NEW MADRID, MISSOURI
FEBRUARY 28 - APRIL 8, 1862.
New Madrid, Mo., Feb. 28 to April 8, 1862. Army of the
Mississippi and Foote's Fleet Gunboats. Immediately upon the
fall of Fort Donelson Confederate Gen. Polk was ordered to
evacuate Columbus and fall back down the river to the works on
Island No. 10 and at New Madrid, Mo., the former 25 and the
latter 35 miles below Columbus. This move was part of the plan
to retreat down the river step by step, thus preventing Foote
from joining Farragut's fleet at the mouth of the Mississippi.
Earthworks mounting 70 heavy guns had been constructed on the
island, and at New Madrid two forts had been erected. The one
about half a mile below the town was a bastioned earthwork,
with 14 heavy siege guns, and the other, at the upper end of
the town, was an irregular entrenchment, sheltering a battery
of 7 guns of various caliber. About the middle of February
Brig.-Gen. John Pope was summoned to St. Louis and directed to
organize and take command of a force to cooperate with Commo-
dore Foote's fleet in the reduction of these fortifications.
Pope went to work and in a few days had the Army of the Missis-
sippi ready to move against the enemy. This army was made up
as follows: Infantry,- 1st division, Brig.-Gen. David S. Stan-
ley, consisted of the brigades of Cols. John Groesbeck and J.
L. Kirby Smith; 2nd division, Brig.-Gen. Schuyler Hamilton, in-
cluded the brigades of Col. W. H. Worthington and Col. Nicholas
Perczel; 3d division, Brig.-Gen. John M. Palmer, included the
brigades of Col. James R. Slack and Col. G. N. Fitch; 4th
division, Brig.-Gen. E. A. Paine, consisted of the brigades of
Cols. James D. Morgan and G. W. Cumming; 5th division, Brig.-
Gen. J. B. Plummer, included the brigades of Cols. John Bryner
and J. M. Loomis. Cavalry,-one division, commanded by Col.
Gordon Granger. Artillery,-seven batteries under command of
Maj. W. L. Lothrop. The infantry brigades consisted of two
regiments each, and the cavalry division of three regiments.
There were also some organizations that were not assigned to
any particular command. Notable among these were the 64th Ill.
Sharpshooters and the engineer regiment of the West. In addi-
tion to these land forces there were the flotilla brigade com-
manded by Col. N. B. Buford; the gunboats Benton (flag-ship),
St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Mound City and Carondelet,
under command of Commodore A. H. Foote, and 11 mortar-boats in
charge of Capt. H. E Maynadier. The Confederate forces, com-
manded by Maj.-Gen. John P. McCown, consisted of twelve regi-
ments and three battalions of infantry, four companies of cav-
alry; eight companies of heavy artillery; two light batteries;
the engineer corps, and a company of sappers and miners. The
Confederate gunboats, commanded by Flag-Officer G. N. Hollins,
were the McRae (flagship), Livingston, Polk, Pontchartrain,
Maurepas, Jackson and New Orleans.
Pope selected Commerce, 30 miles up the Mississippi from
Cairo as a base of operations. Here his command was assembled
and organized, and on the last day of February the army took up
its march against New Madrid, which was to be first attacked,
as possession of this point would give the Union forces control
of the river below Island No. 10, thus cutting the principal
line of supplies for the island garrison. On March 1 Jeff.
Thompson's body of Confederates were driven out of Sikeston,
and two days later Pope appeared before New Madrid. Hamilton,
whose division was in advance, deployed the 27th and 39th Ohio
as skirmishers, drove the enemy's pickets back into the works
and occupied the town. Hollins came up with the gunboats and
participated in the action, the water in the river being high
enough to bring his guns above the bank. This condition of af-
fairs showed the neccessity of having siege-guns to repel the
fleet after the entrenchments might be carried by assault,
which Hamilton's reconnaissance had shown to be feasible. The
army therefore retired about 2 miles from the town and went
into camp to wait until the heavy guns could be brought down
from Cairo. While waiting Pope sent Plummer, with three regi-
ments of infantry, three companies of cavalry, and a battery of
10-pounder rifled and Parrott guns, to Point Pleasant, 12 miles
below, under instructions to establish his artillery in such a
position as to cover any steamboat that might try to ascend the
river, and to line the banks with rifle-pits for 1,000 men.
