The War.
The details of the great battle in
Arkansas have not yet come to hand; still everything in connection with it will interest the reader, and we therefore copy the following from the
Little Rock (Ark.) True Democrat, of March 18th:
The battle ground extends over ten miles, and on every mile of the route are a thousand dead men. The battle was the most desperately contested of any fought during the war. Our loss in officers is reported as terrible.
McCulloch,
McIntosh, McRas,
Slack, and others, have fallen.
Braver and nobler men never died for freedom.
Our forces at
Boston Mountain were supposed to be in the neighborhood of thirty thousand, opposed to 34,000 Federals.
The latter were western men and regulars.
Among the forces of the enemy was one regiment of cavalry armed with revolving rifles and with two extra cylinders, so that they could fire 18,000 shot without re-loading.
They also had
Sturgis's battery manned by regulars, and said to be the best drilled and disciplined body on the continent.
If, as we are led to suppose, the
Federals were reinforced by the column from
Kansas, the odds against us were as two to one.
Our troops fought for three days and nights and more desperate fighting was never seen.
We have already published the
Yankee accounts of
Gen. Price's retreat from
Springfield into
Arkansas, previous to the
battle of Pea Ridge, as well as the
General's official report of the affair, exposing the mendacity of the
Federal commander.
We now copy from a Louisiana paper a portion of a letter written by one who shared the perils and sufferings of the retreat.
The allusion to the brave
McCulloch has additional interest from the fact that he has since perished gloriously on the field of battle:
All day Monday we fell back slowly, but in good order.
In the afternoon the advance guard of the enemy made a rush upon our rear, and for nearly an hour a desperate conflict ensued, in which artillery was freely used on both sides.
We succeeded in driving them back, the
Confederates losing three killed and seventeen wounded, the enemy 120 killed and wounded. The dash of the
Federal cavalry was so impetuous that they became mingled with our troops, and there was a free use of sabres and small arms.
They could not stand, however, the deadly fire of the Missourians' shot guns.
Monday our forces reached their winter quarters to spend the night, while
Price's army occupied Cross.
Hollows, distant two and a half miles.
Young's Texas regiment camped with us. The next morning we marched to
Cross Hollows and encamped in an open field.
This day
Rector's and
Mitchell's regiments joined us. The latter regiment had marched 45 miles without halting in twenty-four hours.
Ben McCulloch arrived and was met with such a storm of enthusiasm as seldom greets any man. It made his men almost wild to see him once more, and that, too, when placed in such a perilous position without their General.
Such a deafening cheer as the
Louisiana regiment gave him has seldom been heard.
Baring his head, while his eagle eye lighted up with an unwonted fire, he remarked, "Men, I am glad to see you; " a greeting which was responded to with interest.
A line of battle, under
McCulloch's energetic direction, was formed, and soon every hillside glistened with bayonets and batteries frowned upon every avenue of approach.--During all this time the weather was bitter cold.
The men, on account of the suddenness of the demand for their services, were without tents, blankets, or provisions.
That night we laid down upon the frozen ground, around huge fires, to snatch, if possible, a short sleep, while expecting the enemy.
To add to the hardships and trials which we had encountered, it commenced a cold, freezing rain, which continued nearly all night.
Some few slept through it all; but the majority of the troops gathered in shivering groups around their camp fires.--While thus waiting for the enemy's approach, they suddenly appeared in
Bentonville, on our extreme left flank, taking possession of the quarters of
Rector's regiment.
Two of their scouts were also captured on While river, on our extreme right, indicating an attempt to flank our position.
Of course they destroyed the greater portion of the clothing, etc., of
Rector's men, besides killing one or two citizens, and committing other outrages too diabolical to mention.
Early on Tuesday morning we once more abandoned our position, and commenced retreating in the midst of a bitter storm of sleet and snow.--The road was a solid mass of ice, slippery and as hard as a rock.
All day long the weary march continued, while the beards of the men became white with their frozen breath the water even became ice in their canteens.
Weary, foot-sore, hungry and cold, we arrived here last night, only to find nearly every house deserted of women and children, while every man had shouldered his rifle for the deadly strife.
Last night the
Northern heavens were reddened with the glare of our winter quarters given to destruction to prevent their falling into the hands of the Hessians.
Naught remains of those fine and comfortable buildings now except heaps of smouldering-ashes.
Price has conducted a masterly retreat, covering, as he has, a train of 8,500 wagons, loaded with his army supplies, and moving fifty pieces of artillery.
Our forces are nearly all in the field.
We have about eighty pieces of artillery.
We expect to make a stand on
Boston Mountain, and have only retreated thus far on account of the scarcity of for age for the immense number of horses, and also to prevent the enemy cutting off our supplies, which they are attempting.
It is impossible to estimate the numbers of the enemy.
They have a very large, as well as the best organized and equipped army which the
Northern Government have ever sent into the field.
Latest news.
From exchanges received last night we make up the following summary.
