Grant Co., Ark., Saline Territory Civil War Article
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FILE MANAGER'S NOTICE: The "Merry Green Press" was created as a remembrance of an
anniversary by Elwin L. Goolsby, Museum Director, Grant County Historian. I don't know how
much of this information is true or correct. Grant County was not formed until 1869.
"This special edition newspaper was complied and published by the Grant County Museum in
Sheridan, Arkansas, in 1989, IN OBSERVANCE OF THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL WAR
Battle Jenkins' Ferry fought April 29-30th, 1864, in what was then Hot Spring and Saline
County Territory, a region later incorporated into Grant County in 1869.
"The events and situations described here as well as comments and individuals depicted in
the accounts were researched from contemporary sources in the museum archives."
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Copied from a Special Edition of "THE MERRY GREEN PRESS"
Federal Forces at Poison Spring:
1st Kansas Colored Infantry - Major R. G. Ward
18th Iowa Infantry - Captain W. M. Duncan
2nd Kansas Cavalry - Lieutenant B. B. Mitchell
Lieutenant E. Ross
6th Kansas Cavalry - Lieutenant R. L. Phillips
Lieutenant R. Henderson
Lieutenant A. J. Walker
14th Kansas Cavalry - Lieutenant J. Utt
Lieutenant W. C. Smith
2nd Battery, Indiana Light Artillery - Lieutenant W. W. Haines
Confederate Officers at Poison Spring:
Bragadier Generals: Samuel B. Maxey, William L. Cabell, John S. Marmaduke
Majors: E. L. Murtrey, J. T. Poe, J. A. Carroll, M. Looscan
Captains: W. M. Hughey, O. B. Tebbs, J. H. Cobb, S. S. Harris
Colonels: J. C. Monroe, T. J. Morgan, A. Gordon, J. F. Hill, W.H.
Trader, T. M. Gunter, William A. Crawford, J. C. Wright, Charles
DeMorse, N. W. Battle, Tandy Walker, J. Riley, S. W. Folsom, Colton
Greene, L. A. Campbell, W. J. Preston
Article:
UNSCRPULOUS PLUNDER & LOSSES REPORTED AT POISON SPRING
The Federal column captured at Poison Spring west of Camden on April 18 contained
wagons laden with corn, bacon, bed quilts, women's and children's clothing, hogs, geese
and other property stolen by soldiers. Confederates under comman of Brigadier General
Samuel B. Maxey attacked the Federal forage train commanded by Colonel James M. Williams
at Poison Spring.
The train consisted of 198 six-mule wagons, artillery, and strong escorts of infantry
and cavalry. The infantrymen of the 1st Kansas Colored had earlier stripped the houses of
the region of little baby frocks, shoes, stockings, women's bonnets, shawls and cloaks
which they hope to take home to their families in Kanasa.
The Confederat force included Indians of the 1st and 2nd Choctaw Regiments who
reportedly broke for the plunder of the train at one point with demoniac war whoops which
disconcerted even their own men.
One hundred severy wagons, four cannon and their caissons, and hundreds of small-arms
were captured along with the stolen items. The Federal loss was 301 of 1160 present on
the field. Out of 438 officers and men in the battle, the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry
lost 182 men, 117 listed as killed.
Captain Rowland of the 18th Iowa has informed our Camden correspondent that three days
afterwards, a burial detail was sent to the field where six white officers and eighty men
of the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry were found. The white dead were all scalped and
stripped of clothing which was carried off by the rebels. To add insult to the dead
officers, they were laid on their faces and a circle of their colored soldiers made around
them. Some wounded soldiers were bitten by rattlesnakes. Confederate losses number 16
killed, 88 wounded and 10 missing.
