n about three days (so as to give
the victorious rebel armies full time to concentrate upon
him) General Steele crossed the Washita to the North and
commenced a disgraceful retreat or run back toward Little
Rock.

"The enemy, under Price and Kirby Smith, followed in close
pursuit, and within a few hours were again upon our flank
and rear. The march or retreat was continuous, night and
day, until the village of Princeton was reached, where
Steele's army encamped one night, and received a full ration
of fresh beef and New Orleans sugar, the latter of which had
been captured, or rather found in Camden. Early on the
following morning the army resumed its onward march, towards
the North Pole as the apparent objective point.

"Now mind you this was an army (the 7th Army Corps) about
thirty thousand strong; mostly Western troops, and
splendidly armed and equipped. Better soldiers never wore
spurs or carried muskets. Yet under the command of a tenor
singing dog fancier, that magnificent army was thus
retreating before an army in every way its inferior save,
and except, the Commanding General.

"Thus things went, disgracefully, until the afternoon of the
day on which we left Princeton, April 29, 1864. Then, for
the first time after turning our backs to the enemy, in the
vicinity of Red river, there seemed to be a bare possibility
of escape,--not from the enemy, but from absolute disgrace
and humiliation.

"At no time during that disgraceful retreat, was there a
moment when the whole army corps, except the Commanding
General, would not have welcomed a battle, with one
universal shout.

"About 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the day mentioned, the
rebel Cavalry appeared in force and commenced skirmishing
with our forces in the rear, which continued, more or less,
until darkness set in. Meantime our distinguished leader,
the Major-General Commanding, had arrived at the crossing of
the Saline river, thrown a pontoon bridge over that swollen
stream, and made good his escape to the north side, taking
with him the whole army, except one Section of artillery and
two brigades of infantry of which the 2nd Kansas colored
formed a part.

"These two brigades--six regiments in all--stood in line of
battle all night long, while