Plummer moved on the 5th and the morning of the 7th found his
guns in position, well protected by works thrown up during the
night. The gun-boats shelled him for some time without effect,
and Plummer held to his position during the entire siege. On
the 12th the siege-guns arrived and during the night were
placed in battery within 800 yards of the main Confederate
work. At daylight the next morning fire was opened on the
fort. The enemy's batteries and gunboats answered promptly and
the cannonading lasted all day by the enemy, but without pro-
ducing any impression on the Federals, except the disabling of
a 24-pounder gun. A little while after daylight on the morning
of the 14th a flag of truce approached the Union lines, the
bearer bringing the information that the enemy had evacuated
his works during the night. Hamilton sent a detachment to as-
certain the truth of this statement and to take possession if
it turned out to be true. On every hand could be seen evi-
dences of a hasty departure. Their dead were left unburied,
food on the tables appeared to be untouched; private baggage of
the officers was left behind, and neither provisions nor ammu-
nition had been taken away. Tents for 10,000 men, a large num-
ber of horses and mules, 33 pieces of artillery, several thou-
sand muskets and a large number of cartridges fell into the
hands of the Federals. The fort was occupied in force, the
guns being turned on the river.
New Madrid had been captured more easily than had been an-
ticipated, but there still remained a way for the garrison on
Island No. 10 to receive supplies from below. The river from
Island No. 8 to Tiptonville, Tenn., forms a letter S. Island
No. 10 is in the southern bend and New Madrid on the northern.
Although Tiptonville is 27 miles from the island by water it is
only 5 miles by land. After the fall of New Madrid boats
landed at Tiptonville, whence supplies were conveyed across the
narrow neck of the peninsula. Just below Tiptonville the banks
of the river on both sides become so marshy as to be impassable
for loaded wagons. By intercepting the navigation of the river
at the lowest point of solid ground, Pope could cut off the re-
sources of the garrison and also close the principal avenue of
escape. He therefore extended his line down the river, his
lowest battery being just below the little village of Riddles
Point, which is nearly opposite Tiptonville. This battery was
established on the night of the 16th and mounted two 24-pounder
siege-guns and two 10-pounder Parrotts, supported by Palmer's
division. Rifle-pits for 500 sharpshooters were dug on the
flanks of the battery and close to the river bank. The battery
was discovered at daylight on the 17th and was immediately
assailed by 5 of the enemy's gunboats, which ran up to within
300 yards and opened a fierce cannonade. The fight lasted for
an hour and a half, in which time one gunboat was sunk, others
badly damaged, and a number of men were picked off by the
sharpshooters. The Union loss was 1 man killed. That night
McCown, with a considerable portion of the forces, left for
Fort Pillow, Gen. W. W. Mackall succeeding him in command.
Pope was now in full possession of the right bank of the
river, and the river itself, both above and below the island,
but in order to effect the capture of the garrison it was nec-
essary to cross the river. To cross above the island was use-
less, as the country there was under water, the only dry ground
being the narrow neck on the south, between the enemy's works
and Tiptonville. On the 17th Pope suggested to Foote that he
run the batteries with his gunboats and transfer the land
forces to the Tennessee side. Foote replied that it was im-
practicable, as the vessels were armored only at the bows, and
were consequently fitted for fighting up stream. Hamilton sug-
gested a canal from near Island No. 8 to connect with Wilson's
bayou which entered the Mississippi just above New Madrid.
Col. Bissell, of the engineer regiment, reported this plan fea-
sible, and Pope sent to Cairo for the necessary tools and light
draft steamers to convey his command across the river. The ca-
nal was about 12 miles long and for half its length ran through
heavy timber the trees having to be sawed off several feet un-
der water. It was completed on April 4, the water continuing
at a high stage all the time it was under construction. and on
the 5th, 4 small steamers, bringing a number of barges for
floating batteries, dropped down the bayou to New Madrid, but
kept out of sight of the river until the floating batteries, or
mortar boats, were ready. On the night of the 4th the Caronde-
let ran the batteries on the island, and the Pittsburg followed
on the night of the 6th. That day the Carondelet made a recon-
naissance down the river, silenced the batteries opposite Point
Pleasant, a small infantry force going ashore and spiking the
guns. During this period of three weeks daily bombardments
occurred at some point in the field of operations. As the en-
emy's gunboats passed Plummer's batteries at Point Pleasant
shots were exchanged. On March 16 Foote engaged at long range
the batteries on Island No. 10 and the left bank of the river.
The next day he advanced a little nearer and kept up the bom-
bardment until the redan at the upper end of the island was
practically destroyed. The cannonading was then continued from
day to day, keeping the enemy busy in repairing damages and
changing the position of his guns.
