The New Era, Fort Smith, Arkansas

November 21, 1863

Major E A Calkins, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry Volunteers, recently appointed District Provost Marshal for this District, has been with Major General Blunt through all his campaigns, and is an officer of great gallantry. He will discharge the functions of pertaining to this important office with as much ability and fidelity as he did these incumbent on him in the field.

We learn with pleasure and so will this numerous friends, that Dr. Robinson, one of the Surgeons of the famous 2nd Kansas Cavalry, who has for several weeks been lying very dangerously sick, is now slowly but surely recovering, and his attending Surgeon pronounces him out of all danger.

THE REBEL MARAUDER

Fitzwilliams, came to anguish a few days ago, (13th inst.) and got out of it only by hard running. Captains Vanderpool and G WR Smith, 1st Arkansas Infantry, with 150 men, surprised and routed the bush-whackers’ camp at Mt. Ida, some 50 miles south of Waldron. “Fitz” and his villainous band were badly seared, and made a fleeing retreat, leaving some wagons, 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 7,000 pounds
bacon, a few tents, (previously stolen from U S), together with a few nice buggies, as the prize of victory to the Feds. Sixteen of Fritz’ men were killed and 20 taken prisoners.

Colonel Johnson, we are informed, is doing a fine business in the way of scourging bushwhackers in the vicinity of Waldron.
 

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE FRONTIER

Fort Smith, Ark., November 17, 1863

The organized forces of the enemy having been driven out of the country in our rear, and here being one of our lines of telegraphic and mail communications, except that common foe of mankind- the Guerrilla and Bushwhacker, and the cutting of the telegraph wires now the act of those men alone, men who have no claim ot be treated as soldiers, and are entitled to none of the rights accorded by the laws of war to honorable belligerents, it is hereby ordered, that hereafter, in every instance, the cutting of the telegraph wife shall be considered a deed of bushwhacking, and for every such act some bushwhacking prisoner shall have withdrawn from him that mercy which induced the holding of him as a prisoner, and he shall be hung at the post where the wire was cut; and as many bushwhackers shall be so hung as there are places where the wire is cut.

The nearest house to the place where the wife is cut, if the property of a disloyal man, and within ten miles, shall be burned. By command of Brigadier General John McNeil. Joseph T Tatum, Acting Assistant Adjutant General.

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