Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-09-26

the luII Averell reconnoftred IN person
and at 4 o'clock sent the baron for
ward again with Captain Birds squad
ron of Pennsylyanians.
The charge was aimed at the stock
ade. but the fire from 1t was too heavy.
Won Koenig fell shot from the saddle,
close to the stockade. A battalion of
West Virginians next rode In and the
Confederates temporarily abandoned
the citadel. but a fresh regiment dash
ed forward and sent the Federals fly
Ing. leaving the commander mortally
wounded.
Ayerell's boldness had been prompted
in part by the expectation of re-en-
forcements. which had beer ordered to
march and overtake him in the noun
tains They did not come forward.
but during the night Jones was re-en-
forced and Averell decided to retreat.
This was as difficult as the advance.
The backward march was by the way
of Hnntersville. toward which Jack
son was marching to cut the raiders
of. However. by ~barricading the roads
behind aud stealthily avoiding ambush
In front. Averell brought his column
u after Il march of o miles. His
total loss was 21s ngainst 1876 of the
~Confederates. He had taken 26G prison
ers.
In his retreat as well as in the adj
Averell deceived his foes. They
looked to find him everywhere except
where he actually was. The road was
often blocked by barbados. but there
was ne attack beyond the usual BUSH
whacklng.
Federal Advance Toward Little
Rock.
During the last days of August fifty
years ago General Frederick Steele's
Federal column was executing its diff
cult march from White river to the
Arkansas to attack the C~onfederates In
Little Rock. Leaving its base at
Duvall's bluff on the 22d. the column
reached Brownsville on the Goth. Here
occurred Il sharp skirmish between the
Advance guard led by the First Iowa
cavalry and Confederate troopers be-
longing to General w. j. S. Marina
dukes command.
The Federal vanguard consisted of
General j. w. Davidson's division of
cavalry. Upon this body depended the
success of Steele's enterprise. for Mar
maduke's troopers We're scattered
across the route to guard the passes
of streams and woodland gaps. The
Confederates were driven from the
town. but next day the First Iowa.
still in the lead. encountered them
holding a bridge over Bayou Metoue.
With the exception of a causeway
the bridge and the banks above and
below could only be approached by
crossing a deep quagmire. The stream
itself was deep and mlry. The Iowans
made a gallant charge at the bridge.
with drawn sabers. dashing right up
to the entrance In face of a heavy fire
from rifemen and artillery. The regi-
ment lost thirty-seven killed and
wounded in a few minutes.
Fearing that a second attempt would
be more successful. the C~onfederates
destroyed the bridge. having prepared
jIfor-she event observation-disclosures
LleD fOQe OIL u Wlue FecOuuOlSSdHce 10
the north of Brownsville. The bayou
In that direction would not admit of
the crossing of an army In the presence
of an enemy and Steele was forced to
adopt a more s%outherly route.
Skirmishes tool place daily between
Davidson's troopers and Confederate
cavalry of Marmaduke's command.
The latter avoided battle and sought
merely to delay the Federal march to-
ward Little Rock. To that point
General Sterling Price was hastily
throwing up earthworks on the north
bank of Arkansas liver. Every day
that Steele's column could be held off
added to the strength of the defenses
which he must break through in order
to reach the prize.
Other Events of the Week.
On the Goth Confederate artillery and
sharpshooters were dislodged from a
.4Joo x.vh4aI. Iov-I INa1ounI profrvoco