The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-12-05

Rangers fell back TO the ford aud crossed over,
having lost number of men and horses.
There was no water to be had for man or
beast, except from the Bayou, and our men
suffered considerably from rebel sharpshooters
while attempting 10 water their horses or get
water for themselves. Matthew W.Williams was
killed aud others were wounded.
As soon as the blockade had been sufficiently
examined to determine upon route through
il. Wm A. Van Buskirk aud large number of
Pioneers began cutting the brush and timber
and clearing q way. As has been seen, there
was a trail through the blockade to the bayou
on our right. available for horsemen, but this
would not do. Ii was necessary 10 reach the
river IN front, and by a roadway available for
artillery aud army wagons. The river. not the
bayou. had TO be passed over. To open this
way was a big job, and for obvious reasons II
was desirable to complete il in the shortest pos
sible time This Van Buskirk and his Pioneers
did during the night and early part Of the
next day.
That night was gloomy enough in the great
cypress swamp. Neither men nor officers cared
10 sleep, 30 impressed were they with the weird
novelty Of the place and time. They gathered
in knots and talked over the events of the day,
or related
INCIDENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Col Bussey showed me letter written by Fl.
B. Miller, OF Canton. Mo-, to his son, Stanton B.
Miller, Of Co. b. Sd Iowa Cav, On the envelope
OF whiCh was the following;
4" II Col. Bussey sees this. and the one for
whom il was intended cannot get il, he will
confer a favor by opening it. and addressing
the writer, informing him OF the iacts."
The letter was dated 18th of May 1862 and
Stanton B. Miller was killed 29th May, 1862,
IA Mai Brakes charge on the rebels at Kick
apoo Bottoms. The letter was not received in
camp until after the death Of young Miller.
Now. what induced the father TO put that re-
quest on the envelope? Had he presentiment
that the one for whom it was intended
would never get it2 But there is another curl
Gus fact about this case. Young Miller himself
had prcsentimeut that he would be killed on
the first expedition he should go out on. and
yet he went with Maj. Drake Of his own mo-
tion. and not by detail.
Col Brackett also told me of the death Of
Eigee J. Jenkins member OF his regi-
meDt, from Henry County, H., who was
mortally wounded last May at Cotton Plant,
six miles below our present camp. His
company undertook to bring him away
with them, but finding this to be impossible,
they carried him into the house beside the road
aud laid him down. lie was evidently dying.
he stared wildly, and, in an effort 10 speak,
asked 10 be raised up saying: " want TO give
one more cheer for the flag"
These were his last words
Monday. July Z. Is62.-The roadway through
the blockade opened by Van Buskirks Pho
neers was a Zigzag affair, winding between
trunks Of trees narrow, muddy and full of cy-
press roots and knees. The river Was fordable
for horses mot for wagonsl. but miry. and
tough crossing. My horse went in over head
and ears once, forcing me to make Tor the shore
ms best / could towing my amphibious steed
after me On returning little after noon /
found the roadway through the blockade CON-
pletely jammed with baggage wagons thereby
ObsiTuctiHg the movement Of troops II was at
this time We frSt heard the sound Of cannon on
our front and about this time that Gen. Curtis
received intelligence that 5000 or 1000 rebels
had crossed White River TO attack him.
Col hoyey had been sent forward earlier in
the day 10 make Reconnaissance, and, it seems,
had been attacked by this force at Hills plan
tztion. about four miles from the river. The
engagement that followed was a remarkable
enc, both on account OF the inequality Of forces
engaged and for its results / rode forward
later ID the day with Gen. Steele, reaching the
plantation alter the battle was over. The
wounded. CT many Of them were lying in and
around tic house Et the forks OF the road aud
among thcm Was Maj. ClendenniBg and a num-
Der q Texans
Leaving the house and turning to the right
down TIE Dcs Arc road. we came upon the bat
teErOuHd and saw the usual horrors. We also
obtained an account Of the engagement. which
viii most likely be known hereafter as the
BATTLE OF CACHE RIVER,
although it took place about four miles away
Gen. Inriis speaks Of it as the battle Of Round
Hill" from two Indian mounds near by But
whatever may be st. designation, it Was fought
by our uen agaiHsl large odds. and resulted in
the utter decentralization Of the rebel forces ea-
gagged, and, u reports are true, Of Hindman'a
whole army. Anyhow. they have not ventured
70 moleEt % since
As before stated. Col. Charles r. Hovey. com
manding tie Second Brigade Of Steele's Di-
Eisloa, was ordered 70 open the way the op-
posiic side ~ Cache River, make rec0nnois-
eznce along the Clarendon road aud scour the
woods ia front. For this service he detailed
from bis Own brigade Col. Harris, Of the Ilth
Wis, with parts Of four companies viz, Co. ID,
Capt. Miller; co. Il, Lieut. Chesebro; Co G.
Capt. Partridge aud Co II, Capt. Chrystis
also. Capt. Potter, Of the 33d H., with parts OF
four con- Panles, viz Co A. Capt Potter: Co Z.
Capt. Elliott; Ca Z, Capt. Lawton. aud Co K
Capt. AixOn-in all less than 900 men (3s2l.
Gen. Steele also sent him one small cannon, or
hOWitzer. belonging 10 the Ist Ind. Cav, in
charge Of Lieut. Clemens A. DeHDeman, of that
regiment
Col. Harris led the detachment. having Co.
- Of las regiment in advance, deployed az
EkiTfnishers and IN this order he proceeded 10
the forks q The road II HIS plantation about
i0urmilcs from camp On tie way be came upon
rebel pickeig, who fell back as lie APPROACHED
Ihe main road leads 70 Cotton Plant and
Clarendon; the left branch is a neighborhood
ESa3s anu A4t E4E+lL gEaGcl Il Tie DEs 4
Harris followed the main road past the forks
for hal! mile or more
WHEN HOYEY CAME UP,
and, upon consultation decided to have the
detachment return 10 the forks Of the road and
20 down the Des Arc branch for q mile or two.
and II nsthing Of importance was discovered
then 70 return % camp. Having given this
order, HOTey, with Lieut.-Col Lippfnc0tt Of
TIE I'D, started leisurely Tor the river.
Harris left one Of bis vi Wisconsin COMPANIES at
the forks Of the road as a reserve aud picket
and with the other three IN the lead proceeded
down tue Des Arc road, followed by Lseat
Danneman with his cannon and by Potter
HlLh las four Illinois Companies He marched
rapidly along the edge Of a c0rnieid for nearly
tbree-quarters Of mile AID then entered the
woods. which, at the point Of entry, had enough
OF uneegDIuah and foliage in il 70 ohstruct the
view aBd this underbrush belt continued for
AeuarteF 0f miie. more or less. 10 the top Of
an elevation or ridge Of ground. Beyond this
ndge was an open wO0ds-tbat IL, a woods
without uuGerbrBsh.
Upon entering the woods, Harris deployed
The Wisconsin men as 6kiFmishers and in that
form they passed through the underbrush belt
and came cut on the top Of the ridge At the
time they 50 came out Lieut.. Denneman, with
his hoBlizer. drawn by two horses, and sup
ported hy POttcr's company a J, had reached a
bend ~ the road near the left Of the line Of
sklrmlsBclEs and about hundred yards 10 their
rear. The other three Illinois Companies had