Arkadelphia, 8 O’clock
Dec. 7th, 1863
I have just seen an Englishman who left the enemy five miles from Tulip in direction of Rockport today at 11 o’clock. He says about (1,500) fifteen-hundred federals passed there yesterday back south & going towards Rockport with several pieces of artillery. Said they were going back to Benton, says the same number of men passed his town as they went down. Said they had good many Negores and a few prisoners. Said they had run Marmadukes men 17 miles south of Princeton.
I am satisfied that it is the same command that Lt. Johnson says is in Rockport.
A. V. Rieff, Maj. In Chg. Pickets