A dispatch dated
Fort Smith, Ark., March 16, says:
‘
Official intelligence has been received that
Col. Robert, of Lomstans, is a prisoners, injured, and will be exchanged in a few days.
The water courses being so high, and such stormy weather, has prevented the reception of late intelligence from the enemy, who is reported to be retreating.
He is, it is said, now at
Bentonville, and still falling back on Caseville.
Our army is in fine spirit and ready for another fight.
’
Our total loss in killed, wounded and prisoners was less than 800.
The enemy's loss was between 2,000 and 3,000.
We took six guns and caissons'; 8 guns were afterwards recaptured.
Gens. Siegel and
Curtis are said to be killed.
We have two hundred and fifty prisoners, among them
Lieut. Col. Chardle, of the 80th Illinois, and Howling, of the 9th Iowa, and about 80 other officers.
Our army fell back, having parted from the trains.
We captured a large amount of commissary supplies, upon which the whole army subsisted one night.
Next morning before we fell back we destroyed 300 acres of flour and a large quantity of bacon and other stores.
The cause of
Arkansas is to be fought over.
Affairs on the Mississippi.
The Memphis
Appeal, of March 20th, furnishes the following:
We learn that a skirmish occurred Tuesday morning between our gunboats and a shore battery of the enemy, erected during the preceding night, nearly opposite to
Tiptonville.
On discovering that the enemy had been at work on the west bank, our gunboats got up steam early in the morning and went out to attack them.
The enemy had placed three twenty-four- pounder rifle guns in position, for the purpose of cutting off our communication at
Tiptonville, where the land transit across to Island to begins.
The gunboats (wooden) engaged were the
McRae,
Lady Polk, Ivy, Pontchartrain,
Livingston, and Marapas.
The fight continued some two hours. The fore and aft chains of the Marapas were out by the enemy's shot.
They also sent one shot clear through the
Gen.
Polk, which struck her, or came out, below the water line, but which we have not been able to ascertain.
She immediately withdrew, and at last accounts it was found necessary to resort to her pumps to keep the water down.
The other boats continued their fire a short time longer, and then withdrew to their anchorage.
They sustained more or less damage, but were in no respect disabled.
No one was killed on our side; only one person being slightly bruised by a splinter.
We have no means of learning the loss of the enemy.
The Federal force on the other side of the river was estimated at one thousand men.--They were engaged in throwing up entrenchments and strengthening their position.
On Monday, six of the enemy's ironclad gunboats came down within three-quarters of a mile of Island 10 and shelled the place through the day. They fired slowly, and seemed to direct their shot, not at our batteries, which returned their fire, but beyond, towards an open plantation, where our troops were supposed to be encamped.
Our guns struck the gunboats repeatedly, but none of the shot seemed to take effect.
The gunboats retired beyond range towards night.
In their rear the river seemed to be white with their transports.
Our loss was three killed and eight wounded. Loss of the enemy not known.
Lates.--We learn from a gentleman who left Island 10 at half past 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, and arrived here last evening, that the enemy renewed the attack on the
Island Tuesday morning with eight gunboats and three mortar-boats.
The fire was kept up at intervals until the hour of his departure.
One of the gunboats having ventured within good range; our big gun, the "
Lady Polk, " was turned loose at her. The first shot was a miss; the second took effect, and cleared its way through the boat from side to side Assistance was sent her, and she was downed a short distance back, when she sunk.
At a later hour a second boat renewed the attack on the battery of the
Lady Polk, which fired seven shot in return.
Four missed their mark, two struck and glanced, and the one, which was the seventh, passed through the boat, tearing off a piece of the iron sheeting, which could be seen from the island.
This boat was also towed back, evidently disabled, but to what extent our informant was unable to say.
It may not be improper to add that our officers felt confident of their ability to hold the island.
They have no idea of abandoning the position.
By passengers on the
Republic, who left
Tiptonville yesterday morning, we have a confirmation of the fight between the gunboats and the enemy's battery.
The damage to the
Gen.
Polk was not so serious as at first supposed.
One shot passed through the pilot house of the Marapas.
The
Atlanta Confederacy. produces
General Tilghman's report of the attack upon
Fort Henry, which had not before been published:
--Through the courtesy of
Brig-Gen. U. S. Grant, commanding Federal forces, I am permitted to communicate with you in relation to the result of the action between the fort under my command, at this place, and the
Federal gunboats, on yesterday.
At 11 o'clock, and 40 minutes on yesterday morning, the enemy engaged the fort with seven gunboats, mounting 54 guns.
I promptly returned their fire with the 11 guns from
Fort Henry, bearing on the river.
The action was maintained with great bravery by the force under my command, until 10 minutes before 2 P. M., at which time I had but four guns fit for service.
At five minutes before 3, finding it impossible to maintain the fort, and wishing to spare the lives of the gallant men under my command, and on consultation with my officers, I surrendered the fort.
Our casualties are small.
The effect of our shot was severally felt by the enemy, whose superior and overwhelming force alone gave them the advantage.
