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JULY 4, 1863.--Attack on Helena, Ark.
HEADQUARTERS
DISTRICT OF EASTERN ARKANSAS, COLONEL; I have the
honor to forward the following detailed report of the battle of Helena: In addition to the
vague rumors that have been floating in the public press for several weeks
past, I had been informed by trusty scouts that the enemy was co11ecting
his forces with the evident intention of making a demonstration at some
point on this side of the river. Conceiving that Helena might be attacked
sooner or later, I omitted no precaution and spared no labor to add to and
strengthen its defenses. To this end I caused rifle-pits to be dug,
substantial breastworks to be thrown up, and four outlying batteries to be
erected in commanding positions on the bluffs west of the town, and
designated respectively from right to left (north and south) by the
letters A, B, C, and D. For ten days previous
to the battle, indications of a premeditated attack on this place began to
multiply; citizens from the country were not permitted to come to our
lines; disaffected residents were unusually reserved, and the enemy's
pickets were pushed forward and strengthened. Advised of the character of
one of the principal generals said to be in this vicinity, I expected the
attack, if one was to be made, would be sudden, and at an early hour in
the morning. It was, therefore, ordered, a week previous to the battle,
that the entire garrison should be up and under arms at 2.30 o'clock each
morning. Wednesday night I learned definitely that the enemy had collected
a large force at Spring Creek, distant some 15 miles from Helena, and that
an attack would not be long delayed. Arrangements had been made by my
patriotic regimental commanders for celebrating in a fit and becoming
manner the approaching anniversary of our National Independence. In view
of the length of line to be defended by so small a number of troops, it
was deemed imprudent to permit the garrison to be assembled en masse,
and on Friday, therefore, orders were issued prohibiting a general
celebration on the following day. Events justified these precautions. On Saturday morning,
July 4, at 3 o'clock, my pickets were attacked by the enemy's skirmishers.
They made an obstinate resistance, holding the enemy well in check until 4
o'clock, when they reached over rifle-pits and breastworks, and joined
their respective regiments, which before this time had assumed their
designated positions in the intrenchments. The attack was now commenced in
earnest, in front and on the right flank; lint the enemy, although assured
by his overwhelming numbers of a speedy victory, were driven back again
and again. For four hours the battle raged furiously, the enemy gaining
little, if any, advantage. Now, however, the attack in front became more
furious; the enemy covered every hill-top, swarmed in every ravine, but
seemed to be mass-ing his force more particularly against Battery C. I now
signaled the gunboat Tyler, the only one at hand, Lieutenant Commander
Pritchett commanding, to open fire in that direction. The enemy (Parsons'
and McRae's brigades), nothing daunted by the concentrated fire from Fort
Curtis, Batteries B, C, and D, the Tyler, and all the infantry I could
bring to their support, and led, as I since learn, by Lieutenant-General
Holmes and Major-General Price in person, charged upon Battery C. Twice
they were repulsed, but the third time, exhibiting a courage and
desperation rarely equaled, they succeeded in driving my small force at
the point of the bayonet and capturing the battery. Dividing his forces,
and sending a part, as a feint, to menace Fort Curtis, the enemy then
assaulted Battery D, to reach which they must pass through a deep ravine
and encounter a heavy cross-fire. The enemy faltered, seeing which the men
in Battery D, and those behind the breastworks, and in the rifle-pits
supporting it, sallied forth, and, surrounding more than three times their
number, brought them off prisoners. Not to be outdone by their comrades, the men who had been
supporting Battery C, assisted by a detachment (dismounted) from the First
Indiana Cavalry, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel [T. N.] Pace,
gallantly charged upon the enemy in Battery C, retaking it, and capturing
as well a large number of prisoners. This was about 10 o'clock. I
immediately dispatched two of my aides to carry this information to
Colonels [S. A.] Rice and [Powell] Clayton, who, with the remnants of two
small brigades, were holding the enemy in check on the right flank, where
the attack was only less severe and successful than it had been in front.
