The National tribune., 1905-12-21

only 1900 men, having stripped HIM |
self far beyond the limit Of safety to
reinforce Grant.
Prentiss found that the citizens out
side his lines were prevented from
coming In, lest they betray news Of the
advance. His scouting parties found
the disloyal citizens unusually reserved
and uncommunicative and the enemy's
scouting parties showed much greater
stubbornness, indicating that supports
were near.
On Wednesday night, July 1. Prentiss
learned beyond a doubt that the enemy
were in strong force at Spring Creek, Is
miles distant. and that the blow was
sure to fall soon. He had anticipated
that he would be attacked at break Of
day, and for week previous to the
battle had had the garrison under arms
at 2:30 each morning.
Gen. Frederick Solomon.
The unusual completeness and
strength of the fortifications of Helena
were due to Brig. Gen. Frederick Sal
OmOn. an able Prussian engineer and
architect. He had served in the Prus-
sian army as Lieutenant Of Artillery,
but became involved in the revolution
Of 1848, which rendered it necessary
to leave the country, when he took up
his residence in ManiteWoc, Wis. He
happened to be in st. Louis at the time
of Gen. Lyons operations there and
was an ardent spirit in his support. He
helped organize the 5th Mo-, in which
he became a Captain, and commanded
company at Wilson'S Creek. The
Governor of Wisconsin recalled him to
that State to organize the young Ger
mans there and he raised the 9th Wis,
Of which he became Colonel. He was
promoted to Brigadier-General and
commanded the First Brigade Of the
Army Of Kansas, with which he fought
at Leutonia, Cane Hill and Prairie
s1vr
for some weeks and after becoming
again fit for duty was sent to Helena
to command the Second Brigade of
Hovey's Division, and then became part
of Gen. Rosss Division I'm the Yazoo
Pass expedition and other movements.
He came into the command Of the divi-
sion and June 2, 1863, was assigned to
command the troops Immediately at
Helena. His engineering talents and
experience were Invaluable in making
the position secure, and he was untir-
ing in his labors to leave nothing un-
done toward that end.t Later In the
war Gen. Solomon commanded a divi-
sion under Gen. Steele and won a VIC
tory over greatly superior forces at
Jenkins's Ferry, on the Saline River,
which saved Gen. SteSe's retreating
army from destruction.s He was bre-
vetted a Major-General.
The Confederate Movement.
May %. 1868, j. A. Seldom, Confed- |
crate Secretary OF War, urged upon
Gems. Joe Johnston, Holmes and Price |
a movement against Helena, which, il
taken and held, would embarrass Grant |
in his operations against Vicksburg and
close the river at that. point This COM |
munication reached Holmes by the way |
of Kirby Smiths headquarters at |
Shreveport. Holmes acted upon it de-
liberately. and June photographed to
Kirby Smith: IT believe we can take
Helena. Please let me attack" The
next day, June 16, Kirby Smith an
swered: Most certainly do it." Two
days later Holmes went to Jackson
duke and make the necessary arrange |
ments. The result was that Prices |
command, consisting of Gen. McRae's |
Arkansas Brigade Of Infantry, and Gen. |
NJ. M. Parsons's Missouri Brigade Of |
Infantry. with Coils. Cotton Greene's |
and Joseph o. shelby's Brigades Of |
Missouri Cavalry, under Gen. Marina
duke, were ordered to rendezvous at |
Cotton Plant. Fagan's Arkansas Bri
gade was ordered to Clarendon and Gen. |
L. M. Walkers Brigade of Cavalry was |
sent directly to Helena to close In on |
the place and prevent egress and in
gress. Gen. Holmes received another |
strong letter from the Secretary of |
War urging him to make the attack |
BY June 26 he had his forces we'll to- |
SGtHeT, ana OH the morning or July s 1
was at Allen Polk's house. five miles |
from Helena. His spies had provided |
him with the most accurate information |
In regard to the forces, the forts, roads, |
ETC., and he knew just exactly the task |
that was before him. He issued the |
following order Of battle:
1.-The attack on Helena will be made |
tomorrow morning at daylight and as
follows:
"1st. Maj.-Gen. Price, in command of
McRae's and ParsOns's Brigades, will |
proceed by the best route, assume posi-
tion. assault and take Graveyard Hill
at daylight.
"2d. Brig.-Gen. Walker, with his
Cavalry Brigade, will, I'm like manner,
proceed to the Sterling Road, where he
will hold himself in position to resist |
any troops that may approach Rightor
tured he will enter the town and act
against the enemy as circumstances
"3d. Brig.-Gen. Pagan will proceed
by the best route, assume position, and |
take the battery on Hindman Hill at
4th. Brig.-Gen. Marmaduke will pro-
ceed with his command by the best /
route, assume position, and take Righ- /
tor Hill at daylight"
The Confederate Strength.
There is the usual. discrepancy in the
Confederate reports Of their strength
ond as all these were made after the
battle there were the strongest reasons
for minimizing their forces. Gen.
Holmes says that he had 7,646 men. II
this were approximately true it would
make his strength between 5000 and
5000, as he followed the usual rebel
custom Of only counting The muskets he
carried into action. Hipdman officially
reported that he had "for the fight less |
than 10000 men," May / Holmes had |
in his immediate district 1898 men, of
whom he estimated 14,508 as fit for
duty. He says that he had with him 20 |
regiments. Prentiss reports q capture |
Of prisoners from 81 regiments. Prem |
tiss reported to Hurlbut that he was |
attacked by from 15.O0e to $4,000 men.
Hurlbut reported to Grant that the |
number was about. 5000, which is as
near the truth as it Is likely that we
shall ever get. At all events, Holmes |
had been accurately informed as to the |
strength of the Union garrison and had |
taken with him at least double the gar
rison's strength which should have
been sufficient for the purpose he had in
hand. That 1t was not SO was due to
the WHOLLY unexDected cotIra pa and reS-