The surrender of
Fort Henry involves that of
Capt. Taylor,
Lieut. Watts,
Lieut. Weller and one other officer of artillery;
Capts. Hayden and
Miller, of the
Engineers,
Capts. H. L. Jones and
McLaughlin, Quartermaster's Department; A. A. A.
Gen. McConnice, and myself, with some fifty privates and twenty sick, together with all the munitions of war in and about the fort.
I communicate this result with deep regret, but feel that I performed my whole duty in the defence of my post.
I take occasion to bear testimony to the gallantry of the officers and men under my command.
They maintained their position with consummate bravery as long as there was any hope of success.
I also take great pleasure in acknowledging the courtesies and consideration shown by
Brig. Gen. U. S. Grant and
Commander Foots, and the officers under their command.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obd't serv't.
From the lower Potomac.
The
Fredericksburg Herald, of the 26th inst. says:
‘
On Wednesday night the enemy landed at
Chatterton, (
Col. John Taylors residence,) searched and ransacked the premises, stole all the turkeys and other poultry, attempted to seduce off the servants, and decamped.--No white male person happened to be there.
They afterwards proceeded across to
Eagle's Nest, robbed the house of all the candles, knives and forks, and took off
Mr. Penny Grymes as a prisoner for refusing to take the oath.
They declared their purpose to capture any male citizen they could reach.
’
On Thursday night they landed at
Boyd's Hole, and about two o'clock were observed by some of
Capt. Taylors pickets, reported to camp, and met by a detachment of
Capt. Murphy's troop and
Capt. Taylors, and after a sharp fire on both sides, repulsed in an obvious attempt to surprise and capture those commands.
Sergeant Washington, of the Potomac Troop, was slightly wounded in the cheek, and two horses of the same troop were badly injured by rifle shot.
The party was led by
Captain Murphy, of
Lee's Light Horse, and
Lieuts. Ashton and
Taylor, of the Potomac Cavalry,
Capt. Taylor happening to be absent at the time.
The night was intensely dark, and neither party could be seen distinctly by the other, the enemy's force is supposed to have been between 80 and 100.
The Lynchburg
Republican has intelligence from reliable source that five thousand Federal troops had crossed the
Cumberland mountains at Wheeler's Gap, and were, at the latest dates, advancing on
Knoxville.
General Smith had succeeded in getting in the rear of the enemy with four thousand men, and we also had five or six thousand at
Cumberland Gap.
It was confidently believed by our informant that the whole Federal force would be killed or captured.
Opinion of a leading Liverpool paper.
[From
Wilmer &
Smith's Times, March, 1.]
The anniversary of
Washington's birthday draw together a large assemblage of the leading
Americans in
London at a public breakfast, and the opportunity was not lost of making most of the occasion.
It has been the good fortune of the great Western.
The public to have been long represented at the
British, by man of distinguished annuity, but we question whether the
United States over had an abler diplomatic or a more skillful speaker than
Mr. Adams, and his eloquence and fully curtain the reputation enjoyed in their day by his father and grandfather.
In this moment of his country's fate,
Mr. Adams made a speech which contains an admirable summary of
Washington's career, and the moral which it points, bearing as the speaker so skillfully made it do, on the present position of affairs on the other side of the
Atlantic.
But it is worthy of notice that this appreciation of
America's greatest historical personage is not confined to the
Federals; the opposing party draw from the hero's reverses had success exactly the same comforting assurance to sustain them in the struggle in which they are engaged.
For instance, when the
American Minister spoke of the Fabian policy of
Washington, "called to take the command of an army, he found himself burdened with the task of creating one, without money, and with very slight provision of all the indispensable munitions of war, and this in the face of an enemy abundantly provided with all these things,"--the picture which it presents is more applicable to
Mr. Jefferson Davis than to
Mr. Lincoln; but when the orator described the war between the North and South "as an assault upon the
Government of the
United States which carries with it an aggressive principle that, if not defeated, must, in the end, be fatal to freedom, he made a happy hit at those who are striving to destroy the integrity of the
Union.
The civil war,
Mr. Adams subsequently described as "fire of purification," to "gather," he added, "the moral fruits of self devotion to honorable ends." The speech of the
American Minister breathed, it is needless to say, the same determination to put down and suppress the revolt of the south which we see reflected in every movement of
Mr. Lincoln's Government.
Whether these gigantic efforts will be crowned with success or end in failure, a short time must determine.
The struggle is about to begin in earnest, and must terminate between March and May. We enter this day on the first of these months.
and the next few weeks will be the most important in the history of the
United States that have occurred since the States wrested their independence from the grasp of George the Third.
Washington's great experiment, which has worked such extraordinary results during the last three-quarters of a century, will have to pass in the next
ninety days brought the severest ordeal to which it has ever been subjected.
If the
North cannot subjugate the
South in this brief time,
which is very unlikely, it is almost morally certain that the European Powers will step in and propose terms, and in merge to all parties — to the famishing operatives of England and France, as well as to the combatants themselves, the act will be real humanity. 
