miles followed, when
they were overhauled: but on glancing up the
road we saw about 80 rebels bearing down on
the four who had made the capture. Placing
the two prisoners ahead of US, telling them
that If they did not keep ahead Of Us we would
shoot them, We struck out on the back track
with the JOhnuies laundering at our heels, aud
owing TO the blown condition OF our horses
gaining on us at every jump. Our comrades
seeing that We would be oyerhaulei came 10
our assistance, and for several minutes il was
doubtful who would succeed However, luck
favored Us again, and We saw that our own boys
would reach us in good season, aud we slacken-
ed up little and began to unsing cur car
bines, and when we felt safe wheeled our horses
aud began TO open fire. The rebels seeing theirs
was a hopeless case checked up, wheeled, and
without firing a shot vanished over the prairie.
We got back to camp, having had day of con-
siderable danger, several good horse races and
a great deal OF sport, the latter dampened hv
the fact that one Of our Co. A boys had forever
lost the use of his right arm from the woaud
received in the early morning, and Tor which
the capture OF SIX rebels the Won nding of two
Others, and the thanks OF the General COM
manding FOR the services OF the day could not
compensate his comrades. Ii Serg't Chase sees
this, would like to hear iTom him.-H ENRICH
20. A, 18th ILL., Cav, Galcsburg, Ill.