Indianapolis Daily Journal US 21 July, 1862
Letters from Curtis’s Army.
The Eighth Indiana in Arkansas.
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Helena, Ark., July 14, 1862.
Dear Journal: My last, mailed with this, left us at Augusta on the 5th inst. On the 6th we marched to Cache river [sic] on the road to Clarendon. Our cavalry advance had a little skirmish on the river bank, with a party of rebels, killing three—no lost to themselves, though one of the 3d Iowa cavalry was shot while watering his horse, and in return Capt. Klauss shelled the woods, whether with effect we did not stay long enough to inquire. On the 7th we marched some two or three miles, when our advance guard, composed the 1st Indiana Cavalry and detachments of the 33d Illinois and 11th Wisconsin, became engaged with a rebel force of 7,000, into whom they pitched most gallantly and never lost an inch of ground, but, after an obstinate fight, drove them off, killing from 150 to 200—we buried 103 on the ground.
On the commencement of the action Col. Hovey sent back for reinforcements, when Gen. Benton, at the head of the “Old Eighth,” set forward at “double quick,” but being too far in the rear, could not get up in time to participate in the principal fight. They pushed on, however, after the retreating foe for several miles, to where it was supposed they were making a stand, and formed line of battle, deploying skirmishers and offering battle, which not being accepted, Gen. Benton ordered their cover shelled by the 1st Indiana cavalry’s [sic] howitzers—the result of which, is said by captured rebels, to have been the killing of 40 to 50 of their number. From rebel sources, regarded as reliable, we learn that they lost in killed alone, from 260 to 300 in the entire affair.
Particular credit is due Col. Hovey, 33d Illinois, who is in command of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division, for the courage, coolness and skill with which he conducted the fight, until the arrival of Gen. Benton, who, of course, then assumed command; and who informed me that Col. Hovey on being directed to deploy skirmishers to feel the enemy’s position and develop their fire, placed himself at their head, and remained in front until it became evident the rebels had no further intention of fighting.
Gen. Benton is justly entitled to all praise, for making every exertion, on this and all other occasions, to get himself and his command into action, and it is only because it was impossible, without disobedience of orders, that he has not exposed himself to all danger in accomplishing this object. Still, with all his impetuous daring, I know of no other commander who takes more pains, or displays more coolness in arranging everything for the safety and comfort of his men, in the battlefield, on march and in camp.
I must not forget to most honorably mention the 1st Indiana Cavalry, Colonel Baker. They are always ready to go anywhere, and “go in on their muscle” on every practicable occasion. It is said by those who ought to know, that they have performed more active and efficient service, than the dozen other cavalry regiments in the Southwest. I know that they are the terror of rebeldom, from Pilot Knob to Jacksonport—not for stealing, but for fighting.
From Mound Hill, or Cache Crossing, the place of the above-named fight, we arrived at Clarendon, on White river, on the 9th, only to find that we had moved so slow that the boats from which we had expected supplies of provisions and clothing had gone down the river so far that our signal guns could not reach them.
On the 11th we moved toward Helena, on the Mississippi River, which we reached yesterday. By some miserable blunder (outside of our brigade, however,) our division was sent on one road and our wagons on another. This resulted in our making a march of some fifty miles or more without tents, blankets, or provisions, except four crackers per man, which, providentially, Col. Carr happened to be able to furnish us-his Division taking the same road in our rear.
I do not pretend to locate the responsibility for this blinder, but simply it is the most inexcusable outrage upon the men of the First Division that I have ever known perpetuated in the service.
There is another fact which I state with pain, and only from a sense of justice to others—particularly to vindicate Indianaians from charges which the impartial historian must hereafter make against the Army of the South-West. It pains me particularly because I must implicate, primarily, those whom I have always heretofore sought to vindicate. I allude to the German soldiers under Gen. Osterhaus. Their outrageous violation of the rules of civilized warfare on our march from Jacksonport to this place has been too intolerable to pass without notice. That they have plundered and burnt private dwellings, stolen and destroyed property not contraband of war or capable of being used in the army, and marked the line of their march with terror and devastation, seems to be a fact admitting of no dispute; while the dark cloud of contrabands intermingled with the command—riding in ambulances and wagons and following in the in the rear, while sick soldiers walk—indicate that this Division at least has taken the business of negro confiscation into its own hands most effectively.
The health of the regiment, previous to the last four days, has been remarkably good, but I fear that our starvation march will result in considerable sickness.
I will write again in a few days if we remain here, till then au revoir.
A. W. Sanford,
Chaplain
8th Indiana.