Federal Forces Engaged at Marks' Mills:
43rd Indiana Infantry - Major W. W. Norris
36th Iowa Infantry - Major A. H. Hamilton
77th Ohio Infantry - Captain A. J. McCormick
Battery E, 2nd Missouri Light Artillery - Lieutenant C. Peetz
7th Missouri & 1st Indiana Cavalry - Major M. McCauley
5th Missouri Cavalry - Major H. P. Spellman
1st Iowa Cavalry - Lieutenant Colonel J. W. Caldwell
Confederate Officers at Marks' Mills:
Brigadier Generals; J. F. Fagan, William L. Cabell & Joseph O. Shelby
Colonels; J. C. Monroe, T. J. Morgan, A. Gordon, J. R. Hill, J. M. Harrell, T. M. Gunter,
David Shanks, B. F. Gordon, M. V. Smith, D. C. Hunter, John C. Wright
Majors; B. Elliott, J. T. Poe, E. L. McMurtrey(this is spelled different from the
notation at Poison Spring, it does not denote which spelling is correct for this Major)
Captains; W. M. Hughey, R. A. Collins, O. B. Tebbs
Article:
DESTRUCTION OF DRAKE'S COMMAND AT MARKS' MILLS
The Federal wagon train ambushed by Confederates at Marks' Mills east of Camden was
escorted by 1200 infantry, 240 cavalry, and 6 pieces of artillery under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Drake from Iowa.
The train was enroute to Pine Bluff for supplies when it was attacked on April 25 by
Brigadier General James F. Fagan's mounted force of nearly four thousand men. The fight
lasted for five house with a Federal loss of about 1300 men. Over 200 army wagons were
taken by the Confederates along with 100 others belonging to refugees, sutlers and cotton
speculators escaping into Federal territory. Four stand of colors, six pieces of
artillery, a cache of ammunition, and 150 negroes were also taken. Witnesses say that
much plunder was found in the wagons and that Coilonel Drake was wounded by a minie ball
in his hip and taken prisoner. Dr. C. G. Strong, a Federal surgeon, said Drake was
carried to a field hospital established in the home of Warren Crain.
It is reported that the Federals lost more than 1300 men, most of whom were captured
and that a large number of negroes and pro-union Arkansans were inhumanly butchered by
the Confederates.
The Federal dead are buried at Marks' Plantation. Confederate losses are estimated to
be under 500, including Colonel Dewitt C. Hunter of Missouri, wounded and shot from his
horse.
Federal prisoners escorted by Colonel Hill's 7th Arkansas are believed to be now
marching to the prison camp at Tyler, Texas.
Article: SAVAGERY & CELEBRATION AT MARKS' MILLS
We deem it necessary to report on certain events taking place on the battlefield at
Marks' Mills on the 25th. A Federal soldier in the 35th Iowa commented that, "The Rebs
robbed nearly every man of us even to our chaplain. They stripped every stitch of
clothes, even their shirs, boots and socks, and left the dead unburied and the woods on
fire. Clothing was also pulled from the wounded as they begged for mercy. No respect was
given for persons rank or age. Old Captain Charles W. Moss of the 43rd Indiana Infantry
was marched bareheaded with his bald head and white locks and beard in the burning sun."
It is rumored, yet unconfirmed, that a great haul of Union greenbacks was recovered
from the headquarters wagons and distributed among the men following the battle.
On the night following the battle, the Confederates were treated to a sumptuous meal
prepared from rations taken from captured wagons. The food had been stolen from the
Confederate homes in the vicinity.
Captured Federal wagons also contained many prized family possessions, including
bedding and jewelry stolen from the local citizens. These were carried to John Marks'
house where they are being restored to their owners. Women all along the road for miles
back toward Camden are now arriving on horseback to identify their belongings.
Article: A MIRROR FROM THE HOMER
A curious account was related to us by a traveler from Camden following the evacuation
of that city by General Steele's army. It seems that the Confederat Army was without its
pontoon bridge and was required to cross the Ouachita Rive on a crude raft bridge formed
from anything in the area that would float. The men could only walk in single file and
ten feet apart, so the crossing was slow and tedious. Jut below this floating bridge the
steam boat, Homer, had been scuttled and was lying up to her cabin deck in water. Here
was an opportunity for plunder not to be disregarded, so a number of the soldiers drew off
their clothes and swam out to the wreck. Everything protable, however, had been carried
away but a large mirror, some two feet by six, in a gilt frame. This was safely towed
ashore and set against a tree where the soldiers swarmed around it to look at themselves,
while the discoverer of the glass put on his clothes, after which he placed the mirror on
his back and carried it eight miles before convincing himself that it was too unhandy a
thing to steal!
