Arkansas True Democrat, Little Rock CS
Daring Exploits of Capt. Johnson's Spy Company.—By the following report, it will be seen that this gallant company are still annoying the enemy and decreasing his numbers:
Camp near St. Charles, Dec. 16, 1862.
Lieut. General—
Lieut. James returned to camp last night with a squad of thirty men. He brought in twenty-four prisoners whom he captured on the 14th inst. at sun rise, two and a half miles from Helena, on the St. Francis road and one mile from the enemy's camp. They were a picket guard, and were all taken without firing a gun. He brought in their twenty-four horses and saddles, and a number of breach loading carbines, sabres and holster pistols. One of the prisoners is a lieutenant.
One the 12th inst., N. B. Dowell, 1st sergeant, and Henry George, a private, whose names are, I consider, entitled to be placed with honor before the country, on account of their skill and daring, harassed a foraging party of 450 men with 160 wagons, which came out on the Hickory Ridge road, 10 miles from Helena. They killed two dead and wounded three others severely. The enemy returned to Helena in great haste with only 35 of his wagons loaded with forage.
Capt. Alf. Johnson,
Com'dg Texas Spy Comp.
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To Lieut. Gen. Holmes,
Com'dg Trans-Miss. Department.
Camp near St. Charles, Dec. 24th, 1862.
General: On the 18th instant I ordered 3d Serg't Sanders Husbands on a scout towards Helena with six men, and on the 19th, was joined by three of Capt. Corley's men, and attacked a party of 22 federals, killing five, wounding five and capturing one of the 5th Kansas regiment, who I have paroled and sent to Helena under a flag of truce with the twenty-four captured by Lieut. Jameson on the 24th inst. Serg't Husbands reports heavy shipments of troops from Helena, on the 20th and 21st forty transports heavily laden started down the Mississippi on the 21st, and from observation and reliable information, thinks four thousand will cover their number at Helena at this time, and on the 21st discovering a party of twenty-seven federals, and securing the co-operation of ten of Capt. Corley's command, making the little force sixteen strong (one man being sent in with the prisoner captured on the 19th,) they gave them fight—killing eighteen dead on the ground, severely wounding two, the horses falling into their hands being wounded were left as worthless. So brilliant an affair, I think deserved the personal mention of every man engaged. Saunders Husbands 3d serg't. Privates—J. S. Ellis, T. J. Allen, J. T. Garrett, A. S. Graves and P. Mitchell. Capt. Corley's men is mentioned as behaving very gallantly, and from my long intimacy with Serg't Husbands and the men under his command, I can safely say this is by no means a varnished report, but a plain statement of facts as they occurred, and the killing and wounding of thirty in the two engagements against such odds without the slightest loss is truly miraculous.
With much respect, your very ob't serv't,
A. Johnson, Capt.
Com'dg Texas Spy Company.
Lieut. Gen. T. H. Holmes,
Little Rock.
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Head Quarters, Alexander’s Regt.,}
Capt. Roane, Ark., Dec. 16, 1862.}
Mr. Editor. As your paper has a larger circulation in Texas than any other, I will be obliged if you will permit me to tender the ladies of Texas the heart felt gratitude, the best wishes of the regiment and officers, for the promptness and liberality with which they have furnished us with good warm clothing, not a thing but was sent us almost in abundance. Who could not bear toils, trouble and death itself for the protection of such ladies. Again we tender them our thanks and best wishes, hoping a speedy and onourable peace will restore us to our families, and we can only say, we will try, to do our duty as Texians.
We have been under the immediate command of Maj. Gen. Hindman for some months, and can cheerfully say to our friends at home, the better we have known him the better we have loved him. He has energy coupled with capacity that fully qualifies him for a leader. All have unlimited confidence in him as a man and as a general, he won me on sight. So I am, (as well as this brigade,) a Hindman man, he sees things clearly and quickly, and acts promptly. We will go with him to ____, if he calls for,
Very respectfully yours, etc.
A. M. Alexander, Col.
Com’dg Texas Regt.