Early on the morning of April 7, Capt. Williams' 1st U. S.
battery and the 2 gunboats opened on the enemy's works at the
proposed landing place and continued until noon, when the Con-
federate guns were silenced. Paine's division was then sent
over and pushed with all possible speed toward Tiptonville,
word having been brought in by a spy that the enemy was re-
treating in that direction. Morgan's brigade occupied the town
that evening, and during the night over 300 prisoners were
brought in by the pickets of this brigade. Stanley's and
Hamilton's divisions followed Paine's, but were overtaken by
darkness and bivouacked a few miles from Tiptonville. Col.
Elliott, with the 2nd Ia. cavalry, was sent over soon after
dark and at daylight on the 8th took possession of the enemy's
encampments on the mainland opposite the island, together with
the deserted stores, all the steamboats in good condition, 6 in
number, and about 200 prisoners. Before Elliott accomplished
this the force left on the island 385 officers and men, was
surrendered to Foote. When Mackall found that Morgan was in
the way at Tiptonville, and that the island was in possession
of the Federals, he surrendered at discretion. Pope says in
his report: "Three generals, 273 field and company officers,
6.700 privates, 123 pieces of heavy artillery 35 pieces of
field artillery (all of the very best character and latest pat-
terns), 7,000 stands of small arms, tents for 12,000 men, sev-
eral wharf-boat loads of provisions, an immense quantity of am-
munition of all kinds, many hundred horses and mules, with wag-
ons and harness, etc., are among the spoils." For a movement
of such magnitude the losses in killed and wounded were very
slight. On the Union side, including the two killed and 13
wounded by the bursting of a gun on the St. Louis, the total
was 17 killed, 34 wounded and 3 missing. The Confederate loss
was estimated at about 30.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 6
|
|
|
WILMINGTON ISLAND, GEORGIA
APRIL 16, 1862.
(See Whitemarsh Island, Georgia)
WHITEMARSH ISLAND, GEORGIA
APRIL 16, 1862.
Whitemarsh Island, Ga., April 16, 1862. Detachment of 8th
Michigan Infantry and a Rhode Island Battery. Seven companies
of the 8th Mich., constituting an escort for Lieut. J. H. Wil-
son, a topographical engineer making a reconnaissance of White-
marsh island, were attacked between 4 and 5 p. m. by some 800
Confederates. The Federal advance line, stationed behind a
hedge, delivered its fire and the bugles sounded the "charge."
Some of the men mistook the signal and commenced falling back,
the enemy meantime advancing rapidly. As soon as the Union
troops could be rallied they checked the Confederate advance
and the same positions were maintained by the participants for
an hour or more, when the enemy made an attempt to turn the
Union left. The company holding that position advanced and the
rest of the line followed, driving the Confederates steadily
before them for a half or three-quarters of a mile. The Union
loss was 10 killed and 35 wounded; the exact Confederate loss
was not ascertained, but 2 dead and 1 mortally wounded were
left in Federal hands.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 6
|
|
|
VILLAGE CREEK, ARKANSAS
JUNE 27, 1862.
(See Waddell's Farm, Ark.)
WADDELL'S FARM, ARKANSAS
JUNE 27, 1862.
Waddell's Farm, Ark., June 27, 1862. Detachment of 3d
Iowa Cavalry, guarding wagon train.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 6
|
|
|
GUERRILLA CAMPAIGN, MISSOURI
06/20/62
Guerrilla Campaign in Missouri, Aug. 8-15, 1862.
Detachments of Missouri State Militia, under Col. O. Guitar.
Poindexter, guerrilla leader of Missouri, with a band of about
1,200 had been annoying the people of central Missouri for
some time. Col. Guitar with about 550 mounted militia was
sent in pursuit by Maj.-Gen. Schofield. On the night of the
10th Guitar came up with and attacked the outlaw band while it
was crossing the Chariton river. A large number of the enemy
were killed and wounded and a supply of horses, arms,
ammunition, etc., captured. Poindexter immediately moved
northward, hoping to effect a junction with Porter, but both
Porter and Poindexter were intercepted and driven back by the
troops of the Northwestern division under Gen. Loan, Porter
upon Col. McNeil near Kirksville, where his force was attacked
and forced to disband, and Poindexter upon Guitar. The latter
engaged the guerrillas at Little Compton and at Muscle Fork
and after a running fight of nearly 48 hours the whole force
of the enemy was killed, captured or dispersed. The Federal
loss was 5 wounded and a number or horses killed. About 150
of Poindexter's men were killed, wounded or drowned and 100
captured, the guerilla leader himself being among the latter
number.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 5
|
|
|
Bayou Bernard, Ind. Ter.
