The National Republican, DC US
A Federal Fort Completed at Helena—The Guerrillas.
The Memphis Bulletin has the following interesting account of affairs in Arkansas:
“The fortifications at Helena having been completed, by order of General Hovey, all the regiment and detachment were paraded, and the United States flag was raised in the fort, which was officially named by Gen. Hovey, ‘Fort Curtis.” A salute of thirteen guns was then fired from the fort, to which the fleet responded by firing a salute of thirty-four guns. The salute of the fleet was responded to by the field batteries in the redans. It was an imposing ceremony, and was witnessed with eager interest by the citizens. The whole concluded with a grand review of all the forces.
“The small rebel steamboat Little Rock, from Little Rock, arrived at Helena on Tuesday evening under a flag of truce, with about two hundred and fifty prisoners, taken from the Fifth Illinois cavalry, for exchange. She returned to Little Rock on Wednesday afternoon.
While lying at Helena, a part of her crew, concluding they had seen enough of Dixie for the present, deserted and could not be induced to return. From trustworthy information received it is believed that there are not more than five hundred rebel soldiers at Little Rock, the larger part of the Confederate army lately there having going to join Hindman in his invasion of Missouri. No enemy has been seen in the vicinity of Helena for the last two days.
“Some escape prisoners who reached here from Little Rock this morning, after a long journey amid many perils, report that General Holmes expresses strong disapprobation of the conduct of the guerrillas who have been guilty of firing into transit boats making business trips. He declares that he will use every means in his power to prevent any further outrage of this kind. In the case of boats in Government service, however, a different policy will be pursued; they will be considered legitimate objects of warfare, and attacked whenever opportunity offers.