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JULY 13, 1864. - Skirmish near Brownsville, Ark.

Reports of Col. Oliver Wood, Twenty-second Ohio Infantry.

BROWNSVILLE, July 13, 1864-9.30 р. т.

The rebels, supposed to be 150 strong, attacked our pickets just now. We have driven them off. My force is so small that I do not like to venture beyond our defenses. This may only be the advance of a larger force.

O. WOOD,

Colonel.

Capt. C. H. DYER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

BROWNSVILLE, July 14, 1864-5.45 р. т.

I followed the rebel force that attacked me last night to near Snake Island, about fifteen miles from here, in a southeasterly direction where they divided in small squads and took different directions. did not deem it advisable to pursue too far with the force under my command. I do not know what force the rebels belong to. One of my vedettes lost his horse, saddle, and bridle. We captured five guns from them. The detachment of Tenth Illinois Cavalry has just arrived. Captain Wilson will report his disaster to you.

Capt. C. H. DYER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

O. WOOD,

Colonel.

JULY 13, 1864. - Reconnaissance from Pine Bluff, Ark
Report of Col. Powell Clayton, Fifth Kansas Cavalry.

PINE BLUFF, ARK., July 14, 1864-9-а, т.

I made a reconnaissance down the river yesterday with 600 cavalry and 400 infantry, and five pieces of the Sigel artillery, attached to the cavalry regiment. Went fifteen miles down the river, at which point I found Crawford's brigade in line of battle in a very strong position. As my intention was simply to reconnoiter I did not deem i advisable to attack him. Not knowing what re-enforcements he might have in his rear, and my right flank and rear being very much exposed to a flank movement on his part, I endeavored by concealing my main force and showing but a small party in his front to draw him out of his position, and if possible lead him on to my infantry, which was posted under cover, about seven miles in our rear. Failing in this, I sent for my train and had it loaded with forage during the night; returned early this morning. Fagan is at Douglass' plantation, about fifteer miles below where Crawford's brigade was yesterday. It is going to be very difficult for us to forage much more down the river. The only place that will be left for us will be upon the opposite side. I sent a dispatch to General Steele in reference to the expiration of the term o service of three companies of the Fifth Kansas Cavalry. I have received no answer. Their terms have expired. There is no mustering officer here. What shall be done with them? Please have the general direct what field officers shall be mustered out with them.

Lieutenant-Colonel GREEN,

POWELL CLAYTON,

Colonel, Commanding.

Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of Arkansas.

(Same to Capt. C. H. Dyer, assistant adjutant-general, District of Little Rock.)

JULY 13-16, 1864. - Expedition from Helena, Ark., to Buck Island, in the

Mississippi River.

REPORTS.

No. 1.-Brig. Gen. Napoleon B. Buford, U. S. Army, commanding District of Eastern

Arkansas.

No. 2.-Capt. Rudolph Schoenemann, Sixth Minnesota Infantry.

No. 1.

Report of Brig. Gen. Napoleon B. Buford, U. S. Army, commanding District of Eastern Arkansas.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF EASTERN ARKANSAS,

Helena, Ark., July 16, 1864.

:

DEAR SIR: I learned that the enemy had crossed arms into Arkansas at Buck Island. I sent a cavalry force to reconnoiter who have returned. They report 1,500 rifles and a large quantity of cartridges have been crossed and received by Shelby's men.

On the 14th artillery firing was heard for three hours on White River. I expect the river is, or soon will be, blockaded.

On the 8th instant I wrote the inclosed letter, not knowing to whom I could safely send it. You know the restrictions on military correspondence. I finally sent one copy to General Canby and one to General Hitchcock, who is my warm personal friend, and who is in the Secretary of War's office. Please take two minutes to tell me what you think of it.