July 27, 1862
1st Regiment Kansas Indian Home Guards
This regiment, commanded by Maj. Phillips, was included in the
1st Indian brigade and attached to the expedition of Col.
Salomon.
By forced and night marches Phillips proceeded some 40 miles
to Tahlequah and Park Hill. He sent forward his command in
three lines along three roads, forming a cross-roads at Bayou
Bernard, 7 miles from Fort Gibson. At the cross-roads Lieut.
Haneway's command, which formed the right, met the enemy
moving toward Park Hill and fell back on the Park Hill road.
The enemy pushing forward encountered the Federal center but
after a brief fight was utterly routed and fled to Fort
Gibson.
Lieut.-Col. Taylor, of Stand Waitie's regiment, Capt. Hicks, a
Cherokee, and 2 Choctaw captains were killed.
The entire Confederate loss was about 125 in killed and
wounded and 25 captured. Federal loss I wounded.
"I was very much pleased with the conduct of the whole Indian
force," said Phillips in his report. "The only difficulty was
in restraining their impetuous charge and in keeping back a
reserve and guard for the wagons."
Source: The Union Army, vol. 5, p. 90
|
|
|
RAPIDAN STATION, VIRGINIA
09/19/63
Rapidan Station, Va., Sept. 15, 1863. Detachments of 6th
Ohio, 1st Rhode Island and 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. During
the Union advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan Col.
Horace B. Sargent was directed to make a reconnaissance in
force in the direction of Rapidan Station. With about 600 men
he proceeded toward the river, and when the open country was
reached a heavy line of skirmishers was established and
supported, leaving only the detachment of the 1st Mass. in
reserve. Dismounted men were pressed forward and some sharp
skirmishing ensued, in which the Confederates brought into
action 7 pieces of artillery. An hour before sunset the enemy
charged twice in rapid succession, but both times was repulsed.
At nightfall the 1st Md. cavalry relieved the 6th Ohio and a
strong picket line was established. The Federal casualties
were 3 killed, 22 wounded and 4 missing. Three Confederates
were captured, but aside from that their loss is not known.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 6
|
|
|
SMITHFIELD, VIRGINIA
FEBRUARY 2, 1864.
(See Isle of Wight County, Va.)
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VIRGINIA
JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 1, 1864.
Isle of Wight County, Va., Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 1864. Naval
Brigade Expedition. Brig.-Gen. Charles K. Graham, commanding
the naval brigade, led an expedition to Isle of Wight county
for the purpose of capturing a detachment of the enemy reported
to be on the peninsula formed by Pagan and Chuckatuck creeks
and the Nansemond river. A reconnaissance was made on the 29th
by the gunboats Flora Temple and Smith Briggs, the former to
Chuckatuck creek and the latter up the Nansemond. Owing to a
heavy fog on the 30th but little was done, but at daylight on
the 31st the Smith Briggs, two launches from the steamer Fos-
ter, and the gunboat Commodore Morris, all under command of
Lieut.-Com. J. H. Gillis, were ordered to move up the Nansemond
to Holloway point, where the troops were to land and move on
the village of Chuckatuck. Graham, with the gunboats Flora
Temple and General Jesup, and the transport Long Branch, was to
sail at 10:30 a m. for Smithfield, on Pagan creek, where his
men were to land and move to Chuckatuck, where the two detach-
ments were to form a junction. Shortly after 1 p. m. a force
of 90 men was landed at Smithfield, under command of Capt. Lee
of the 99th N. Y. infantry, with instructions to push on to
Chuckatuck, engaging any enemy that might be in the way. The
gunboats were placed in position to command the town and cover
the retreat of Lee in case he was compelled to fall back. They
remained there until about 3 p. m., when the Temple was sent to
engage the attention of the enemy on Chuckatuck creek in the
neighborhood of Cherry Grove. An hour later, having heard no
firing, Graham moved with the Jesup and Long Branch for Hollo-
way point. In the dense fog the Temple ran aground at the
mouth of Pagan creek, and when Graham reached the mouth of the
Nansemond the pilot of the Jesup stated that it would be impos-
sible to go up the river until the fog lifted. The Long
Branch, being of light draft, was sent up the river and about 8
p. m. arrived at Holloway point, where Graham was informed that
Capt. McLaughlin, with 40 men, had advanced to Chuckatuck and
remained there until dark without meeting Lee, and had then re-
turned to the point with the report that he had heard heavy
firing in the direction of Smithfield. Reconnaissance's were
made during the night and at 7 a. m. on Feb. 1 Graham landed
with 80 men and proceeded to Chuckatuck. Finding no enemy
there he went a mile farther toward Smithfield, but could get
no tidings of the force under Lee and returned to the river.
