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Sherman in Arkansas, a good read!!!

JANUARY 1, 1863.-Affair near Helena, Ark.

Report of Brigadier General Willis A. Gorman, U. S. Army.

HDQRS. DIST. OF EAST. ARK., Helena, Ark., January 3, 1863.

GENERAL: On January 1, the Texas Rangers, with 25 or 30 men, about sunrise made a dash upon my pickets again, where 26 men and 1 commissioned officer were on duty, and, without the least resistance or the firing of a gun, disgracefully surrendered and were taken off. They belonged to the Twenty-eighth Iowa, a new regiment, but a short time in the service. The officer must be disgracefully dismissed from the service, and I trust you will order that the men, when they return under parole,
as they probably will in a few days, shall be ordered on duty again and put in the front of the first fight, and if ever captured again let them be hung, as they deserve. There are strong suspicions that they surrendered to be paroled, that they might get home. They were all sitting down and lying around, shamefully neglecting their duty.

About four days previous to this they attacked our cavalry pickets from an ambuscade in the dense woods; killed 2 nd wounded 16. These belonged to the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, and behaved handsomely. None were captured. I am still occupying Friar's Point with the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Regiment, 100 cavalry, and two pieces of artillery.

General Sherman's troops, on the way down the Mississippi, wantonly burned much property. The general arrested the guilty parties, had them tried promptly, and seven of them shot. I am not advised to what regiment or command they belonged. This is the first execution for plundering, marauding, or burning property that has occurred in our army during the war. I regret to say that this army has acquired an unenviable reputation for plundering, robbing, and burning property. The discipline is improving. When I took command it seemed to me the most undisciplined mob I ever came in contact with. The material is splendid, but the political demagogues among the line officers are enough to damn the best army on God's footstool. I found colonels giving leaves of absence, men and officers slipping off home on boats, and all manner of breaches of discipline and order. I have had thorough inspections, of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, commissary and quartermaster's departments, transportation, and all public property. I have had drills and reviews of every arm of the service. If I had thirty days' pretty weather, I would set up this army in as fine style as need be.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. A. GORMAN,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Major-General CURTIS,

Commanding Department of the Missouri, Saint Louis, Mo