Freestone County, Texas History The Tri-Weekly [Houston] Telegraph August 22, 1862 Front Page Brilliant Affair in Arkansas. Official Report of Col. Parsons. Texians Again in Triumph We lay before our readers the following report of Col. Parsons, of a late brilliant affair in which the Dragoons were engaged. Of course, the publication is unofficial: ON BAYOU DE VIEW, NEAR } COTTON PLANT, August 4, 1862 } Col. R. C. Newton, A. A. G.: - I have the honor to report a complete and brilliant victory over the enemy's forces at Hughes' Ferry, on L'Anguille, by the troops under my command, on Sunday morning, 3d inst. I took up the line of march from Bayou de View at 1 1/2 o'clock on the evening of the 2d, with the Texas Dragoon Regiment and45 men of the Texas Spy company, under Lieut. James, for Crowley's Ridge, in St. Francis county, which has been the theatre of the most thorough devastation and wholesale robbery perpetrated by the enemy during the war. Having learned that a detachment of several hundred men, consisting of the 1st Wisconsin cavalry, constituted the rear of Curtis' column, at Hughes' Ferry on L'Anguille, I moved with great secrecy and celerity through the wilderness, the evening and second night of my departure, to the vicinity of their camp. I assigned Lieutenant Colonel Burleson to the command of one squadron of my regiment and Lieut. James' detachment, with orders to move before dawn to the rear of the enemy's position, between the camp and ferry, so as (in conjunction with the main body,) to surround them and cut off their retreat. The two detachments, Lieut. Col. Burleson's command and four squadrons under my own immediate orders, crossed the L'Anguille, at 2 o’clock at night and at dawn our lines were closed around the enemy. It was a complete surprise, the first gun fired by their pickets at sunrise gave the alarm to the encampment as our squadrons in close columns of fours dashed rapidly past them, into their position. They rallied behind their wagons as barricades and into the dense thickets adjacent, and for half an hour the fight waged desperately. The difficulty of seeing the enemy in the hammock to which they retreated and from which they kept up a continued and galling fire, more than balanced any disparity of numbers. The Enfield Rifle proved no match, although in the hands of a brave and desperate foe, with the murderous double barrel shot guns of the gallant Texians. As I pressed them on their front and left, the bugle of Lieut. Col. Burleson's detachment rang out the charge, and he closed upon their rear. The dismayed enemy either fled in utter rout, or threw down their arms and surrendered. The triumph was complete, resulting in either the capture or destruction of the entire command, all their valuable camp property, and the accumulated booty of weeks of depredation and pillage upon our people. The attack was made upon the rear of Curtis' column upon Crowley's Ridge, the enemy having detachments scattered on the ridge from Hughes' Ferry to Helena, where the main army are still encamped in force. Six miles below where the engagement came off, there were stationed 1,200 Federal cavalry. Anticipating pursuit, being without any reserve, and having audaciously penetrated the enemy's lines 60 miles from our base of operations, I deemed it prudent to reap the fruits of victory as rapidly as possible and withdraw from the Ridge. I secured one regimental stand of colors, three six-mule wagon loads of ammunition, one of arms, two army ambulances, and one commissary wagon with stores. Being unable to bring off any more of their train, I fire and destroyed the fifteen other wagons remaining, and the camp equipage, and brought off (so far as my hurried and imperfect estimates report) 60 Federal soldiers including four Lieutenants, about 150 fugitive negroes, whom the enemy had stolen and were carrying to Helena, and from 300 to 400 head of horses and mules. The arms, ammunition, wagons, mules, horses and negroes made a rich and valuable spoil, and with the property taken and destroyed, the enemy have sustained a loss of half a million of dollars, besides the utter destruction of one of their crack cavalry regiments, which had been the terror of the whole of the heretofore unprotected section through which they passed. I had no means of forming an estimate of the loss of the enemy in the engagement; but the slain, which everywhere strewed the entire encampment, gave evidence of the desperate charges and accuracy of aim of the brave Texians under my command. Major Eggleston, in command of the Federal forces, was killed, besides several other officers. Many of the negroes were armed and in the fight. Refusing to halt when they were defeated, a large number were killed. In 36 hours I have force marches 100 miles, engaged the enemy, and returned to my base of operations; having sustained no casualties but the loss of two killed and seven wounded. Where such rivalry existed to bear off the palm of valor, it were invidious to discriminate by a special mention of the acts of individual prowess upon the field. I am under great obligations to all my brave soldiers who gave such proof of their thorough efficiency in drill and veteran firmness under a scorching fire. To Lieut. James and the officers and men under his command I am indebted for distinguished and valuable aid. Col. Burleson gave effectiveness to my blow on the enemy's front, by bringing his detachment up to the enemy's rear at the critical decisive moment which decided the fortunes of the day. To the officers of squadrons and companies of my regiment who led their men into the thickest of the enemy's fire from positions to which they were especially assigned, I am under great obligations for the triumph of our arms in the battle of Hughes' Ferry. To Capt. Maddux and Capt. Hawkins of the Ellis and Freestone companies, both commanding squadron, I am indebted for distinguished gallantry, also to Commissary Ayres, of Bell county, Major Farrar and the Lieutenants under them. When I obtain accurate official returns of the fruits of this brilliant affair, I will transmit them at once. The captured property, prisoners, negroes, &c., I will send in to Des Arc, subject to the orders of the commanding General. The result to the enemy of this stunning and unexpected blow will be shown by putting an effectual quietus upon the small marauding parties of the enemy who have so long and with such impunity and audacity pillaged and devasted whole sections of this State. I have the honor to remain your obedient servant, W.H. PARSONS, Col. 12th Texas Cavalry, Commanding Forces East of White River =========================================== The Tri-Weekly [Houston] Telegraph October 27, 1862 Page: 2 Persons having lost horses or oxen should subscribe for the "Texas Stock Journal," printed at Fairfield. It contains, monthly, all the estray horses in the State, and a great many reported which have not been estrayed. It also advertises the estrays of its subscribers free of charge - Price only one dollar a year. ===========================================