Ronnie,

Here's an account of this engagement from "The Union Army". I also noted a thread on the Texas message board corresponding with this date beginning with this posting: http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/txcwmb/index.cgi?noframes;read=2497 and specifically this posting: http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/txcwmb/index.cgi?noframes;read=2519

Jim Martin

Hill's Plantation, Ark., July 7, 1862.

Detachments, Army of the Southwest.

Pursuant to orders from Brig.-Gen. Steele, commanding 1st division Army of the Southwest, Col. Hovey, commanding 2nd brigade, directed Col. Harris of the 11th Wis. infantry to take four companies of his own regiment and four of the 33d Ill. with a small steel gun of the 1st Ind. Cavalry, and reconnoiter in advance of the Federal lines.

At Hill's Plantation Near Round Hill, Harris Fell in with Confederate pickets, fired on them and passed on Toward Bayou de View. He was soon overtaken by Hovey and instructed to proceed down the Des Arc road to undertake the rescue of a prisoner just taken. At the end of Half A Mile's rapid marching, he fell into an ambush, more than 2,000 Texas troops being in line of battle.

Two companies were deployed as skirmishers and led the fight. The little cannon opened fire from a station near the road and the enemy's advance fell back on his main line, which was hidden behind underbrush. Harris pushed forward his advance until it came within range, when it staggered under a murderous fire and fell back under orders, but in some confusion. In resisting a charge which the Texans now made, Harris was severely wounded, but kept his saddle.

A desperate onslaught was now made on the little steel gun in charge of Lieut. Denneman and 1 man, but it was rescued by Capt. Potter and his company. As Capt. Partridge and others took the gun up the road, the infantry reformed in a cornfield by the roadside. The Confederates charged in great force in pursuit, but were met by a steady and well directed fire and the ground was strewn with their dead and wounded.

The Texans wavered and another volley routed them, but they again rallied and tried to gain the Federal rear, where they were repelled by a force that Hovey had ordered back after the first onset. Then they were teamed by Capt. Eliott's company in an attempt to turn the Federal left. They formed on their original line of battle, when the Federals bore down upon them and again they gave way.

At this juncture Col. Wood of the 1st Ind. Cavalry, with a battalion of his regiment and 2 steel guns, came to Hovey's assistance and made the retreat a rout. The fight was ended by a cavalry charge led by Maj. Clendenning. Other reinforcements came, and late in the Day Gen. Benton followed the fleeing foe 5 or 6 Miles Toward Des Arc, Killing Several and taking some prisoners. All along the route he found the houses crowded with dead and wounded.

Benton's force consisted of the 8th Ind. infantry a section of Manter's battery, 1st Mo. light artillery; part of the 33d Ill. infantry; a howitzer from Bowen's Battalion; the 13th Ill. cavalry; a battalion of the 5th Ill. cavalry. Federal loss, 6 killed, 57 wounded. After the fight Confederates estimated the Number of their dead at 200; the Federals found 123 on the field.

Source: The Union Army, Vol.,6 p.,500