New York Times US
THE ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST.
An Expedition from Helena
The Contrabands
An Interesting Case
Brig. Gen.Steele.
Correspondence of the New-York Times.
OLD TOWN, BELOW HELENA, Ark.,
Sunday, Sept. 14, 1862.
In my last I mentioned that an expedition of HOVEY's Brigade, under command of Col. CHARLES E. HOVEY, had gone down the river. This brigade is encamped at this place. It returned after reconnoitering about Napoleon and some small towns in the vicinity of the mouth of White River, capturing seventy bales of cotton and a large mail passing from BRAGG's and PRICE's armies into Arkansas. Some of the letters taken in this mail are quite amusing.
Another expedition of six companies of the Normal, or Thirty-third Illinois Regiment, left this morning with six days' rations, Lieut.-Col. LIPPINCOTT commanding, attended by the ram Queen of the West, of Col. [?]. They are to drop down the river and watch the movements of the enemy, break up rebel camps, capture batteries, prevent rebels from crossing the river, and secure any cotton that may be contraband of war, or is likely to be destroyed by the cotton-burners. Lieut.-Col. LIPPINCOTT is a resolute and wary commander, has smelled powder, and has a regiment of men of tried bravery, and officers on whom he can depend, and therefore we expect some stirring news from them.
The enemy along the river is becoming bold. Our transports are fired upon every day by small bands of rebels. While I am writing this, a contraband in HOVEY's Brigade is being brought in, who was wounded while coming down from Helena. These negroes who have enlisted in our army as servants and laborers, are objects of peculiar hatred to the rebels. A man called "Long Johnson," living on the road, is charged with this murderous attempt. This negro is the second one who has been shot there under similar circumstances. The suspected assassin will be arrested, and tried before a Court in which negro testimony will be allowed.
Yesterday, a slave calling himself 95 years old, with hair and beard as white as snow, the property (according to the laws of Arkansas) of Col. SYMS, now an officer in the C.S. Army, called at my tent and asked advice. He wanted to know how he could obtain his freedom and that of his children. Col. SYMS had sent for one of them, to be employed as a servant-Old BART get into a boat, crossed the river, and made his way to his master. He told him that all his "boys'' had gone to Helena, and "gined de Uniteem States," and were making forts for the Yankees. Col. SYMS inquired for his horses and mules. "They are all gone to de Yankees," said old BART. "Well," said the Colonel, "this is a fix. Can I go over there safely?" The old faithful servant said, with great gravity, "No, sah --- dey ketch you sure;" and when the old man ceased his narrative he winked and laughed. Then, putting on a sober face he said;"Can't fool Old BART -- been a member of the Baptist Church forty-seven years -- can't fool Old BART -- I knowed he wanted my children to carry to South Carolina." So he went on. He wanted to know what Massa LINCOLN had said about the slaves going "to de place where dey cross over to California." I told him. He wanted to know why "de colored population could not stay in Arkansas, and let de white folks go over de river to live where dar all run to when you comes." It was his opinion that though they get along without the whites, he was afraid the whites could not get on without the blacks.
The army of the Southwest is bitterly opposed to Slavery -- sees it standing in the path of victory -- but is well satisfied to follow the lead of the Government on this subject. The contrabands serve our officers and companies, cook our meals, wash our clothes, drive our teams, dig our trenches, guide our foraging parties and do all our work which formerly took so many soldiers from the ranks. We are therefore satisfied, but hope that the Government will soon be able to do what must be done -- proclaim freedom to all the slaves of rebels.
Brig.-Gen. FREDERICK STEELE, who is now in command of the army of the Southwest, is a New-Yorker, a graduate of West Point and a Major in the regular army. A man of sterling integrity, military experience and strong love for the old flag, he is also a soldier in the highest sense of the term. The army likes him; everybody likes him except the rebels -- they fear him. As an evidence of the confidence of this entire army, the commanders of divisions and brigades have just sent a united request to the President for his promotion, and Gov. PHELPS has given his sanction to the paper.
Among the enterprising, able, hard-working and trustworthy officers here, Col. CHARLES EDWARD HOVEY stands first. He organized the much-talked-of "Normal Regiment of Illinois," (the Thirty-third.) He was the President of the Illinois Normal University, and, commencing with the students, he raised his regiment of teachers in a short time, and went into service more than a year ago. He has long commanded a brigade in STEELE's Division, and held the post of danger. It was this Col. HOVEY who, with a small part of his brigade, outgeneraled the Texan Rangers, under Gen. RUST, and whipped them so terribly at the battle of the Cache, near Cotton Plant, Arkansas. He is now here, having held this important point for some time. It is thirty miles below the position of the main body of the army. Col. HOVEY continues his raids into Mississippi, about the mouths of the White, Arkansas and Yazoo Rivers. He has reconnoitered nearly down to Vicksburgh, preventing reinforcements and supplies from reaching Gen. HINDMAN.
I speak of the Colonel again because he is just now doing all that is done by our grand army. He successfully performs the duty, and he ought to have the rank and pay of a Brigadier-General.
We are waiting for orders to march on Little Rock, Vicksburgh, or across to Grenada, in Mississippi. Gen. STEELE has written to Gen. HALLECK for orders, but they have not yet arrived.
Ten thousand prisoners went down the river yesterday, escorted by a gunboat and a ram.
HERMAN.