THE BATTLE AT HELENA.
Published: August 9, 1863
From the Little Rock True Democrat, July 8.
We have delayed the publication of the paper one day for the purpose of getting a satisfactory account of the battle at Helena, which was fought last Saturday. Gov. FLANNAGIN and Col. GORDON PEAY have just arrived from the army. From the Governor, who was at the battle, we have obtained, substantially, the following statement in regard to the plan of the attack and its results. Our forces were as follows: FAGAN's brigade of 1,800 effective men; PARSONS' of 1,900; McRAE's of 1,300; MARMADUKE's of 1,800 and WALKER's of 1,000, making in all about 7,000 men. Besides these forces there was BLOCKER's battery and some artillery attached to MARMADUKE's and WALKER's brigades. According to the plan of the battle, BROOKS' regiment and BLOCKER's battery of FAGAN's brigage were to occupy the attention of the Federals in the bottom below Helena, between the hills and the river. The balance of FAGAN's brigade was to attack the forces in the rifle pits leading to the fort on the hill near HINDMAN's house. Gen. PRICE's forces, comprising PARSON's and McRAE's brigades, were to attack the fort on the graveyard bill and Fort German; while Gens. MARMADUKE and WALKER -- the latter on the right -- were to attack the fort on the road leading up the river, called Grant's mill road. Taking the disposition of the forces as we have given it, commencing below the town, thence on the hills back of it around to the river above, and some idea may be formed of the battle-field. Besides the forts named, there was Fort Curtis, situated nearer to the town, and in the half circle described by the others. The attack by our forces was to be simultaneous. The regiment and battery below engaged the attention of the enemy according to the plan. Gen. FAGAN's forces, a little in advance of the others, commenced the attack between 4 and 5 A.M., passing over and around the spurs of the steep hills, running in to the bottom. He encountered the enemy in his rifle-pits and drove him from them successively under a heavy enfilading file from the fort near HINDMAN's house and from the gunboats. His progress was, of course, slow, but he reached the fort after suffering perhaps the severest loss of any of our forces, and succeeded in communicating with Gen. PRICE to his left. His men were so much exhausted and his ranks so thinned that he did not succeed in taking the fort.
The next fort, on the grave-yard hill, was taken probably by GLENN's regiment of McRAE's brigade There were two gnus in it, one was left in good order, but the other had shot rammed in without powder. While taking this fort our forces were exposed to the enemy's fire from the fort near HINDMAN's house, from Fort Gorman above and from the gunboats. The cannonading was terrific. We failed to take Fort Gorman -- it was too strong for infantry, being the best fort they have. Still further above MARMADUKE and WALKER drove in the enemy's pickets, planted their artillery on the ridge to command the river, but the enemy found safety behind the levee. The fort on GRANT's mill road was not taken -- probably not attacked.
The fight having lasted five hours with the results stated, our forces were all withdrawn in good order. The enemy remained in his works and forts, evidently expecting a renewal of the fight. The day was hot, and our troops suffered from want of water and from heavy marching. They had slept none the previous night. But the time for the attack had already passed, and there was no time for delay.
The casualties on our side were about 400 killed and wounded; the number taken prisoners is variously estimated, but it is not large. Loss of the enemy not known. Gen. PRENTISS. who was in command of the Federal forces, promised to parole our wounded. Capt. WALTER WATKINS. son of Hon. GEO. C. WATKINS, was seen to fall, and is supposed to be killed. Lieut. Wm. F. RECTOR, son of Ex-Gov. RECTOR, is reported mortally wounded. Col. BALL was reported wounded, and was taken prisoner, with the Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment. Maj. GEO. A. GALLAGHER. acting as Adjutant-General to Gen. HOLMES, was wounded by a ball from a spherical shot, which struck him on the chin, breaking the jawbone and knocking out his front teeth. FRANK VAUGHN, of this county, lost an arm. There are other casualties spoken of, but not sufficiently certain to be mentioned. We regret that we cannot give a list of them, but should one come before we go to press, we will give it.
Gen. HOLMES acted gallantly during the fight, and when we took the fort on the graveyard hill, he left his position and went into it under a heavy fire, which was turned loose at every object that passed. He lost the horse which he rode into the fort. Gen. PRICE was always with his men, and we know they fought well with the old veteran.
The only property destroyed during the fight was the negro quarters below the town.
We are unable to give the force of the enemy. It was ascertained that they were not reinforced up to the night prior to the attack, though boats were arriving all day and during the fight. Gen. PRICE sent word to Gen. HOLMES that he had been reliably informed that the Federals received reinforcements on the day of the fight, amounting to five thousand. The town was strongly fortified, and the fortifications appeared to have been built for some time. Every approach was stopped up with fallen timber and abattis work, except the road leading down the river, but they worked all night before the fight blockading it.
The attack was intended to have been made about the 1st of July, and might have been more of a success, but the rains for ten days previous were so heavy that the whole country was flooded, and the streams were almost impassable. Gen. PRICE's little army, led by their indomitable old chieftain, struggled through mud and water for many days, and reached the point of attack only the night before. The delays were unavoidable, and the reinforcements arrived to the enemy about the time the battle commenced, so that they could not have been foreseen in the calculations.
The negro troops, though protected by rifle-pits and every kind of fortifications, showed the white feather and fled to the protection of the gunboats.
Our array is yet around Helena, but the enemy will not venture out of their defences and give us an open battle,
Details of the casualties will be published as soon as received. The deaths of young WATKINS and RECTOR are much deplored, and their families have the sympathies of the whole community.
We are glad to hear that the people are still true and loyal; even around, Helena, though all the fences and houses for five or six miles from it are destroyed, and little or no crops are being made within a circuit of fifteen or twenty miles from the town.