SEPTEMBER 30, 1864.-Skirmish at Waynesville, Mo. Reports of Lieut. Thomas B. Wright, Company B, Fifth Missouri State Militia Cavalry. WAYNESVILLE, September 30, 1861. SIR: I attacked twenty guerrillas to-day in Waynesville; killed 1. said by citizens to be Bill Anderson, and wounded 2 others, who mad their escape; killed 2 horses and captured a third. Also captured a revolver and some clothing dropped by the rebels in their flight. Ou loss, 2 horses wounded. They burned stabling of one company and set fire to the magazine in the fort, but it did not burn. No other damage done to property. They robbed the county clerk of $100 and secured a small amount of clothing from the citizens. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOS. B. WRIGHT, First Lieut. Co. B, Fifth Regt. Cav., Missouri State Militia. Lieutenant-Colonel EPPSTEIN, Rolla, Mo. OCTOBER 1, 1864. SIR: Since writing I have learned that this band were under com mand of a man named Burkhart, formerly of Texas County, Mo., who represented that he belonged to Shelby's command, but several of his men were recognized here and are known to be bushwhackers. Ide not think they have any connection with the army invading the State. I learned to-day that they had collected and gone in southern direction. T. B. WRIGHT. Lieutenant-Colonel EPPSTEIN, Rolla, Mo. SEPTEMBER, 1864.-Capture of the Steamer Ike Davis. HDQRS. DIST. OF TEXAS, NEW MEXICO, AND ARIZONA, Anderson, October 1, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to inform you that Capt. W. F. Brown, of the Marine Department, and Lieut. Marcus J. Beebee, of the C. S. Navy, and eight others (volunteers for the enterprise), a few days ago captured the U. S. steamer Ike Davis, a packet between mouth of Ri Grande and New Orleans, and ran her into Matagorda Bay, where she now lies. These gentlemen entered themselves as passengers for New Orleans, and when twelve miles from Brazos rose upon the crew, drove them below, and took possession of the vessel-a steamer of 400 tons and said to be very fast. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. W. R. BOGGS, J. G. WALKER, Major-General, Commanding. Chief of Staff. OCTOBER 1-4, 1864.-Scout from Helena to Alligator Bayou, Ark. Report of Lieut. Alexander F. Rice, Sixtieth U. S. Colored Troops. HEADQUARTERS BATTERY D, Helena, Ark., October 5, 1864. SIR: I have the honor of submitting the following report of a scout, beginning on the 1st day of and ending on the 4th day of October, 1864, which resulted as follows: I took Hardin and Gentry with a skiff and proceeded up the river (on the mail-boat Diligence) as far as Doctor Peters', at the foot of Council Bend. Got in the skiff at 11 p. m. the same night and landed on the Arkansas shore. Proceeded to Doctor Peters' house, captured a man there by the name of W. D. Freeman. At daylight, the 2d, crossed over to the Mississippi shore and captured William C. Tannahill (with a revolver). Said Tannahill was regularly detailed to ferry Confederate soldiers by order of General Price. Came back to the Arkansas shore and proceeded to Alligator Bayou, on the Saint Francis River, and proceeded up the river five miles, and came back to Alligator; staid all night. At daylight, the 3d of October, we started back to Doctor Peters'; arrived there at 12 m. I took a bond of $1,000 for the appearance of W. D. Freeman at Helena within ten days, with Doctor Peters as security. At 1 o'clock started down the river for Helena; came twenty miles, staid all night; started at 6 a. m. the 4th; came down ten miles to Berry's, in Walnut Bend, and captured B. A. Berry and H. A. Waddell. Berry had been a prisoner, but escaped by jumping off a boat. Waddell is a private of the First Tennessee Infantry. Arrived at Helena at 5 p. m. the 4th October, 1864. A. F. RICE, Lieutenant, Commanding Scout. Capt. T. C. MEATYARD, Assistant Adjutant-General. Oct. OCTOBER 1-31, 1864.-Operations in Arkansas. SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.* 3, 1864.-Skirmish near Mount Elba, Ark. 4-11, 1864.-Reconnaissance from Little Rock toward Monticello and to 13-18, 1864.-Expedition from Pine Bluff to Arkansas Post, Ark. 24-27, 1864.-Scout from Pine Bluff toward Mount Elba, Ark. 25, 1864.-Skirmish near the Half-way House, between Little Rock and Pine Bluff, Ark. 26-28, 1864.-Expedition from Little Rock to Irving's plantation, Ark. 26-Nov. 2, 1864.-Expedition from Brownsville to Cotton Plant, Ark. REPORTS. No. 1.—Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele, U. S. Army, commanding Department of Arkan sas. No. 2.-Itinerary of the First Brigade, Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps, Col. Albert Erskine, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, commanding. No. 3.