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Why do we continue to occupy the interior of Arkansas? What good has arisen from the occupation? Have the meeting of the convention and the Legislature at Little Rock restored the State to the Union? What harm has resulted? Has not the cost of maintaining the army in the interior been vastly beyond what it would have been on the banks of the Mississippi River? Have we not lost two gun-boats and several trausports on the Arkansas River and one gun-boat on White River? Have we not lost three regiments, 700 wagons, 4,000 mules, 2,000 cavalry horses, 6 pieces of artillery, and 1,000,000 cartridges in the inte rior? Have we not established trade stores in the interior by which the enemy has been supplied with a vast amount of goods, thus affording opportunities for corrupt traders to supply the enemy with the means of carrying on the war? Would not the maintenance of four fortified positions on the river and a strict blockade, preventing the enemy from getting supplies, have accomplished greater results with about onefourth the expenditure of men and means? I suggest the following disposition of troops in Arkansas:

First. A post should be fortified opposite Memphis to maintain dominion over the country and prevent the corrupt traders of Memphis from introducing a dollar's worth of merchandise into the interior. Second. Make Helena, which is partially fortified, the chief post and remove the seat of government to it, and drive out every secession sympathizer from the triangle formed by the Mississippi and White Rivers, and a line drawn from Devall's Bluff to Memphis; inaugurate the civil government under the new constitution and laws and extend the area as fast as possible. Third. A post should be fortified on the large island between the mouths of White and Arkansas Rivers. It would require but a small garrison if supported by two gun-boats to watch the enemy's attempts to cross either river. Two thousand freedmen could be employed on this island and be made self-supporting in cutting wood for steam-boats. Fourth. I would recommend that the fourth post be established near Columbia or Lakeport or in that-vicinity, which would communicate as directly with Camden and Shreveport as Little Rock does with those places. Two of the islands, 63 and 66, in the river, are safely garrisoned by single companies of troops and afford protection for the wood-choppers, most of whom are freedmen. Other islands might be occupied in the same way.

Would not the navigation of the Mississippi River be much less liable to interruption by this distribution of the forces than by placing them in the interior? Has the possession of Little Rock prevented in the least degree the organization of the army of the rebels in the State? Would not the withdrawal of the troops from the interior to the banks of the Mississippi enable the fortified places to communicate with each other every twenty-four hours, and thus make the dominion of the river complete?

The season is approaching when the Arkansas and White Rivers become unnavigable. The maintenance of the overland communication from Helena to Little Rock requires the crossing of Big Creek, White, and Arkansas, and innumerablé small streams and cypress swamps.

No. 2.

Report of Capt. Rudolph Schoonemann, Sixth Minnesota Infantry.

CAMP BUFORD, Near Helena, Ark., July 16, 1864.

GENERAL: Having received verbal orders from you to procure all the information practicable concerning certain Confederate forces alleged to have crossed the Mississippi River at or near Buck Island, I left this town on the evening of the 13th instant, on the steamer Dove, accompanying a force composed of Companies E and F, of the Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry... Of the proceedings of the expedition whilst under my. command I

have herewith the honor to make the following report:

Early in the morning of the 14th the cavalry disembarked at Doctor Peterson's place on this side of the river and I assumed command of the remaining force and continued up the river as far as Buck Island. The island was examined and also both banks of the river in its neighborhood and immediately below. I was informed by residents on the Tennessee shore that twelve wagon-loads of arms and ammunition were ferried across the river to the opposite shore, from Wednesday morning to Saturday night of the preceding week, and that said train was protected by about seventy cavalry, under command of Captain Graham. On the west bank additional information was received that there was a force on that side amounting to 500 to 1,000 men, as variously estimated by the inhabitants spoken with by me, under command of Colonel McGill, to supply which force the ammunition was taken over. They said that the stores were ferried over in small boats, subsequently destroyed by a gun-boat from Memphis, and that, in order to keep the crossing as seeret as possible, the rebels had strict orders not to fire upon any of the steam-boats passing up and down the river. I found on the Arkansas side some empty ammunition-boxes (of U. S. manufacture), which from the marks had contained No. .58 elongated and No. .69 round ball cartridges. Also, below Buck Island, on the eastern shore, in searching for arms I found an old rifle and ammunition bag with C. S. belt, aud a butcher knife, in possession of a man named Bennett, all of which articles were delivered to your office.

