March 29.
An expedition under Colonel Clayton, from Pine Bluff; made a descent upon a party of rebels who had been committing depredations in the neighborhood of Little Rock, Ark., and captured a large number of them.--the following order was issued by J. P. Sanderson, Provost-Marshal General of the department of the Missouri, from his headquarters at St. Louis: “The sale, distribution, or circulation of such books as ‘Pollard's Southern History of the War,’ ‘ Confederate Official Reports,’ ‘Life of Stonewall Jackson,’ ‘Adventures of Morgan and his Men,’ and all other publications based upon rebel views and representations, being forbidden by the General Commanding, will be suppressed by Provost-Marshals, by seizing the same, and arresting the parties who knowingly sell, dispose, or circulate the same.”
A battle took place this day at Cane River, La., between a portion of the National forces under General Banks, engaged on the expedition up the Red River, and the rebels commanded by General Dick Taylor.--(Doc. 131.)
The United States steamer Commodore Barney, with fifty-six picked men from the Minnesota, all in charge of Captain J. M. Williams, left Fortress Monroe, Va., yesterday afternoon, proceeded up the Chuckatuck Creek, and landed the men in small boats at the head of the creek. They then took a guide to the headquarters of Lieutenant Roy, where they arrived at four o'clock this morning, when they immediately surrounded the houses, and captured two sergeants and eighteen privates, with their small-arms, without firing a shot. Masters Pierson and Wilder had charge of the Minnesota's boats. The capture was important, as the officers taken prisoners were in the rebel signal service.