-Col. John F. Ritter, First Missouri Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade. See also attack on steamer Resolute, October 11, p. 884; expedition from Devall's Bluff, October 16-17, p. 889; and attack on Union transport, near Saint Charles, October 22, p. 890, No. 4.-Maj. Frederick Behlendorff, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry. No. 8.-Col. Washington F. Geiger, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, commanding Third Brigade. No. 9.-Maj. George T. Snelling, Tenth Illinois Cavalry. No. 10.-Lieut. George J. Campbell, Third U. S. Cavalry. No. 11.-Brig. Gen. Powell Clayton, U. S. Army, commanding post of Pine Bluff, Ark. No. 1. Reports of Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele, U. S. Army, commanding Depart ment of Arkansas. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS, Little Rock, Ark., October 21, 1864. GENERAL: Major-General Reynolds arrived here to-day and will leave here this evening for the mouth of White River. He promises to dispatch you all the news obtained here in regard to the movements of the enemy, &c. I sent 500 cavalry to drive in the enemy's pickets on the Saline and penetrate their line, which I alluded to in my last dis patch. This command went to Princeton, drove out a small force of the enemy, and found no rebel property there, except some Enfield rifles, which they destroyed. There was a considerable cavalry force encamped near Princeton, which by a flank movement got in front of our troops on their return, and attacked them about twenty-one miles from here. Our troops charged them, driving them off the field, kill ing 27, and capturing 1 lieutenant and 16 men. Our loss, 1 killed and 8 wounded. Dockery's brigade is picketing along the Saline. There is one brigade, about 1,000, at Montigello. Accounts are conflicting in regard to the force at Camden. Magruder is probably there with a small infantry force and considerable artillery. His infantry is en camped on Prairie D'Ane. Your estimate of his force agrees with mine. He thinks I am about to move against him with 30,000. Rebel citizens are moving south in anticipation of our advance. The cavalry that I sent to Fort Smith returned, with dates from Thayer 10th instant. He is constantly threatened by a force estimated at 8,000 under General Gano. He had about forty days' rations, had received none by way of Fort Scott, and depends upon this depot for his next supplies. It is my opinion that Price will return south by way of the Indian coun try, and will attack Fort Smith. Iintend to get in hand all the force pos sible to move against Price on his return. I have spies in his camp who will notify me. General Herron has assumed to give me orders to dismount three cavalry regiments, and to reduce my cavalry pickets. In my opinion this does not come within the scope of his instructions and I shall not comply with his directions without orders from you o the subject. He has also directed me to issue orders correcting abuses. which do not exist that I can learn. The data upon which he grounds his opinion seem to have been derived from hearsay evidence of my ene mies. He has made no inspections, and has confined himself to his quarters nearly all the time since his arrival here. Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. E. R. S. CANBY, Commanding Military Division of West Mississippi, LITTLE ROCK, October 31, 1864. GENERAL: A train of thirty-five wagons from Price's army crossed it Dardanelle on the 20th. On the 23d about fifty men from the Third Arkansas Cavalry, and some loyal men, attacked the rebel escort, killed 15, wounded others, and drove the rest into the mountains, capturing 35 wagons, 200 horses, and $11,000 in money. Seven hundred of our troops from Fort Smith came up just as the affair was over. We are watching Price's movements closely. I have both infantry and cavalry en route for Fort Smith now. General Thayer has orders to draw in his outposts and all public property to Fort Smith before Price can reach them, in case he should come that way. I think. he is so hard pushed by Rosecrans, that he will go west of Fort Smith. Our cavalry from Pine Bluff had a sharp skirmish with Logan on the Little Rock road day before yesterday with success. No official reports received. I will send you a summary of operations for the month. Several escaped prisoners from Tyler, Tex., have just come in. They were assisted off by deserters who have not yet got in. It is reported that rebel cavalry is moving from Red River country toward Camden. A cavalry scouting party just returned from north side of White River. They had a skirmish, killed 3, captured 15 prisoners and 73 head of horses and mules. Maj. Gen. E. R. S. CANBY. No. 2. F. STEELE, * Itinerary of the First Brigade, Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps, Col. Albert Erskine, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, commanding." October 7.