About 11:30 a. m. the gunboat Commodore Jones came up with a
dispatch, stating that Ensign Harris had escaped from Smith-
field and brought the news that Lee had met the enemy at Benn's
church and had been driven back to Smithfield, where he was
then surrounded and short of ammunition. Without waiting to
hear from Graham, Rear Adm. Lee had sent launches with howit-
zers and ammunition to the assistance of the detachment. Upon
receiving this dispatch Graham at once started with the gun-
boats for Smithfield, but when he reached the mouth of Pagan
creek he learned that Lee's command and the Smith Briggs had
been captured, that the gunboat had been blown up by the Con-
federates to prevent recapture, and that the launches sent by
Rear Adm. Lee had met with such a galling fire that they were
compelled to retire, the commanding officer and several of his
men having been wounded. Thus the expedition ended disas-
trously. The exact losses were not reported, but practically
all of the detachment that landed at Smithfield and the crew of
the Briggs were either killed wounded or captured.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 6
|
|
|
CAMDEN, ARKANSAS
04/04/64
Camden, Ark. (Expedition to), March 23-May 3, 1864.
Maj.-Gen. Frederick Steele, commanding the U. S. forces in the
Department of Arkansas, left Little Rock with his command on
March 23, 1864. His plan was to cooperate with the forces
under Maj.-Gen. Banks for an expedition against Shreveport.
Brig.-Gen. John M. Thayer, commanding the Department of the
Frontier, was to move from Fort Smith at the same time and
unite with Steele on the march. Steele's command consisted of
the 3d division, 13th army corps, 5,127 strong; Thayer had
5,082 infantry and the cavalry strength of the expedition was
3,428-a total of 13,754 men. The 3d division was directly
under Brig.-Gen. Frederick Salomon, whose brigade commanders
were Brig.-Gen. Samuel A. Rice and Cols. William E. McLean and
Adolph Engelmann. The artillery of the division under Capt.
Gustave Stange comprised Battery E, Mo. light artillery,
Vaughn's 111. battery and a Wis. battery manned by Co. F, 9th
Wis. infantry. The brigade commanders of the Frontier
(Thayer's) division were Col. John Edwards of the 1st, Col.
Charles W. Adams of the 2nd, and Lieut.-Col. Owen A. Bassett
of the 3d or cavalry brigade. Brig.-Gen. Eugene A. Carr's
cavalry division comprised 2 brigades, commanded by Cols. John
F. Ritter and Daniel Anderson. The Pine Bluff garrison, under
Col. Clayton Powell, which moved in conjunction with Steele,
consisted of the 18th 111. and 28th Wis. infantry, the 7th Mo.
and detachments of the 5th Kan. and 1st Ind. Cavalry-2,435
men.
On the day that Steele left Little Rock his pickets,
members of the 3d Ark. cavalry, were attacked on the Benton
road and 2 captured, the remainder being driven back until the
2nd Mo. cavalry came to reinforce them. When the column moved
into Benton next day, the advance having been fired upon from
ambush several times, a few of the enemy's cavalry were
encountered and driven out. On the way to Rockport continual
skirmishing was done. At sunset on the 27th Powell started
with an expedition from Pine Bluff for Mount Elba and
Longview, a cavalry force under Lieuts. Young and Greathouse
in the meantime being sent to make a feint in the direction of
Monticello. When near Branchville these two encountered and
skirmished with a Confederate picket. After a skirmish at
Brooks' mill the lieutenants built a great number of camp-
fires so as to mislead the Confederates as to the location of
their main force. Late in the evening of the 28th they
rejoined Powell at Mount Elba, which the latter had occupied
after driving away a force of the enemy. During the night the
bridge over the Saline was repaired and early next morning
Powell, leaving Lieut.-Col. Marks with the infantry, 3 pieces
of artillery and a squadron of cavalry to guard the bridge,
crossed the river and moved in the direction of Camden. Eight
miles from the river the roads from Camden, Princeton and Long
View and one from up the river converge. Making this point
the base of operations Young and Greathouse with 50 picked men
were sent out to destroy the enemy's train at Long View,
parties being sent out on the other roads to cover the
movement. All these returned the same day except that under
Young and Greathouse, who reported at 9:30 a. m. next day
(30th) with 260 prisoners, 300 horses and mules and an amount
of arms and ammunition, having destroyed the bridge and the
enemy's train. Powell then hastened back to Mount Elba, where
the Confederates had attacked Marks. The latter had repulsed
them, however, and had driven them back about a mile. Powell
followed with all the available cavalry and found the
enemy-two brigades under Dockery-posted in strong position. A
spirited charge was made, resulting in the complete rout of
the enemy, the Federal cavalry pursuing to Big creek, 5 miles
distant. The next day (31st) Powell returned to Pine Bluff.
