Year: 1862

HEADQUARTERS 15rH REC T TEXAS CAVALRY, ]

 BateScdte, Ark, July F, 1862. ] | CAPT. HART, Asst Adjt Gen'I,

 BrgG Gen'l Rust

 Sir: l have the honor to report the result 0

 a scout by portion of my command, consist ing of one hundred and ffty~one men, on the Sth inst.

 Learning about 10 o'clock 8. m of that day that body of the enemy said to be 256 strong were coming down from the direction of Salem in Fulton county, en route for Jacksonport, rlo Sulphur Rock and Orient ferry, on Black river immediately ordered forward movement of a portion of my command having 1t ill view to take the lower road leading from Batesville to Jacksonport and to intercept the enemy and cut him off from the ferry.

 The command was very soon put in motion, and proceeded as rapidly as the excessive heat of the weather and the faded condition of our horses would permit; but notwithstanding all my exertons, the enemy passed the point where I hoped to intercept him, before l reached 1t, and made good his retreat to the ferry. Deter> mined not to be completely foled. concluded to follow him and give him battle, though 1 knew should have to fight largely superior force to my own, in point of numbers. 1 be- lieved could come upon him so suddenly as to completely surprise him, and perhaps to effect a complete victory before he could fairly recover from the shock. To effect this, l made the fol lowing disposition of my forces: Capt. Thos. J.. Johnson, my quartermaster was assigned, at his own request to the command of ten men, as an advance picket, to keep well in the ad vance until we should near the enemy, when all were to move nearly together. Next Capt. Johnson was placed Capt. A. Faulkner, in charge of the rifles and sharpshooters; and after these, the main body, led by myself.

 Being anxious to make the fight before dark, we moved with all possible speed, and about half an hour before sunset, came upon what was supposed to be the enemy pickets, Capt. Johnson captured one of them; the other escap- ed. It turned out, however that the enemy had no pickets out, and that we were right on the main body. charge vas immediately ordered by the advance, and executed with telling effect. Capt. Faulkner followed with his command in 8 sweeping gallop, the main body moving close behind him. Unfortunately for us, we had to charge down lane, and could only move four abreast; and before the main body could gain position, both our advance Gncluding Capt. Faulkner's rhes,) and the enemy became en- veloped in such cloud of dust and snioke from the fire of our guns that for few minutes, 1t was impossible to distinguish friend from foe. This was most fortunate for the enemy. lie. was thus given time to rally. l immediately galloped to the front to ascertain against what point to direct my column. l found that nearly all the enemy's force on the north side of the river Ia considerable portion had previously crossed the river) was put to flight, except few who had taken shelter behind some old buildings and trees, and some who had taken position under cover of train of wagons which almost completely blocked up the road near the ferry l ordered charge for the purpose of driving these squads from their hiding places, whence they were deliberately firing upon our advance. By this time, that portion of the enemy on the opposite side of the river, having recovered from the panic, had formed in line of battle, and was pouring galling fire on our entire line-a fire which was particularly severe on the advance of the main body which, under command of Capt Sanders, had already been ordered up to the support of the rifles. Not withstanding this severe fire, the first squadron came into position in fine order, and commenced delivering its fire to the enemy on the opposite side of the river, 200 yards distant l soon found that this was too long range for our shot guns, and ordered charge over the hill right down next to the river, where large num- Der of the enemy was secreted under bluff close to the waters edge. This charge l at tempted to lead in person; but as my command