The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-04-29
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
THE CAMDEN TRIP.
Six Weeks Of Marching and Fisfting-Jenkins's
Ferry.


Six Weeks OF Marching and Fishting-Jenkins's
Ferry.
To THE EDITOR: Several months ago an nc
count of Banks's Red River campaign appeared
In your valuable paper. With your kind per-
mission will briefly naIrate some OF the accl-
dents and incidents of an expedition made
from Little Rock, Ark, to divert the attention
of the rebels from Banks, to aid him, and to
finally join him at Shreveport. The writer
was IA Orderly upon the staff of Brighten.
Samuel A. Rice, of the First Brigade of the
troops taking part in the trip, and will more
closely follow the movements of that brigade,
which Will in general way describe all the
part taken by the other troops.
On the 23d Of March, 1864, three brigades OF
infantry, one division Of cavalry, and five bat
teries or parts of batteries of artillery-about
10000 men-left Little Rock to aid Gen. Banks,
rs above set forth. The expedition was under
the command of Gen. Fred. Steele, Gen. Solo,
mon commanding the infantry and Gen. E. A.
Carr the cavalry. Nothing of sny Importance
took place until the Cd Of April, and after we
had passed Arkadeiphia. About noon on that
day, while Gen. Rice, whose brigade-com-
posed of the 29th and SD Iowa, 9th Wis,
Both Ind, ard Sd Iowa battery-had the
rear-guard ana staff were eating their lunch,
near Terre Noir Creek, q cannon shot in
the rear announced that the actual work OF the
trip had begun. Mounting his horse and call
ing the writer, the General quickly made his
way to the scene of action, where we found the
goth Iowa slowly falling back before superior
force of the enemy, under Joe Shelby, to pro-
tect the wagon train, but contesting every inch
OF the way. Gen. Rice at once saw that the
enemy would have to lie checked in his saucy
career, and on looking hack over the road he
had just come saw s. good place to make stand.
This at the top OF gentle rise in the edge OF
the timber, with a cleared field in front of him.
line nf hcffl 10 xrac hara form he ct
side OF the road, with section OF the sd Iowa
battery in the road. Orderly Webb had been
dispatched to bring back tho 10th Ind, and
Col Webs CT that regiment, lost no time in
answering the order, arriving just in time to
render efficient service in repelling desperate
charge of tie rebels, who came bravely up TO
the very bayonets Of the two regiments.
minute or two before the charge was made the
horse of the writer was shot through the neck
with q canister.
During the afternoon the enemy kept close
to our heels, charging our rear-guard at every
favorable point; but our boys were on the
lookout for them and gave them more cold
lead than they bargained for. Our loss during
the afternoon WIS somewhere near so in killed,
wounded and missing. The next day We rested
On the banks of the Little Missouri River. On
the 4th we crossed the river in the face OF the
enemy, who had swung around to our front.
Some severe fighting was done here by Col.
Engleman's Brigade and Gen. Rice, who had
gone TO the front as 6 loOker-on, came within a
hairs breadth OF being killed. bullet cutting
the skin on the back part of his head. The
enemy had thrown up temporary breastworks
on the other side, but were driven from them
st the point of the bayonct. Finding good
camping place few miles ahead, the command
halted, where on the 9th We were Joined by
brigade of infantry from Fort Smith, under
Gen. Thsyer. On the 10th another forward
movement was made, which was stubbornly
contested by the enemy on the 10TH 11th and
18th, (in which the horse of Adi't John +. Lacy,
OF Gen. Rice's staff had his knee shattered by
piece of shell,) resulting, however, in the reb-
els Tetreatlng and giving US, as we supposed,
clear read 20 Camden, on the Washita River.
On the evening of tie 18th colored regiment
of Gen. Thayer's, being the rear-guard, hand
solely repGlSed a charge made upon it by
regiment of rebel cavalry, which raised them
very highly in the estimation of their white
comrades, TO whom colored troops were new.
On the 18th Gen. Rice's Brigade again took
the advance, and after travelling a few miles
were ordered to pile their knapsacks by the
side Of the road and start on a forced march TO
Camden, Gen. Steele having bsen informed
that the rebs were trying to get In ahead OF US.
The brigade started ahead, making good time;
but after going four or five miles the quick
p2tter of muskctry told US that we would have
TO fight our way. Skirmishing was kept up
for several miles, when all of sudden the
cavalry VINO ndQ DeSn III the 1rOnp were DrOuSDU
20 stancstlll, and the infantry took the adj
vance; another mile or go and the enemy
showed up in force. Two little mountain how
itzers were placed In the road and began to
send their shells into the woods in front, when
All OF q sudden the enemy let loose eight pieces
Of artillery, which they had in battery short
distance ahead, and the woods were alive with
flying and bursting shells. One of the howitz-
srs was knocked into a " cooked hat by rebel
ehell, and gunner in trying to remove the
other had leg torn off by another. Gen. Rice
Immediately ordered up Capt Vaughn's bat
terry of six R-pounders I'D ILL.,, placed
them in battery, and for over an hour an
artillery duel of considerable magnitude
ensued, the rebels finally retreating On q side
road. Our loss in this fight poisoned Springs)
was three killed and five or six wounded. We
met no further opposition, and about shutdown
entered Camden, which we found pretty well
fortified, and had the rebels made stand there
1t would have cost us many lives and much
trouble to have driven them out. We staid in
Camden until the Goth. On the 18th forage
train. guarded By the 18th Iowa and a colored
regiment, was attacked some miles from Cam.
den, and after desperate engagement the reb-
els captured the entire train, four pieces Of
artillery, and killed, wounded and captured
nearly the entire escort. On the Goth supply
train Joined us from Little Rock, bringing some
needed Tations. About this time Gen. Steele
received information that Gen. Banks had been
whipped and was in full retreat. He also re-
ceived the unwelcome news that the enemy was
preparing TO crush the force at Camden. On
the I'D all the empty wagons were started for
Little Rock, escorted by brigade, composed Of
the 3Gth Iowa, 43d Ind, nth Ohio four pieces
Of artillery, and o company of cavalry, COM
manded by Col. f. IL. Drake Of the 36th. On
the 25th this escort was attacked by largely
superior number Of rebels in what was known
Is the Marc Bottom, near Marks Mill, and
sfter stubborn fight, in which Col. Drake was
severely wounded, the entire train Of 240 wag-
ons, four pieces of artillery and the larger part
of the escort who had not been already killed
or wounded, were captured Capt. Townsend,
Of Gen. Rice's stef. who WAS accompanying his
old father back TO little Rock, was also killed
IN this fight, and Orderly Judson captured.
The news of the defeat Of Col brakes Brigade
and the capture Of the train and escort cast a
gloom over the entire command for up to the
time of reaching Camden we had beaten the
enemy wherever he dared to make stand. 1t
now became evident to Gen. Steele that the
quicker be got back to Little Rock with his
command the better 1t would be for all, and
orders for the evacuation OF Camden were issued
st once, everything being done quietly. After
dark on the 10Th the artillery with muffied
Al. w