Meantime, on the 28th, Steele had occupied Arkadelphia,
his advance skirmishing with the enemy all the way. Thayer
was to have joined him here, but the lack of forage had made
it necessary for the latter to take another and longer route.
On the 31st the Confederate forces under Lawther attacked the
Federal advance 14 miles from Arkadelphia compelling it, after
a skirmish of an hour, to fall back some distance. Next day
(April 1) Steele's advance and a party of the enemy's scouts
became engaged near Arkadelphia, the Confederates being forced
to withdraw after a brief conflict. Steele encamped that
night at Spoonville, advancing from there on the 2nd. While a
train of 200 wagons with its escort was passing a narrow, miry
defile at a small stream, a mile east of Terre Noir creek and
near Antoine, about 1,200 of Shelby's cavalry made a dash on
the rear-guard. The charge was checked long enough for the
train to get through the defile and the artillery to get into
position, when, after a few shots, the enemy retired. While
Col. Benton with the 28th Ia. was crossing Terre Noir creek the
action was recommenced. Before he could gain an elevation near
the crossing his rear was charged, but the skirmishers held the
enemy in check until the forces were disposed. After a brisk
fight of an hour the attack was discontinued. On the same day,
while the 50th Ind. was acting as a rear-guard for the whole
column, it was hotly pressed by Confederate cavalry. Salomon,
with four companies of the 9th Wis. and 2 pieces of artillery,
was ordered to take the rear. As soon as the main column was
again in motion he was beaten back by a strong cavalry force,
but fought his way to a hill half a mile distant, which he held
until reinforced by the 50th Ind. The enemy kept up a
harassing fire until dark, but did not again charge. Earlier
in the day, when the 3d brigade had reached the forks of the
Camden and Washington roads, a detachment of 200 men of the 1st
Ia. cavalry under Capt. McIntyre, was sent down the Washington
road while the main column moved down the Camden pike.
McIntyre had gone but a short distance when he encountered a
force much larger than his own, but after some spirited
fighting defeated it and drove it back 3 miles to Wolf creek.
On a hill beyond that stream the Confederates made a stand and
opened artillery on the advancing column. Finding that it was
impossible to dislodge them, McIntyre retired and rejoined his
brigade at Okolona.
Thayer had not yet come up and Steele was beginning to grow
anxious. About noon of the 2nd a force of 1,500 Confederates
under Shelby attacked the rear-guard of the 3d division near
Okolona. After a sharp skirmish, in which the 50th Ind. and
the 28th Ia. participated, the enemy was repulsed and Rice
withdrew his brigade to Okolona, but before he arrived there it
was necessary to repulse another of Shelby's charges. When the
division moved forward on the 3d Engelmann's brigade, with 6
pieces of Vaughn's battery, was left at Okolona to await the
arrival of Ritter's cavalry brigade, when the two commands were
to move back to Hollywood and if possible ascertain the
whereabouts of Thayer. Before the cavalry arrived Engelmann
was attacked. After a sharp but sanguinary fight the attacking
force was driven back, and on Ritter's arrival the two brigades
moved in the direction of Hollywood.
Late in the evening of the 2nd McLean's brigade, by a
forced march, took position at Elkin's ferry or ford on the
Little Missouri river. On the morning of the 3d Maj. W. W.
