April 22, 1863, Arkansas True Democrat (Little Rock)
Cross County, Ark., April 11th, 1863.
Mr. Editor–Having a leisure moment, I proceed to give you a concise statement of the federal raid in this portion of the State recently made. On Tuesday, the 7th inst., four transports arrived at Wittsburg, on the St. Francis river, with a federal force of between 600 and 1,000 soldiers, consisting mostly of cavalry, with several pieces of artillery. At this point they made their headquarters. On their way up the river, they landed a considerable force at Linden, in St. Francis county, which secured the whole country across Crowley’s Ridge all the way up to Wittsburg, where they joined the transports again–then the entire force was sent out up the ridge as high as Harrisburg. I do not suppose the enemy has made a raid in any portion of the Confederacy since the war commenced, where the consequences resulted with as much injury or detriment to the interest to the citizens as the one here alluded to. They robbed the whole country, taking off negroes in large numbers from every one who owned them, taking every horse and mule that they could possibly get hold of, and every thing else of value. It seems that they had been furnished with the names of every one who was supposed to be a money holder, and in fact, they demanded the money and all valuables of every one they met with, making a general search at every residence, by bursting open drawers, trunks, etc., with revolvers in their hands. At the residence of Mr. Samuel Johnson they required Mrs. Johnson to divest herself of every piece of her clothing, stripping her entirely of every garment she had on, save one; at which place they obtained $2,500 in gold and silver, and similar occurrences were common. They carried off about 1,000 negroes, it is supposed. Many who were wealthy as it were on yesterday, to-day are destitute and needy. I myself was a sufferer to the amount of at least $20,000, and many others to a much larger amount than myself. Why are such outrages as these tolerated in Eastern Arkansas, by our military authorities? It cannot be because we are disloyal, for no portion of Arkansas has more readily and heartily responded to every call that has been made to aid in the defence of our country than the eastern portion of the State, yet thus far we have had no succor sent us, save an occasional visit by Capt. McGee and his little company, consisting only of about 80 men, and although with the disparity of numbers from four or five to one, the valiant captain with his brave and patriotic company, in the vicinity of G. W. Seaborn, esq., the day before the enemy left, gave flight to the advance of the enemy, killing some five or six upon the field, and mortally wounding as many more. Mr. Seaborn, I understand, sustained a considerable loss by the Yankees–they burnt up his residence with all his furniture, etc.
S. L. A.