THE WAR IN ARKANSAS.; The Rebels Defeated at Longview Destruction of a Bridge and Train Over ThreeHundred Prisoners Captured Another Pitched Battle and the Rebels again Routed Operations of Gov. Murphy. FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Published: April 7, 1864
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, April 6.
The following has been received at headquarters of the army here:
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 1, 1864.
Major-Gen. H.W. Halleck, Chief of Staff:
The following telegram is just received:
PINE BLUFF, Ark., March 31, 1864.
Major Greene, A.A.G.:
The expedition to Fort Elba and Longview has just returned. We destroyed the pontoon bridge at Longview, burned a train of thirty-five wagons, loaded with camp and garrison equipments, ammunition, quartermaster stores, &c., and captured 320 prisoners.
Engaged in battle yesterday morning Gen. DOCKING's division of about 1,200 men, from Monticello. Routed him and pursued him ten miles, with a loss on his side of over 100 killed and wounded. We captured a large quantity of small arms, two stands of colors, many wagons, and over 300 horses and mules.
Our loss will not exceed fifteen, in killed, wounded and missing.
We brought in several hundred contrabands.
The expedition was a complete success, details of which will be furnished in my official report, which will be forwarded in a few days.
POWELL CLAYTON, Colonel Commanding.
ST. LOUIS, Wednesday, April 6.
The following particulars of Col. CLAYTON's recent raid in Arkansas has been received from Little Rock, March 27.
Col. CLAYTON, with a small force of cavalry and infantry, and one battery, went to Mount Elba, on the Salem River. Leaving the infantry and artillery there to guard the bridge, and cover Pine Bluff, he proceeded with the cavalry toward Longview, further down the Salem, and 20 miles southwest, where the main body of the rebel army was stationed, for the purpose of destroying the pontoon bridges and the army stores at that place.
Lieut. GREATHOUSE, of the First Indiana, and Lieut. YOUNG, of the Fifth Kansas Cavalry, sent an advance of 100 men, and arriving at the bridge saw a large force of rebels opposite preparing to cross. Our officers hailed the enemy, told them they belonged to SHELBY's command, (which dresses in Federal uniform,) informed them that the Federals were upon them, and begged them to hurry to their rescue.
The rebels rushed forward, and as fast as they crossed were captured, and their guns thrown into the river. In this way 260 were captured, and 35 wagons laden with supplies, taken, which were destroyed; also, 300 horses and mules. A paymaster's safe, containing $60,000 in Confederate money was also captured. The bridge was afterward burned.
This and the march of 80 miles was accomplished in 24 hours.
The prisoners captured during the expedition, numbering 370, including many officers, reached Little Rock on the 2d.
There is nothing from Gen. STEELE.
Gov. MURPHY, of Arkansas, issued an address to the people of the counties of that State in which no elections have been held, and sent it out for distribution with Gen. STEELE's command. The address reviews the condition of the State during the war, recites the action of the late State Convention, and closes with a stirring appeal to the people of those counties in which elections could not be held, in consequence of their allegiance to the old Government, recommending them, under the ordinance passed by the State Convention for that purpose, to hold elections as soon as they can, with safety for members of the legislature, take upon themselves the rights and duties of freemen, and give their aid in the Union.
Brig.-Gen. NATHAN KIMBALL, assigned to the command of all the troops along the North Arkansas River, with headquarters in Little Rock, in a circular to the citizens of his district says: "The loyal shall be protected, and sympathizers with the rebellion, though they may have taken the oath of allegiance to the Government, will be treated as rebels unless they conform in word and act to the spirit of that oath."