Article: THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION, Full Detail of Great Battle At Jenkins' Ferry. A
Summary of Events From Recent Dispatches
We take this opportunity to inform our readers of the background of the recent
expedition detailed in this paper.
In the fall of 1862 a cottom famine was plaguing the North and many textile mills had
been forced to close. The only solution to the problem was to again look to the South for
cotton. The only state not yet ravaged by war was Texas. Perhaps if that state could be
occupied, the shortage could be alleviated. Back of this plan to establish a free-soil
cotton colony in Texas was the New England Emigrant Aid Society and a Unionist named
Andrew J. Hamilton. Hamilton convinced the Union politicians that an invasion was
necessary to rescue fellow Unionists still in Texas. Therefore in December of 1862, the
Federal government launched the Red River Campaign to invade Texas. An expeditionary
force commanded by Major General Nathaniel P. Banks sailed from New York on December 3,
1862. On his way to Texas, Banks was waylayed by General U. S. Grant and obliged to
participate in the Battle of Vicksburg and Port Hudson. By 1863 these campaigns were over
and Banks proceeded toward his original destination. The plan call for Banks and Rea
Admiral David D. Porter to move up the Red River toward Shreveport, Louisiana. A second
Federal force would move south from Little Rock, Arkansas and join Banks for the Texas
invation.
Banks was not a military man. He made serious blunders in leadership and tactics. As a
result of these factors, combined with low water in the Red River and a superior force led
by Confederate Major General Richard Taylor under General E. Kirby Smith, the Federal Army
under Banks was forced to abdicate its invading plan.
The second Federal Army under Major General Frederick Steele moved out of recently
occupied Little Rock on March 23, 1864, with a modern, well equipped force. Following the
road from Little Rock to Benton, Arkansas, Steele crossed the Saline River with little
difficulty and headed south toward Shreveport, Louisiana. His route took him close to the
Confederate occupied city of Camden, Arkansas. This was too rich a prize for Steele to
pass up. With little resistance he occupied the entire town on April 15, 1864.
The journey from Little Rock had been at a greater cost than Steele has estimated. Food
for horses and men was running low, dangerously low. A forage train escorted by the 1st
Kansas Colored Infantry and a section of artillery left Camden to search for corn. During
this time the Confederate Army under E. Kirby Smith had moved in and around the perimeter
of Camden. The wagon train was ambushed and destroyed at Poison Spring. The few
survivors brought the tragic news back to General Steele.
In desperation, Steele sent an empty train east to Federal occupied Pine Bluff for
supplies. This train was also ambushed and destroyed. This time at a place called Marks'
Mills. Steele had no alternative but to retreat and reorganize his force. He decided to
avoid the bad roads through the Noro Swamp to Pine Bluff and would proceed toward Little
Rock, crossing the Saline River at Jenkins' Ferry. During the night of April 26, Steele's
army, including wagons, artillery, and several hundered mules, crossed the Ouachita River
at Camden and headed toward Little Rock up the Camden Road.
Kirby Smith's Confederates then entered the town and commenced a forced march to engage
the retreating Federals. At 4 p.m. on the 29th of April the advance guard of Steele's
column reached Jenkins' Ferry. The Camden Road at this point streached from the highground
on the west into a dismal swamp nearly five miles in width to the highground on the east.
Rain had been fallinf for eighteen hours and the Saline River at the Ferry was too deep to
ford. A rubber pontoon bridge was inflated and moored into position. The road through
the west side of the swamp was corduroyed. Even so, the wagons and guns bogged down.
Steele's train, stretching from the high ridge to the River, was unable to move. It was a
this point that Kirby Smith's Confederates arived on the scene. The Battle of Jenkins'
Ferry had begun.
