Year: 1864

The following is an extract from PR


yate letter from James Russell, of kins


man, now in the Artillery, (5lst Ohio, w


think, which has been kindly handed u


by his father. 1t is dated at Little Rock


Arkansas, and gives graphic detail o


the retreat of the i'll fated expedition un


der General Steele:


ION the 23d, the empty commissarl


train was sent to the Bluff, escorted by {


brigade of Infantry, and four guns of ou


battery. As good luck would have it, ou


section had been on three extra tripi
since either of the others had, so we were
left to garrison the fort. On the evening
of the 23d, the rebels brought up bat


terry, and opened e heavy fire on oul
picket post, endeayoring to get possession
of the bridge After an hour, they drew
off. Weformed in line of battle, in which
position we lay till the evening of the
2Gth, when we took up our line of retreat
to Little Rock. Meanwhile intelligence
had come in that our train was captured
with the artillery and troops. We were
in the rear, and only crawled along some
twelve or fifteen miles by the evening oi
the 9th. The next morning we took the
lead and pulled off fast. Arrived al
Princeton at about P. NJ, where we halt
ed for an hours rest, and lay around till
nearly dark, when Steele ordered us to
camp. Here was the most fatal move IN
the whole campaign. Itwas threatening
rain. then, and all knew that we had the
Saline Bottoms TO cross, which, should it
rain hard, would be almost impassable.-
And as long as it was dry, the army ought
to nave been pushed to the utmost
There was a great deal of grumbling about
camping there, and none of the grumblers
dreamed what direful consequences it
would bring on us On the morning OF
the 29th, we were in the rear again. Was
ND at 3 A. NJ, but did not get strung out
till 9. About 3 P NJ, we descended from
the high land, and in less than fifteen
minutes after, the rain poured down in a
perfect deluge, which continued with
scarcely any intermission for &c hours
Thirty six hours ought to say sc ages. }
Soon after the rain commenced, the rebel
artillery thundered in our rear, There be
ing one brigade of our division in rear Of
oursl. Then shudder went through the
army. We knew what was before US
We continued to advance till within two
miles of the Pontoon Bridge, when we
went into camp, and most of the privates
supposed we would remain all night
But dull as was, / knew the army must
use its legs that night, if it never did
again. After dark we hitched up again,
and moved out. The night was black as
ink, raining steadily without wind. A
detail of colored troops was sent 70 build
huge fires along the road. They did so,
and they lay down by them and went to
sleep. The rain quenched the fire and
left it blacker than ever. Then the COM


nissary issued candles, and had them lit
and stuck up on every tree. The strug-
Cling soldiers soon took all that light to
their own way, and we were once more IN
the dark. Finally the artillery me got
the candles and carried them by each
piece. All night we travelled, only max
ing about a mile Just before daylight,
the storm grew furious, and we all sunk
down in despair, and soon forgot the rain
and mud in pleasant dreams of home
Alas many will never dream of home
again. All that night our pickets heard
the rebels moving up their force, and an
irregular firing was kept up. At day
light went ahead and found the road
blocked up for long way with wagons
stuck in the mud, and mules mired down.
So we hastily made a cup of coffee, and
those who were lucky enough to have a
few kernals of corn about their pockets,
parched and ate them. Soon after day
light the firing increased in density, and
gradually extending farther right and
left. After two hours of heavy skirmish-
ing, the whole rebel line advanced with
wells that would stifle one not accustomed
to army hurrahing. Our line stood firm,
and delivered their fire with rapidity
and precision truly astonishing. The reb-
els melted before it, but as each man
dropped, fresh one stepped into his
place, and their line never faltered till a
regiment that had been lying concealed
in the tall grass and cane brake, rose and
delivered their fire so close that the fame
and smoke seemed to roll up from the
breasts of the ''grsy backs" They broke
and were falling back in despair, when
our boys charged on their wavering line
with a regular Northern cheer, and COM
pleted the disorder. Our boys were in turn
checked by the rebel reserve line. And
so it continued for seven hours, charging
and re-charging, while the musketry was
like the rush of many waters, accompa-
MED by pulsation caused by the heavy
volleys. Occasionally the heavy dogged
roar of artillery was heard. Very little
was used, as we were getting away with
ours as fast as the road would permit,
which was about quarter of mile every
two hours, and our boys took ell the rebels
dared to bring up in sight. / think it was
after noon before we crossed the bridge, af-
ter which we moved faster, as there was
nothing in the road to hinder us. Soon sf-
ter the heavy fighting commenced, We