Norris, commanding the 43d Ind., proceeded to the front with
four companies of his regiment for the purpose of supporting
the pickets of the 1st Ia. cavalry already thrown out. The
Confederate pickets were soon located and driven back for some
distance, 16 of them being captured. During the night three
companies of the 36th Ia. and three of the 43d Ind., Lieut.-
Col. F. M. Drake of the Ia. regiment commanding, deployed to
the right and left of the road leading from the ford, and a
section of artillery under Lieut. Charles Peetz was placed in a
position to sweep the road. At 6 a. m. of the 4th the
Confederate force (Cabell's brigade, 1,600 strong) attacked
Drake, who with the support of the artillery held his position
for 2 hours, and then after a charge of the enemy's cavalry,
was forced to slowly fall back on his reserves. Before the
reinforcements sent for, consisting of the 28th Ia. and the 9th
Wis. infantry under Gen. Rice, had arrived, Drake's command,
with the rest of the 36th Ia., had repulsed the enemy.
On the 5th Ritter and Engelmann returned without having
learned anything of the whereabouts of Thayer. Some
skirmishing was done that day at Marks' mills which did not in
the least retard the movement of the column. After
ascertaining that the Confederates were fortifying in his
front, Steele determined to move at once and early on the
morning of the 6th the expedition started, skirmishing in the
vicinity of the Little Missouri river, where the enemy
abandoned a mile of hastily constructed breastworks of timber
and earth which crowned the hills overlooking the river bottom.
That night a messenger arriving at Steele's headquarters
reported having passed Thayer at Rockport, and it was decided
to await his coming where the Federal force was now encamped.
A heavy rain fell during the night and by the next morning the
river had risen 3 feet. It was dark before the pioneer corps
reached the stream, by which time the head of Thayer's column
had encamped on the hills at the farther side. By the evening
of the 9th a bridge had been constructed, Thayer's column
crossed without delay and joined Steele. On the 10th the joint
command moved for Prairie D'Ane. At the intersection of the
Spring Hill and Camden roads Price had posted all his available
force. The skirmish which ensued was brief, the Confederates
using artillery freely, but the Federals succeeded in occupying
and holding the ground. The following afternoon Rice's brigade
was ordered forward and drew the enemy's fire, but it was too
late to bring on a general engagement and a halt was ordered.
On the 12th the skirmishers became heavily engaged, but the
enemy perceiving an attempt of Rice's brigade to flank him
abandoned his works. More skirmishing occurred at Moscow on
the 13th, and on the 14th a portion of Thayer's colored troops
were engaged at Dutch mills. The 3d division encamped at White
Oak creek, 18 miles from Camden, after driving the enemy from
the place, and on the morning of the 15th moved forward with
Rice's brigade and the artillery in advance. There was
constant skirmishing with the Confederate rear-guard until the
Washington and Camden road was reached, where the enemy opened
fire with 5 pieces of artillery. Stange ordered his guns
forward and after a spirited engagement of nearly 2 hours
succeeded in dislodging the enemy's battery. The infantry was
then sent forward, the 33d and 28th Ia. being deployed on the
right and left respectively, while the 9th Wis. successfully
turned the enemy's left flank. The Confederates were followed
closely to Camden, skirmishing all the way, and Rice occupied
the town shortly after sunset.
From the 16th to the 18th inclusive foraging parties sent
out from Camden encountered bands of Confederates who had been
sent to burn the supplies of corn at Liberty postofffice, Red
Mound and other places. A party of Federal cavalry captured a
boat on the Ouachita river 30 miles below Camden with 3,000
bushels of corn and brought it to the Federal encampment on the
16th. A detachment of the Frontier division, with cavalry and
artillery, while escorting a foraging train, was attacked near
Poison spring by Price. Col. James M. Williams, commanding,
formed his men in battle array and repulsed, with heavy loss
both to himself and the enemy, two dashing charges, but after a
4-hours' fight he was overwhelmed and obliged to withdraw,
abandoning the train of 198 wagons. The wounded negro soldiers
were killed in cold blood after the Confederates had won the
field. On the 20th a slight skirmish occurred near Camden and
in the evening of the 23d Price opened an artillery fire on the
outposts of the town, following it up on the 24th. On the 23d,
also, there was a small affair at Swan lake, not far distant
from Camden.
On the 22nd the supply train, comprising 240
wagons, was sent out McLean's brigade and 400 cavalry acting as
escort. When it arrived at Marks' mills on the 25th Fagan's
cavalry, 5,000 strong, made a dashing charge and a fight
lasting 3 hours ensued, in which the enemy overwhelmed the
Federal command, McLean was wounded, and the train, with the
larger part of the escort captured. A cavalry force sent from
Pine Bluff arrived just in time to participate in the finish of
the engagement. Another portion of the Union command did some
skirmishing at Moro bottoms on the 25th and 26th.