Article:
COUNTRYSIDE PLUNDERED AND DISRUPTED BY FEDERALS
Reports from local residents indicated that considerable damage was done to civilian
property along the Camden Road in this region as troops of Steele's VII Corps retreated
toward the capital.
According to one source, "The road everywhere testified to the route of the fleeing
Federal Army. Disabled wagons and ambulances, blankets, and clothing of every description
cluttered the ditches. The whole country had been cleaned up of everything that would
satisfy the appetite of starving men. How those dwelling there after these days survived
has been an unsolved problem to me.
Along the road here and there were large dead pine trees with the sap wood just decayed
enough for the cannonballs to knock it off in large slabs."
A Confederate surgeon in Churchill's division said that he saw no living animal on the
road, nothing but ruin and desolation. He reported that, "At times women and little
children stood by theroad to watch us pass. They did not seem very glad to see us, for
they were too hungry to be demonstrative, and we had nothing to give them, not knowing
ourselves where our next meal was coming from. At Princeton, the enemy had camped the
night before and had literally sacked the town. They had left nothing to the inhabitants.
The ladies with their children and a few old men came out on the square and gave us some
flowers and their prayers. It was all they had and their patriotism never grew cold nor
for a moment faltered in all the night of that horrid nightmare.
At Tulip I stopped at the house of a man named Russell who was in Fagan's cavalry. His
wife had been robbed of almost everything. She took twenty-five ears of corn from under
the bed and gave them to me. This I fed to my horse, while I drank a cup of sassafras
tea."
A courier has said that, "Most rail fences along the retreat route have been torn down and
used as beds by the Confederates pursuing Steele. Many of these rails were furned as
firewood. The road leading to the river is a sea of mud and mire and badly cut up due to
the passage of men, horses, and wagons, and is particularly rough in the bottoms on either
side of the river. Parts of this road have been corduroyed, and travel is still just a
crawl. Some buildings have been damaged in the battle."
Reports have also arrived here that David Whitten's new steam-powered gristmill east of
Pratt's Ferry has been destroyed and that a skirmish there resulted in casualties. If
this is true, the population in that region will have to go elsewhere to have their corn
and wheat ground.
Mr. Jones, who lives six miles from the battlefield, said that a day or two before the
hostilities, Federal soldiers came to his home and took away many things of value
including a horse which belonged to his son.
A member of the Elam Waddell family living near the Princeton Pike reported to us that
they could hear the battle raging even from that great distance and by the end of the day
the road was filled with wagons transporting wounded soldiers to Pine Bluff. Two of their
mules were stolen at that time.
Confederate soldier J. P. Blessington, a veteran of the battle, says that at Guesses Creek
"trees were cut in two by cannon balls; limbs of trees torn off and lying in the road;
fences down and scattered in endless confusion; houses riddled with cannon and musket
balls; negro quarters and meathouses broken open and rifled of their contents - in a word
a general desolation prevailing everywhere."
William N. Hoskins, a Confederat soldier from Palmyra, Missouri, says that the Camden Road
is littered with coats, pants, jackets, and blankets cast off by the Federals. Most
cooking utensils he saw had been stuck with bayonets. Most wagons were burned. Every
family along the road has been robbed of their chickens, corn, grain, wheat, and household
possessions. He reports that the country has been desolated and the women and children
left begging.
Due to heavy rains, the Saline River has flooded and is presently spreading over the
entire bottom. It may be five or six days before the crest subsides.
Article:
BLACK TROOPS OUTDUEL CONFEDERATES
Colonel Samuel J. Crawford, commanding the 2nd Kansas Colored Volunteer Regiment with
Federal General Steele's VII Corps, has reported favorably on the conduct of his men at
the recent Battle at Jenkins' Ferry. According to Colonel Crawford, the regiment had
marched with Steele retreating northeast from Camden on April 27 and first encountered the
enemy throughout the afternoon of April 29 at the Saline River. As Confederate troops
advanced on the rear of the Federal wagon train near the highground, Kansas volunteers,
then at the pontoon bridge, were double timed back to face the attackers.
