davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1905-12-21
VIEW OF HELENA, ARK.

clear over to the western hills at He
lena, Ark, so miles below Memphis.
Then the river begins to swing eastward
again until 1T strikes the eastern hills
below the mouth Of the Yazoo River
and the bluffs upon which Vicksburg is
built. That is, the Mississippi River,
which skirts along the western hills for
$50 miles from the mouth of the Mis-
souri, TO 80 miles above the mouth OF
the Ohio, then swings over to the east
ern hills at Columbus. 20 miles below
the mouth Of the Ohio, and runs along
them for over 100 miles TO Memphis,
when it takes another western trend,
swinging clear over to the hills in Ar
kansas. 80 miles below Memphis. Then
the river swings to the eastward again
for over 800 miles to Vicksburg, and
runs along those elevations to Port
Hudson. At the foot OF these Arkansas
hills was an elevated tableland Of about
one-half mile I'm width, which was
much above high water and conse-
quently selected as the site for the prin-
cipal river town In Arkansas. 1t had
not grown, at the time Of the war, to
the proportion that fits sanguine found
ers had hoped and contained but few
hundred population, though 1T was the
seat of Phillips County, and the ship
ping port of a large area of fertile cot
ton plantations.
Occupation and Fortincntion.
In July. 1862. when Gen. curtis's
The National tribune., 1905-12-21

troops were drawn from Helena to him
until there was finally left but a skele-
ton division under the command Of Gen
F. Solomon. This was Ross's Division
which had been engaged in the Yazoo
Pass expedition of the previous Winter
and had been turned back after under
going enormous hsrdships and difficult
ties by the guns Of Fort Pemberton
near Greenwood, Miss. Gen. Prentiss
was in command Of the district of East
ern Arkansas and made his headquar-
ters at Helena. The troops and their
organization was as follows:
Thirteenth Division.
Brig.-Gen. Frederick Solomon.
First Brigade, Col. William e. Nc
Lean.
43d Ind, Lieut.-Col. John C. Major
35th Mo-, Leut.-Col. Horace Fitch.
28th Wis, Lieut.-Col. Edmund B.
Gray.
Second Brigade, Col. Samuel A. Rice
29th Iowa, Col. Thomas H. Benton,
ssd Iowa. Lieut.-col. Cyrus H.
Mackey.
,ssth Iowa. Col. Charles w. Kilt
ridge.
ssd Mo-. Lieut.-Col. William H.
Heath.
Sd Iowa Battery, Lieut.. Melvil C.
Wright.
1st Mo. Light, Battery X. Capt. Still
man Q. Fish.
Cavalry Brigade.
Col. Powell Clayton.
1st Ind, Lieut-Col. Thomas N Pace
9Th Kan, Lieut.-Col. Wilton A. Jen-
kins
Gen. Prentiss reported his entire
force at 4.129 men, and very many OF
these were In bad physical condition
from the effects Of the climate They
had been worked hard and the malaria
of the Mississippi swamps had taken
advantage OF their physical exhaustion.
A very large number Of those in the
hospitals, however, took their guns and
Joined their comrades in the ranks.
Gen. Salomon saw clearly the i'm
portance Of the post, and the probabil-
ity OF the enemy making a rush against
1t with all their might, and prepared for
this contingency by strengthening the
fCrtfficatiOns to the utmost, and
crowned the hills with four strong bat
terfes Battery A was on the right, next
The National tribune., 1905-12-21

army is stated to have dwindled by de-
sertion, sickness and death from 40, 900
or $4,000 men to some 15,0 900 or $4,000,
who are disaffected and helpless, and
are threatened with positive starvation
from deficiency of mere necesSaries. The
people are represented as in a state Of
CONSERVATION, muItitudes suffering for
means of subsistence, and yet exposed
from gangs of lawless marauders and
deserters to being plundered Of the lit
tie they have"
Evils Their Own Punishment.
Most evils are accompanied by their
own condemnation. Gen. Hindman's
had the effect of inducing the idea
among his men that midnight raids
against defenseless Unionists, burnfngs
and hangings were the chief art of war
and they neglected discipline and prep
aratiOn for the real work of conflict
They usually made a very sorry show
ing In actual battle with the Union
troops. and Hindman's administration
Of his Department with reference to
the invaders was inglorious and humil-
iating. His great army Of $1,000 eff
fectives accomplished nothing except
the preparation of calamities upon the
people of his own State.
Gen. Joe Johnston had vainly be-
sought Jefferson Davis to have this army
sent east Of the river, where it would
be effective in checkmating Grant and
saving Vicksburg. But Davis could not
be brought to make this order. At least
he did not, and while Gen. Grant was
shutting up Pemberton inside Of the
works OF Vicksburg the army in Ar
kansas was doing nothing more effec-
tive than its usual heinous occupation
OF prosecuting those who had an affec-
ton for the Old Flag. Gen. Hindman
was relieved Of the command Of his d.
vision and succeeded by Gen. Sterling
Price, and Holmes was stirred up to do
something on the east bank OF the river
TO shake Grants hold upon Vicksburg
After weeks Of urging by the Confed-
crate War Department Holmes at last
set his forces in motion against Helena
the only place in eastern Arkansas held
by the Union troops.
Position Of Helena.
In the swings Of the Mississippi River
across the wide plain Of silt which has
been deposited between the ranges Of
hills on the east and west the river goes
The National tribune., 1905-12-21