I remain, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. SCHOENEMANN,
Company E, Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.

Brig. Gen. N. B. BUFORD,

Comdg. District of Eastern Arkansas, Helena, Ark.

JULY 14, 1864. - Skirmish near Bloomfield, Mo.

Report of Lieut. Col. John T. Burris, Tenth Kansas Infantry.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, July 15, 1864.

Skirmishing occurred yesterday evening near Bloomfield between a detachment of Second Cavalry Missouri State Militia and of the Enrolled Militia on one side and a band of bushwhackers on the other. One man of the Enrolled Militia was killed, and 1 of the Second Cavalry Missouri State Militia slightly wounded. They wounded 1 mortally, and slightly wounded 2 others, and captured 3 splendid horses and horse equipments.

Brig. Gen. THOMAS EWING.

JOHN T. BURRIS,

Lieutenant-Colonel.

JULY 15, 1864. - Affair at Lindley, Grundy County, Mo.

Report of Maj. Rezin A. De Bolt.

TRENTON, Mo., July 18, 1864.

DEAR SIR: On the morning of the 15th instant a party of bushwhack%, numbering twenty-seven, came into the little town of Lindley, in this county, and robbed the citizens of money, horses, guns, and pistols. They were pursued by Capt. E. L. Winters with what men he could hastily collect, and overtaken some eight miles from the place robbed. A fight ensued, in which 5 of Captain Winters' men were wounded. The bushwhackers again fled. The captain overhauled them again in the afternoon and fought them, in which he had 1 man killed and 1 mortally wounded. The bushwhackers were all well armed, with from two to four revolvers and one and two shotguns each. Our men were but poorly armed and were scarce of ammunition. How long, oh, how long must we suffer with these fiends in human shape? If the loyal Enrolled Missouri Militia were armed they would soon stop this bushwhacking. Why this is not done I cannot imagine. We need help. and we look to those in power to furnish it, and if aid is not furnished soon I fear the loyal men will take the matter in their own hands. Then, I fear, they would violate the orders of Provost-Marshal McIlwrath, who, I fear, is not thoroughly loyal to the core; at least, he acts very favorable to rebels, as I am informed.

Hoping that aid to loyal men will soon be furnished,
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. A. DE BOLT,

Chairman of County Com. of Safety for Grundy County, Mo. Brig. Gen. C. B. FISK,

Saint Joseph, Mo.

JULY 17-18, 1864. - Expedition from Baton Rouge to Davison's Ford, near Clinton, La.

Report of Col. John G. Fonda, One hundred and eighteenth Illinois Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, Cavalry Division, Nineteenth Army Corps.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, CAVALRY DIVISION,

Baton Rouge, July 19, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that on the afternoon of the 17th instant 1 left camp with 400 men and proceeded toward the Comite River by the Greenwell Springs road. I crossed the Comite at Roberts' Ford. At about one mile beyond the ford my advance met a wagon loaded with cotton and guarded by a rebel soldier, who was shot in attempting to escape. The cotton was sent to camp. I moved on fron this place to Burlington on the Amite River, where a party that I had sent to a ferry captured 4 men who were floating cotton down the river. From here I continued on in the direction of Clinton to near Davison's Ford. In order to deceive the inhabitants with regard to my movements, I turned back from this point and camped at Burlington. At daylight I sent a force of about seventy men to Davison's Ford, and two hours after I put another party over the river at Burlington to co-operate with the first party, which had orders to come down on the east side of the river. At 11.30 a. m. both parties returned to Burlington. They had encountered a small rebel force and killed 1 and captured 5. As soon as this party could be ferried across the river I started for camp, where I arrived at 5.30 p. m. yesterday. On my way in I learned that a quantity of cotton was deposited at the house of one Graham, and that it was a part of the same lot which I found the

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