New York Times US
AN EXPEDITION IN ARKANSAS.
The Missouri Democrat has a letter from Cape Girardeau, giving an account of the successful condition of the First Wisconsin Cavalry in Arkansas. They are commanded, it will be remembered, by Col. DANIELS, State Geologist of Wisconsin:
"It was known that they were traveling through a section of the country a Union soldiers had never before been in, unless as a prisoner, and that it was alive with guerrilla bands. [?] of rebels were also reported below in the direction of the line of march. No wonder, therefore, that considerable alarm was felt with regard to the regiment.
The course of march had been down Crowley's Ridge, the following being the principal places on the route: Scatterville, Gainesville, Greensboro, Jonesboro, Harrisburgh, Wittsburgh and Madison. The country through which the regiment passed was mostly rough and poor. The principal production of the valley and bottoms is generally cotton. The crop of last year was entirely burned up. Near every planter's house could be seen a large burnt place where the cotton had been burned. Not a bale had been preserved on the entire route. It generally had been burned contrary to the owners' wishes, by detachments of Confederate soldiers sent around for that purpose. This year the cotton lands were seceded with corn -- no more cotton being raised than was deemed necessary for family use. The road were completely lined with corn-fields -- it appearing as if the whole State of Arkansas was one vast cornfield.
The people generally look upon HINDMAN, the Confederate commandant of Arkansas, as a great tyrant. He has burned their cotton, prevented their raising a crop the present year, enforced the conscript law strictly, taking their surplus provisions, and even ordered the destruction of the remainder, for fear it would afford subsistence to Yankee soldiers. He has destroyed the bridges and highways, and apparently done everything in his power to completely ruin the country.
Among the prisoners captured during the march was Col. WAUGH, formerly JEFF. THOMPSON's Adjutant-General; also, Inspector-General of Missouri. He is a man of intelligence and gentlemanly manners, and is well posted in military matter, having formerly been an officer in the regular army. A cousin of Gen. HINDMAN, the Captain of a small guerrilla band at Harrisonburgh, was captured, with the greater portion of his band. The old rebel had sworn to kill the first Union man who entered the town and as the advance of the regiment went in he took his [?] and concealed himself behind his [?]. Young BRISTOL FARNSWORTH, of Squadron, C. was [?] considerably ahead of all the rest, and at her [?] the place where HINDMAN [?] him, but was so excited he [?]. FARNSWORTH returned the fire with his revolver, the ball grazing HINDMAN's head and taking off a piece of the scalp. The old rebel then dropped upon this [?] and played for mercy, which was granted by taking him along as prisoner. A prisoner taken at Greensboro was shot while attempting to escape, and has since died.
On the 8th inst., the main body of the regiment left Bloomfield, Me. On the 11th, a detachment of Capt. ALLEN's Company (rebels) was attacked at Scatterville Ark., from 12 to 15 killed, 20 wounded, and 10 taken prisoners. The detachment attacked numbered about 9, and was commanded by [?] ALLEN's Lieutenants. ALLEN's force, when to order, numbered near 200. The balance of his men were driven back in a Southwesterly direction, and followed until they were supposed to be beyond the White River. Another rebel force was chased from Greensboro, another from large Jonesboro, another from Harrisburgh, another quite large force from Taylor's Creek, and still another from Madison. Portions of all these companies were taken prisoners, and every armed rebel was followed [?] captured or well out of the way. The whole country was scoured, and not a rebel camp escaped the observation of our scouts. The country was entirely cleared of armed rebels. Hundred of conscripts were captured, released on parole of honor, and returned to their anxious families."