OPENING OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
By JOHN McELROY.

ment Of Gen. Sterling Price as his sue
cessor. 1t was hoped that the appoint
ment of Price would bring an increase
of confidence on the part of the Mis-
sourians and ArkanSans. which would
strengthen the Confederate cause in
those sections. The Confederate Secre-
tary of War wrote to Gen. Smith, March
Is, 1868:
From a variety of sources, many Of
which 1 cannot doubt, the most deplOr-
able accounts reach this Department of
the disorder, confusion and demoraliza-
ton everywhere prevalent both with the
armies and people Of that State. The
Commanding General (Holmes) seems,
while esteemed for his virtues, to have
lost the confidence and attachment of
all; and the next in command, Gen.
Hindman, who is admitted to have
shown energy and ability, has rendered
himself by alleged acts of violence and
tyranny perfectly odious. The conse-
quences as depicted are fearful. The
The National tribune., 1905-12-21
CHAPTER xXXVII.

THE BATTLE OF HELENA.
Lieut.-Gen. Holmes Is Spurred Up to Do
Something at Last-He Makes Great
Preparations to Capture Helena, and
Block the Mississippi-Overwhel
Defeated After Sharp Ffghting-Splen-
did Conduct of Union Troops.
Jefferson Davis had, at least, the
merit Of sticking tenaciously to his ia
vorites through good and evil report.
This was true Of two men who were a
burden and disappointment to him.
They were Lieut.-Gen. Theophilus H.
Holmes and Maj.-Gen. Thomas c.
Hindman. Hindman was a man of
Davis's own temper; cold, merciless,
ruthless. Like Bragg and Davis him
self and Pobyedonostseff, the Russian
The National tribune., 1905-12-21

tongued and fatigued horses. Will
you pardon me for asking what the
horses Of your army have done since
the battle Of Antietam that fatigues
anything?
"a Lincoln"
Did he move now? No, he did not
bulge yet! 1t seems Incredible, but
he actually did not cross the Potomac
himself until Nov. /, although he did,
indeed, start some of his divisions
across Oct. 26-the day after Mr.. Lin
coins characteristic and laconic dis
patch. But the Sixth Corps-the last
one over-did not cross until Nov. 2;
and 1t was not until Nov. z that Little
Mac" finally reached Rectortown, near
Here he received or
ders from President Lincoln-his tit
anic patience at last exhausted and no
wonder-to turn the Army OF the Po-
tomac over to Gen. Burnside, who was
The National tribune., 1905-12-21

Rappahannock Dec. IL, about three
miles below Fredericksburg, while the
Center and Right Grand Division
crossed at Fredericksburg. Our cross
ing was not seriously opposed, be-
cause Lee wanted us to come over to
his side, to save him the trouble OF
crossing over to ours. We had $4,000
men there on the left, as good soldiers
as ever fought. But Franklin lacked
either inclination or ability to handle
them, or had not precise orders as to
when and how he should attack Gas he
always misunderstanding was ,always
at fault when franklin. had to. act),
and so little came Of :gur naekement
there. Our only possible hope pf sue
cess was to attack at ones before Lees
supports there got upsI But;swe lay
quiet all. that day and Atfht. while the
Confederates Chill and EwelD march
ed day and night to reinforce that part
The National tribune., 1905-12-21
My next commander was Gen. Burn

My next commander was Gen. Burn
side.
IL, 1862; and Lee, dazed but not de-
feated, fell back into Virginia again.
Here he was allowed to rest and recup-
crate, ad libitum, until Nov. 1, or
thereabouts, before Mcclellan got
ready to pursue him-a delay inexcus-
able from every point Of view. 1t is
true, that Little Mac" alleged his
army was terribly bad off; short of
horses, short of wagons, short of ra-
The National tribune., 1905-12-21

CONTINUED on sixth page.)
The National tribune., 1905-12-21

Occupation and FOrtihcntiOn.
In July. 1862. when Gen. curtis's
The National tribune., 1905-12-21

Continued on sixth page.
The National tribune., 1905-12-21
GEN. AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE.
Pleasant Kindly Loyal Soldier, Who Would Have Been Goo
Brigadier. General
By JAS. RUSHING A. NJ, LID Breve u S.
From" sndT saw n

already present in command Of the
Ninth Corps, and his second in COM
mand as next ranking officer.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-01
FILtPlNOs AND LINOTYPES.

