New York Times US
GEN. CURTIS' COLUMN
Correspondence of the Chicago Post.
ST. LOUIS, Wednesday, May 14, 1862.
Intelligence from Gen. CURTIS' column in Arkansas, to the 10th has been received here. Gen. CURTIS was at Batesville, but was preparing to march upon Little Rock.
Portions of the divisions of Gens. DAVIS and STEELE left Batesville, en route for HALLECK's army before Corinth. They go by way of Cape Girardeau and Cairo. Of Gen. DAVIS' Division, the following regiments are included among those who leave: The Second Indiana, Major DAILY, formerly commanded by JEFF. C. DAVIS; Fifty-ninth Illinois, Col. FREDERICKS; Twenty-fifth Illinois, Col. SOLER; Thirty-fifth Illinois, Lieut.-Col. CHANDLER; and part of the First Missouri Cavalry, under Capt. CLIFFORD. Of the Third Division, (DAVIS',) the following are left behind: The Thirty-seventh Illinois, part of the Missouri Cavalry, under Major HIBBARD, and two sections of Peoria Light Artillery, stationed at Cassville.
On the 9th, the advance, under Gen. OSTERHAUS, crossed White River over a bridge of boats, and have taken the road to Little Rock. Information was revived that the enemy had felled trees across the road in White County, for the purpose of blockading our progress. It is probably the work of COLEMAN's men.
There has been a general rush of citizens to headquarters to take the oath of allegiance to the Government.
A flatboat capsized on the night of the 9th, while, crossing White River, having on board two officers and some twenty men, belonging to the Third Illinois Cavalry, loaded wagons, one six-mule team, and several horses . Capt. MCCLELLAND and five of the men were carried down with the wagon and drowned. Adjutant COWAN and six others paddled ashore in a box, and three men were picked up a [?] below on a tent. The flatboat soon after righted with three men on top. The balance of the men swam ashore. The following is a list of the drowned: Capt. Thomas G. McClelland, Co. H, of Fulton County, Illinois; Sergeant James W. White, of Co. D; John Bennington, Co. K; Wm. P. Haro, Co. A; Wm. Westbrook, Co. E; Wm. F. Shoemate, Co. E. The river is being raked for the bodies.
A man in the advance with OSTERHAUS was killed Saturday, by a concealed foe.
One of our forage wagons and four men were captured fifteen miles south of here by the rebels. The men were released.
From a citizen just returned from Little Rock, I learn the following: The cotton was being packed by the owners, and sent away to prevent its being taken by the Federals. It is reported that the ferryboats on Red River were being destroyed by COLEMAN's men.
At Little Rock there were eight steamers on the 8th instant. There were 300 barrels of molasses on the wharf on the same evening. There was intense excitement at Little Rock when the news of the Federal occupation of Batesville reached there. Everything appeared to be in commotion. Our forces were reported at 10,000, and it was rumored that we were en route southward.
There were 130 Texan cavalry at Little Rock, and six regiments of the same kind of forces were daily expected to arrive, but the latter were under orders for Corinth. Some of the people whispered "peace," others were rampant for defending the city to the last extremity. Many were picking up their valuables to send off.
On the 6th the governor ordered all the drinking saloons to be closed. The same day he issued a proclamation calling on the State militia to repair immediately to the capital to repel the invaders. Many of the commanders were publishing special calls.
Gen. PIKE at last accounts was camped at Boggy depot, 100 miles southwest of Fort Smith. Two steamer left the same day loaded with freight. One steamer went down the river, the other went up.
It was rumored that two gunboats were at the mouth of the river. Some said they belonged to the Federals; others said to the Confederates. No cannon were seen in the town, but a number of timber chests were observed and a few Government wagons.
The whole stock of MCCULLOCH's Brigade was said to be at Pine Bluffs. The men were at Corinth.