-A reconnaissance in force toward Monticello and Mount Elba was ordered. The expedition was under Colonel Ritter, of the Second Brigade, and comprised about 700 men of that brigade and 300 of the First Brigade, under Colonel Erskine. The column marched to within fifteen miles of Monticello, and hearing that there was no enemy there, it was ordered toward Mount Elba, where the rear guard of the enemy was encountered and driven across the Saline River. dition returned October 10. The expe October 13.-Colonel Erskine, with 250 men of the First Brigade, marched toward Arkansas Post, which place was reached on the 15th. October 18.-The expedition returned to Pine Bluff, having encountered but one small band of the enemy, from which were captured 1 prisoner and 6 horses. The expedition brought into Pine Bluff 400 head of cattle, 30 horses, and 125 sheep. October 24.-Captain Bechand, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, with thirty men, was ordered on scout toward Mount Elba; went nine miles beyond that place; ascertained that the enemy was picketing the line of the Saline River. Returning he encounted thirty of the enemy twelve miles from Pine Bluff; charged and drove them into the woods, capturing 10 stand of arms and 6 mules. October 25.-Captain Davis, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry, with fifty men, was ordered out to repair telegraph on the Little Rock road; discovered an ambush of fifty of the enemy near Rock Springs; charged and drove them, having 2 men badly wounded. The brigade furnishes daily 205 men and 6 officers for picket, and every other day fifty men for foraging. From monthly return. No. 3. Report of Col. John F. Ritter, First Missouri Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade. HDQRS. 2D BRIG., CAV. DIV., SEVENTH ARMY CORPS, Little Rock, Ark., October 13, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 8, dated headquarters Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps, Lit tle Rock, Ark., October 3, 1864, and letter from district headquarters of the same date, I proceeded to Pine Bluff with available portion of this brigade (777 aggregate), arriving there on the 6th instant. Received a re-enforcement of 250 men at Pine Bluff and marched on the 7th in the direction of Monticello, with orders to ascertain the where abouts, strength, &c., of the enemy. Encamped within fifteen miles of Monticello that night, my patrols going within eight or nine miles of the town without encountering anything. My scouts brought me information that the enemy had positively evacuated Monticello, and that two brigades of cavalry had left that vicinity a few days before and marched to Mount Elba. Marched to Mount Elba on the 8th instant and found a picket of about fifty men there, which was quickly driven across the Saline River. This is the only force of the enemy seen on the whole march. The inhabitants of the country reported that the enemy had all withdrawn to Camden, some said, for the want of subsistence. I found it very difficult to forage my animals, and from information I received, it would have been almost impossible to do so in the vicinity of Monticello. The reported strength of the enemy is from 14,000 to 15,000, about 3,000 of this force being cavalry. Returned to Pine Bluff on the 9th and there received orders to proceed to Little Rock. Arrived at Little Rock on the 11th instant. Total dis tance marched, about 200 miles. A good supply of forage on the north side of the Arkansas, about midway between Little Rock and Pine Bluff, in some cases a good distance from the river, but it could be easily obtained before the rainy season sets in. Also, it was reported to me that 900 bushels could be obtained at Doctor Watkins', on the south side (middle road), about sixteen miles from Little Rock. The following is the list of casualties, viz: Missing and supposed to have deserted-James McNamara, Third U. S. Cavalry; James Maxwell. Third U. S. Cavalry; John Cosbell, John F. Crosby, First Cavalry Missouri Volunteers. One man, name unknown, wounded, First Cavalry Missouri Volunteers. Number of horses abandoned, 7; number of horses taken up, 3. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN F. RITTER, Colonel First Missouri Cavalry, Commanding Brigade. Lieut. W. A. MARTIN, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Cav. Division, Seventh Army Corps. ADDENDA. Itinerary of the Second Brigade, Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps, Col. John F. Ritter, First Missouri Cavalry, commanding.* During the month of October this brigade has been constantly engaged in scouting, escort, picket, and outpost duty. October 4.-The available portion of the brigade (about 800 men) was ordered upon an important reconnaissance, under command of Col. * From monthly return. |