At 10.30 it became evident that the enemy was withdrawing his forces; but,
unaware how severely he had been punished, and learning
somewhat of the strength of his forces from prisoners. I could but believe
it was for the purpose of massing and attacking my left flank, which I
considered the weakest point. The attack was not resumed, however, and,
summing up the enemy's loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners, I am no
longer surprised. Skirmishing to cover a retreat was kept up until 2 p.m.,
at which hour all firing ceased. In the order published
to his troops on the 23d of June ultimo, General Holmes says, "The
invaders have been driven from every point in Arkansas save one--Helena.
We go to retake it." I am happy to be able, to say that the attempt
to haul down the Stars and Stripes, on the 4th of July, was an ignominious
failure. In short, sir, my whole command not only succeeded in repulsing
the enemy's attack, and thus holding Helena, which, if I mistake not, is
all that was expected of it, but, in addition, administered to the enemy
as severe punishment as he ever received west of the Mississippi, and
this, too, with a loss to itself so small as to seem almost miraculous, as
will sufficiently appear from the following statistics: My whole force
numbered-- Infantry:
Commissioned
officers
162 Enlisted
men
2,966
Cavalry:
Commissioned
officers
47 Enlisted
men
784
Artillery:
Commissioned
officers
4 Enlisted
men
166 Total
4,129 The enemy's force, from
the best information I can obtain from prisoners and deserters, consisted
of eight brigades, formed out of thirty-seven regiments, and numbered, at
a low estimate, in aggregate 15,000 men, and was commanded by one
lieutenant-general (Holmes), one major-general (Price), and seven
brigadier-generals. My troops lost in-- Killed:
Commissioned
officers
3 Enlisted
men
54
Wounded:
Commissioned
officers
4 Enlisted
men
123
Missing:
Enlisted
men
36 Total(*)
220
We
have buried of the enemy's killed, at least
400 Of
wounded and since dead
27 Paroled
of his wounded
108 Sent
North wounded
212 Remaining
at Helena wounded
7 Sent
North as prisoners, in addition to wounded
727 Remaining
in Helena
47 The enemy's surgeons
admit a loss in wounded ranging from 1,200 to 1,500. His total loss,
therefore, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, cannot be
less than 2,500. We have also captured 2 colors and near1y 2,000 stand of
arms. My thanks, as well as those of the nation at large, are due Brig.
Gen. F. Salomon, who commanded the Thirteenth Division, Thirteenth Army
Corps, in the temporary absence of Briga-dier-General Ross, and to whom
had been assigned the special supervision of the defenses of Helena; to
Col. William E. McLean, Forty-third Indiana Infantry, commanding First
Brigade, who held the left flank, and rendered very efficient service on
the left wing of the center, about Batteries C and D; to Colonels [S. A.]
Rice, Thirty-third Iowa Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, and [Powell]
Clayton, Fifth Kansas Cavalry, commanding cavalry brigade, who held the
right flank; to one and all the officers and men composing the garrison of
Helena, and to Lieutenant-Commander Pritchett and the men under his
command for very timely and efficient co-operation. The guns in Fort
Curtis and Batteries A, B; C, and D, were handled with great precision and
success by the Thirty-third Missouri Infantry. The members of my
personal staff were efficient and tireless in the discharge of their
duties. The result shows that all did well, and are entitled to honorable
mention. My command consisted of
the following regiments and batteries: Forty-third Indiana Infantry,
Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry, Thir-ty-third Iowa Infantry,
Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, Thirty-fifth Missouri Infantry, Thirty-third
Missouri Infantry, Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, Third Iowa, Battery K,
First Missouri Light Artillery, constituting the Thirteenth Division,
Thirteenth Army Corps; Fifth Kansas Cavalry and First Indiana Cavalry,
constituting the cavalry brigade; and the Second Regiment of Arkansas
Volunteers of African descent. I have the honor to be, sir,
very respectfully, your obedient servant, B.
M. PRENTISS, Major-general. Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS, Assistant
Adjutant-General, Department of the Tennessee. |
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