George H. Patterson of Rochester
N. Y, who has been In Manila as
linotype instructor in the United
States printing Office, has recently re.
turned after three years In the Phil.
ippines. Linotypes are now univer
sally used in the government printing
office in Manila, and the Filipinos
have learned to operate these mach.
ines very we'll. They. as a rule, learn
the work quickly and run the mach.
Ines rapidly. 1t is the policy of the
government to work In the natives as
inclusively as possible. When Mr.
Patterson went into the Manila of.
flee there we're about TWENTY-FIVE Am.
orleans employed In the composing
room. where now there are only Ave.
He saws: I'VE instructed the FLIP.
mos in all the branches Of the print.
ing trade, and they work In as fast as
they can. doing the work fairly well
under supervision. American printers
In Manila receive small wages compar-
ed with clerks and craftsmen, and
the cost OF living Is very high, accord.
ing TO the American standard Mr..
Patterson regards Manila as no place
for an Americtn printer IL he expects
to live according to the American
standard of comfort.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-01
han. gallon, ssI.sosNng fruit Jars. stono an.f
glass, . sp0Oiaty during Inc season. Dali 80
0ftb0r RhOn0 AND got something that you wan;
and cannot d0 worry vol without.
GIBSON M SEITZ

finest gentleman | ever knew" News.
paper men. at Hays elbow day and
night, In hours Of stress, OF trial, Of
disappointment, or The nosr delicate
relations and situations, OF triumph
and success catching all the moods
aud reactions Of a highly sensitive ma.
ture amid the yiclssltudes Of Il siren.
,uons career are pr1foun in their
admiration for his serenity, his dig
nifty. his kindly h%elpfulness, his cour.
|tesy. his wit and humor. Often they
were conscious that they tried his pa.
ticnce 10 the full, but the Sweetness
and light" never failed. Never hero
worshlpers. ever inclined to cynic.
ism, these newspaper writer's at Wash.
ingtOn, n dozen or so OF whom have
been by Hays side almost daily dur
Ing the last six or seven years, felt his
death as something more than the
passing away OF a great diplomatist
and public servant; to them 1t came
as a personal grief. AS one OF these
writer's for the press who year after
year were honored with Mr.. Hays
confidence. l. Is in my heart to say.
He was like father. brother, philosoph.
er. guide, and friend rolled into one.
From John Hay: An American
Gentleman" by Walter Wellman, In
the American Monthly Review Of Re.
views for August.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-01

GOOD ROADS CONVENTION.

All praise to the promoters OF the
Good Roads Convention to be held In
Las Vegas during the fair. Nothing
will mean nor for the progress of
the territory that the establishment of
an excellent system of roads. The
roads of New Mexico are usually ex-
ecrable and the system upon which
they are maintained is as faulty as
1t a well be. The convention should
concert measures to do away with the
method by which a lot Of greedy
small-fry politicians are paid a sine
cure salary every year for doing moth
ing on the roads.
A feature Of the convention will be G
trip over the famous Scenic Highway.
II is expected also to advance the pro
iect for extending the road to the
northern and southern boundary of
the territory.
SpiNNutlOu Will JIG utlu uuIluS
the fair and as rates will be exceed
ingly low, and the occasion will be
opportune. a large number of dele
gates may be expected. The conyen.
ton should be made to mean much for
the practical benefit Of the territory.
|. Fine theories. however well they may
be spun. will be valueless unless they
are carried out.
. It Is now certain that several noted
good roads advocates will be here to
tell the people of the methods that
have been successful In other states.
Given IN open mind, and a willingness
to eliminate politics from the public
roads and carry out the suggestions
secured and the convention will be Of
vast importance.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-01
JOURNALISTS TRIBUTE TO
JOHN HAY.