Banks' movement against Shreveport had failed and he had
fallen back behind intrenchments at Grand Ecore because of a
severe defeat at Pleasant hill. From Grand Ecore he sent a
messenger to Steele asking that reinforcements be sent him, but
Steele replied that such a move was an impossibility owing to
the lack of forage in the country to be passed through and the
superior force of the enemy, who had been reinforced by 8,000
of Kirby Smith's men on the 22nd. The loss of the wagon train,
however, necessitated a move of some kind and on the evening of
the 25th Steele announced his intention of withdrawing from
Camden. Accordingly on the night of the 26th the Federal
column moved quietly out and commenced the retrograde movement
to Little Rock on the Jenkins' Ferry road via Princeton. The
latter place was reached on the 28th and some sharp skirmishing
was done with the advance of the pursuing enemy, whose cavalry
attempted unavailingly to break the Union line. On the 29th
the Saline river was reached at Jenkins' ferry, where there was
some skirmishing with the enemy's advance on that day and early
next morning. The river bottom at this point is 2 miles wide
and while the expedition was crossing the stream Salomon's
brigade was called upon to repulse a heavy attack. Again at
10:30 a. m. another desperate assault was made on the Union
line but again the enemy was repulsed and driven for some
distance, losing 2 guns and a number of prisoners. Steele then
crossed without further interruption, but found it necessary to
abandon several wagons because of the condition of the roads.
A scouting party was routed on the same day at Whitmore's mill
by a force of Confederate cavalry. Steele proceeded to Little
Rock, which he entered on the 3d of May.
The Federal losses in this expedition were in the
neighborhood of 700. A large number of men were captured,
Shelby alone claiming to have taken over 1,000. The
Confederate casualties in killed and wounded were about the
same.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 5
|
|
|
ROSEVILLE, ARK.
MARCH 29TH TO APRIL 5TH, 1864
Roseville, Ark., March 29 to April 5, 1864. Troops of
the District of the Frontier. These engagements were a series
of skirmishes with guerrillas. On March 29, a body of
Confederate cavalry attacked the small guard at Roseville, but
were repulsed after a sharp fight, though they succeeded in
burning 133 bales of government cotton. On Sunday, April 3,
about 800 Confederates, under Col. Battle, approached the
town, and on the morning of the 4th about half of the force
made an attack on the detachment guarding the cotton. Again
they were driven off. The garrison at Roseville numbered 120
men, but Col. W. R. Judson, commanding the district, sent 25
cavalry to reinforce the post, and another attack was repulsed
on the morning of the 5th. In these actions the Union loss
was 4 killed and 10 wounded. The known loss of the enemy was
16 killed and 35 wounded but it was thought to be heavier.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 6
|
|
|
Boykin's Mill, S. C.
April 18, 1865.
Provisional Division, Department of the South.
The affair at Boykin's mill, or Swift creek, as it is
sometimes called, was one of a number of skirmishes that
occurred on an expedition from Georgetown to Camden.
The provisional division, under the command of Brig.-Gen. E.
E. Potter, reached Camden on the 17th, to learn that the
locomotives and trains had been removed to Boykin's mill, on
Swift creek, 8 miles below, and that the Confederates,
reinforced by two brigades of cavalry, were there throwing up
intrenchments.
On the morning of the 18th the division advanced on the
enemy's position. Upon arriving near the mill it was
discovered that the enemy had cut the dam and flooded the
road, torn up the bridges and were strongly intrenched on the
opposite side of the creek. On both sides of the railroad at
this point there were swamps.
The 32nd U S. colored troops was pushed forward into the swamp
toward the creek but were compelled to retrace on account of
the mud and water. An attempt was then made by the 107th Ohio
to turn the enemy's right, but it had to be abandoned for the
same reason.
The attention was then turned to the other direction. The
54th Mass. found the remains of a bridge, which appeared to
offer a crossing, so that the Confederates could be taken on
the left, but while in the act of crossing the creek, were
fired on and lost several men. Further to the left the 102nd
colored infantry, guided by one of their own race, effected a
crossing, while the 25th Ohio, supported by the 1st brigade,
was pushed forward to the center, ready to charge across the
railroad bridge.
As soon as the firing of the colored troops on the left was
heard the charge was made across the railroad bridge and the
enemy driven from his position, retreating toward the south.
One locomotive and some flat-cars were then destroyed by the
Union forces, together with a large quantity of cotton and the
station buildngs. The pursuit was continued next day. (See
Denkins' Mill, April 19 )
Source: The Union Army, vol. 5, p. 155
|
|
|
View printer-friendly
