About the 22d of August, Gen. Blunt, having been reinforced, started south on an expedition – the design of which was to drive the rebels from that part of the country, and re-possess Fort Smith – in which he was amply successful, accompanied with but small loss on our side.
[About the first of August, Capt. West having been ordered to Colorado to attend to matters pertaining to the settlement of the recruiting accounts of several officers who had been ordered into the field at a moment’s notice, he furnishes us with the following private letter from Lieut. Richardson of his company, which give a good idea of the doings of the regiment up to the time of its arrival at Fort Smith.]
Dear Capt.: -- On the 22d of August, after you left for Colorado, our army again crossed the Arkansas, and took the route to strike the Canadian at North Fork Town. Two brigades were formed under Cols. Judson and Cloud; our battalion was under the latter. The paper enclosed will give you an idea of the trip. At Honey Springs, on the return, a third brigade was formed under Col. Bowen of the 13th Kansas. We moved into Webber’s Falls, and went into camp; stayed there only five days, when we received orders from Gen. Blunt; to march to Fort Smith and report to Col. Cloud. We made the trip in two days and a half, and find ourselves once more out of the land of the noble red man and in a Christian country. The people who have remained here are all good Union, except the ladies, who make no bones of boasting that they are seceders, but from force of circumstances are very civil.
There is a strong probability of our quartering her of at Van Buren (six miles below) this winter, and having provost duty to perform, Col. Cloud is out with about 1000 men, and is trying to effect a junction with Davidson at Little Rock. In case he succeeds I think we will have boats up the river in a month or so, which will shorten communication with America a few. No news of importance; are getting along well. Three men of E company started on a foraging trip from Webber’s Falls two days before we started, and failed to make the connection in time to march with us. A day or two after we left, two of them were found dead about six miles from the falls, and the third is not yet heard from. The whole country is full of “bushwhackers” and the boys can’t be too careful.
We have honey, cotton, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables (such as women, children, &c.,) in abundance. The health of the battalion is good.
This town has been old business, some day, but looks badly busted up now. When Cloud appeared before the town and fort, I expect the inhabitants thought they “could not stand the storm,” for they got up and left in double quick, leaving everything behind – rich furniture in splendid houses, merchandise in warehouses and stores, and children around loose.
Remember me to all.
Yours, Geo. H. Richardson.