Perhaps the best and truest hing that
q be said Of John Hay the man Il
that every who had the good fortune
70 get really close to him loved HIN.
lie was n 0fthose rare natures that
win, without conscious effort, the ,ieep
and abiding affection OF all who draw
near. John Hays sweetness and
light" OF which Secretary Taft spoke
SO feelingly and fittingly the day af.
ter the death OF the great Secretary
OF state. were not reserved for his
family. nor for his equals In station.
but were shed generously and hab-
itually upon all. high or low, who
came in contact with him. Three
presidents of the United States bask.
ed In their warm rays and felt spir.
itnally refreshed: most of the notable
Americans Of the last fifteen years
fell under their charm: scores of
eminent diplomatists have been lured
by them into passing forgetfulness Of
professional thrust and parry and
have fingered within the spell of de-
light. But SO 1t was also with the
humblest Mr.. Hays official subor-
dinates loved the man even more than
they respected and admired the SUI
perior. His household servants gave
him not only their service but their
hearts, Doubtless II is true that few
men are heroes 10 their Wallets, but
John HAYS skillful Swedish masseur,
after wears Of attention to the high
and mighty OF this and other national
capitals. declared. "Mr. Hay is the
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-01
A MEXICAN

II MAY not generally be known that
the Mexican government is soon to
make a strong bid for the transisthm.
ian traffic In competition with Pan.
ANA. This is what the United States
road commissioner. Mr. Bristow, says
of the matter in his report
The Mexican government has
constructed a railroad across
the isthmus OF Tehauntepec,
from Salina Cruz. on the Pacific,
What promises to be very fine harbors
are being constructed at both places.
Extensive wharves and warehouses
are being built, and the best facilities
for handling freight from ship to cars
and from airs to ship will be provided.
This road will exercise great influence
on the commercial DEVELOPMENT a
southern Mexico. and will become a
strong competitor Of the Panama rail-
road for business.
The distance by this route between
California norts and Gulf and Atlantic
ports ct the United States must he
con siderahIy smaller than bv the Pan
ara route. and as transshipment by
rail is necessary in either case. the
Mexican route NAV give the United
States governments Panama railroad
enterprise a hard run for its money.
The opening Of the canal. however.
would put another face on the situa-
ton.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-01

THE CURTIS ARTICLE.

William u. Curtis letter from Las
Vegas 10 the Chicago Record-Herald,
published today In The Optic, needs
little comment. since he who runs may
read. The expression Of those who
read the article In the Record. Herald
last night has been one of surprise
that d man who has won such a repu.
tation as a newspaper correspondent
should have been guilty of so many
glaring inaccuracies.
Several were inclined to make ex-
cuses for the writer. 20, he was here
for only a day." they said, land
couldn't be expected to get correct I'm.
formation" But when one thinks Of
the vast amount OF stuff from various
parts OF the world he has read as law
and gospel because 1t bore the Curtis
signature and reflects that 1t all
originated In abot thue same way this
Las Vegas letter did, he Is apt to re-
solve 10 take the lucubrations OF the
writer hereafter with a pinch OF salt.
Perhaps MI. Curtis may say that the
people OF the southwest are bigger
liars than those with whom he came
In contact elsewhere, but, be that as
1t may, the gentleman In his treat.
ment OF Las Vegas has been correct
neither where he praised non where
he blamed.
IL o g seem as though any four
~teen-year.old school boy would be
ashamed to write to a newspaper
about Governor Thompson Of Ala
bama and as though a very little in
ve~stigation would have enabled the
distinguished and several times four.
teen.year-old Mr.. Curtis to have found
out how much land there Is under
cultivation In this county.
Such statements as that this sec.
ton Is and will always be mainly a
sheep country and that we have nearly
reached the limit of our development
do credit neither to the gentleman's
Judgment o to his abilities as an
investigator.
The astounding statement that the
schools Of the territory are held as
fat positions for the politician is evi.
dence that Mr.. Curtis has been q
victim OF the 'knOcker." It ought
not have taken much trouble for the
gentleman to ascertain that, at the
salaries offered, the schools OF this
part Of the territory cannot be filled
with any kind OF teachers sort OF
knowledge, not particularly c~reditable,
perhaps, but which has at least the
sterling merit Of truth.
Issue might be taken with other
statements OF MI. Curtis, but what's
the use. The gentleman tried hard to
learn the truth regarding the country
during his short visit. He was doubt.
less honest In his intention towards
us and he has said some very nice
things. The %gentleman's article is
just another proof Of the general be-
lief that the man who sees the south
west from a car window. or who
spends a day or two In the towns
cannot obtain correct impressions of
the land and the people. We must
confess. though. to a feeling OF dis.
appointment that the distinguished
Curtis has failed with the rest.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-01

