On the 6th of September, therefore, the general advance was resumed, True’s brigade, and Ritter’s cavalry being left to guard the sick at Brownsville. On the 7th the advance reached the Arkansas river, at or near Ashley’s Mills, a point above Little Rock. General Steele’s plans were now laid with equal boldness and skill. General Davidson was directed to cross the Arkansas with a considerable force, and to move down the south bank of the river directly against the capital. General Steele meantime marched down the south bank, and threatened the city in front. The passage of the river was effected by means of a pontoon bridge, on the 10th, and General Davidson advanced to Bayou Fourche before encountering any opposition. At this place, however, he was met by a Confederate force, in regular line of battle, consisting of Fagan’s and Tappan’s brigades and Marmaduke’s cavalry. A brisk engagement ensued, but the rebels, galled by artillery fire from the other side of the river, and steadily pushed by the gallant troops of Davidson, were speedily compelled to retreat. The Union advance meanwhile was continued—simultaneously upon both sides of the stream. In a short time, volumes of smoke and clouds of dust, in the direction of Little Rock, made it evident that the rebels were retreating from the city, burning the bridges as they passed over. Marmaduke’s cavalry was thus found to be the only obstacle to the Union occupation of the capital. A bold push soon swept that foe away, and on the night of September 10th, Little Rock was formally surrendered. The forces, however, were too weary to continue the pursuit, until the next day, when Merrill’s and Clayton’s cavalry followed the flying foe for twenty miles, taking a number of prisoners and causing the destruction of a part of the rebel baggage train. The Union loss in this battle did not exceed one hundred; the rebel loss was at least five times as great, including prisoners. So ended a campaign of forty-five days, which resulted in substantially freeing the State of Arkansas from the clutches of rebellion. [Illustration: CONFEDERATE GENERALS. EWELL. JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON. LONGSTREET. GARNETT. FITZHUGH LEE. A. P. HILL. MAGRUDER. BRAGG.] The capture of Little Rock, however, was succeeded by a variety of incidents, which deserve to be summed up in a brief statement, as marking the close of the war in Arkansas. On the 28th of October a portion of the retreating troops of the discomfited rebel General Price, having eluded pursuit, attacked Pine Bluff, hoping, if successful, to recapture Little Rock, and enfeeble the Union troops by cutting off their line of communication with the Mississippi. But the Unionists repulsed this attack, and on the same day captured Arkadelphia, forcing the Confederates to retreat towards the Red river.