especially rich IN rendering various
shades OF human feeling. tenderness,
love, sadness, morriment, as also
various degrees OF the same action,
rs piiabiliiy for translation is such
that IN no other language do you find
an equal number OF most beautiful.
correct and truly poetlcal rendering,
OF foreign authors. Poets OF the most
diverse character, such as Heino. Be.
ranger, l.ongfellow, Schiller. Shelley
and Goethe. 10 say nothing OF that
fayorite with Russian t%rauslators,
Shakespeare, are equally well turned
into Russian. :. The desperate
y%aguoness Of German metaphysics Is
quite as much at home In Russian as
the matter-of.fact style OF the eigh.
teenth century philosophers; and the
short, concrete and expressive terse
sentences Of the best English writer's
offer no difficulty to the Russian
translator
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-01
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.
Homestead Entry, No. $3.50.

| Department OF the Interior, Land or
flee at Santa Fe, New Mexico, July
"a, 1905.
Notice is hereby given that the fol-
lowing-named settler has filed notice
of his intention % make final proof
in support of his claim. and that
said proof will be made before United
States Court Commissioner at Las
Vegas, N. NJ, on September Z, 1905,
viz. Placido Lucero, for the S. w. n
N. E. "A, S. E. u N. W. "A, N. E. u
s. w. a, N. w. u S. E. u, Section
Is, T. IA, N, r. 20 E.
He names the following witnesses
to prove his continuous residence up
on and cultivation Of said land. viz:
| Marcos Castillo. of Chaperito, N. NJ;
! Andres Baca. of Chaperito, N. NJ;
Raymundo Ulibarri, of Chaperito. N.
NJ; Narciso Gallegos. Of ChaperitO.
N. NJ.
TT Register.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-01
Mr.. supDEcKE's FRANCHISE.

The city council In adjourned meet.
ing tonight Will entertain the report of
the ordinance committee on the pro
posed franchise granting to William
A. Buddecke, his heirs, ETC., the privl.
leges OF constructing, operating and
maintaining an electric street railway
and also TO construct. maintain and
operate an electric light, heat and
power plant.
The council, upon the recommends.
tion OF It's committee, will probably
take favorable action upon the fran
chise, which appears to be an emf.
nently fair and reasonable document.
So far as the ordinary citizen Is con.
cerned, the provision in the new fran
chlse which is Of especial interest Is
that relating TO lighting. An exam
inatlon OF the proposed rate schedule
to be established for the new com
pany shows that 1t closely approx.
mates that 10Y In force with the Las
Vegas Light 4 Fuel company.
For power the following charges are
fiYad.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-08-01

All ABOVE this amount, at the rate
OF $1.00 per II. p. per omnth.
The franchise further contains the
following section, referring to the regu.
lation Of rates after a period Of five
years:
The maximum rate OF charges for
electric lighting, in this ordinance fix.
cd, shall stand and be binding for five
years only. At the end OF that period,
the electric light rates, In this ordin.
ance referred to. shall be readiusted.
but In no event shall the maximum
rates for such lights be higher than in
this ordinance fixed. The readtust.
ment OF rates for lighting in this sec.
Q referred to. and the new rates
shall be fixed by mutual agreement
between the said William A. Bud.
decke, his heirs, executors, admins,
traitors and assigns and the City Coun.
Gil or the City OF Las Vegas, and II
they shall fail to agree on the new
rates to be established. at such read.
Justment. such rates shall then and
10 that event be fixed by arbitration.
And 10 all cases thereafter In case
q any disagreement as to rates for
lighting between the said william A.
buddecke, ETC.. and the city OF Las
vegas such rates shall be settled and
liked by fair and just arbitration"
The above clause certainly mani.
rests a spirit Of fairness and the peo-
pie need entertain no fear OF being
g up at the hands OF the
which Is preparing to operate under
Its provisions.
As a matter Of fact there is every
reason for the council and the people
OF Las Vegas to extend every reason.
able encouragement to the street rail.
way company In It's proposed exten.
si0ns and improvements. For several,
years the street car service was a dis.
grace to Las Vegas and q daily source
OF chagrin. The company was a weak.
poorly managed affair from the begin.
ming. It has now been taken hold Of
Oy a gentleman who commands the
resources. the energy and the ability
necessary to make the street railway
system first class In every o
Within six months an amount
approximating $780, 900 will be spent
J q improvements and extensions.
When these are completed, our street
railway system will be second to none.
In promoting the development OF the
city at this period which is full Of so
U promise to Las Vegas, the street
railway Is OF the greatest importance.
II has a large claim upon the support
and the good will Of the people.