The colunteers quickly discarded their overcoats and haversacks and formed into a column
of companies after receiving orders from General Rice. With Cox Creek on the north, the
troops took position in the scrub timber and thick underbrush of the river bottom. Some
men waded the rapidly rising creek to reinforce elements of the 43rd Illinois, resulting
in many cartridge boxes being filled with water. As the 600-man skirmish line exchanged
fire with the Confederate infantry, witnesses reported that Colonel Crawford rode behind
his troops shouting for them to "aim low and give them hell." Due to the intensive
training given to the black soldiers, their firew was deadly and continuous, outdueling
the enemy and driving them back.
At this time Crawford said he was ordered to take unlimbered Confederate artillery which
had proved to be deadly to the Federal line. His black troops charged the artillery with
fixed bayonets and poured a savage volley into the rear battery killing over thirty horses
and capturing the gunners. A Confederate officer said later that black troops bayoneted
the wounded, although this was denied by Colonel Crawford.
The Confederate Officer said this was done in retaliation of the rebel massacre of wounded
black soldiers of the 1st Kansas Regiment at Posion Spring two weeks earlier.
After resupplying his men, Colonel Crawford ordered them back into the battle which had
lasted over six hours. Confederate forces were pushed back and left the field. At this
time the black soldiers were ordered to care for the wounded and dead Federals and to
again guard the rear of the wagon train. As the last wagons of the VII Corps passed over
the pontoon bridge at the Ferry crossing, the Kansas Volunteers also crossed and proceeded
to destroy the structure.
Speaking to a reporter, Colonel Crawford said, "My black troops carried the day at
Jenkins' Ferry. We were among the first to encounter Kirby Smith's rebels and were the
last to leave the battlefield. We lost over eighty men killed and wounded and regretably
left over forty casualties on the field. I feel we have now redeemed our comrades who
fell at Posion Spring. My men have shown they can fight and win!"
General Steele commented, upon reaching Little Rock, "The recent conduct of the black
troops of my command prove that the African can be made as formidable in battle as a
soldier of any other color."
Article:
THE USE OF ARTILLERY DURING THE BATTLE
A duel between Federal and Confederat artillery erupted at Guesses Creek bottom west of
Jenkins' ferry before the main fighting on the 30th. Federal Lieutenant Charles W. Thomas
of the Springfield Light Artillery serving as a rear guard for the VII Corps threw his
guns into action against Confederat Captain Harris' four-gun battery. At least one house
in the area was hit by shot and shell.
The Springfield Light Artillery was later positioned at a house on the ridge overlooking
the Saline bottom. As Confederat troops approached, they were raked with canister.
Confederat cannon were called in and returned the Federal fire which now switched to shot
and shell. The Confederat battery was quickly withdrawn.
As the VII Corps moved into the bottom, Federal artillery was redeployed in a muddy
cornfield near Cox Creek. confederate Captain Lesueur's batter was ordered to rake the
underbrush with canister. When they opened fire, the 12-pounder howitzers sank up to
their axles in the mire. confederate Lieutenant John O. Lockhart now moved forward with a
section of Ruffner's battery which blasted into the 2nd Kansas and the 29th Iowa
Regiments.
Lockhart's gunners were charged by the two Federal regiments who captured the two 6-
pounders and their caissons as well as an abandoned howitzer.
Dr. J. M. Brown, chaplain of the 29th Arkansas Volunteers said that two of the brass
rifled cannons captured had been captured earlier in 1862 from Federals at Oak Hills
battle in Missouri and that it was reported that there was a reward of $6,000 offered for
their recapture.
Another witness says that these captured Confederate guns were dragged off the field by
the black soldiers of the 2nd Kansas Volunteers. At the river the three guns were spiked,
their wheels knocked out, and rolled into the river.
It is not known whether these guns were recovered by Confederate troops still on the
battlefield, since at this writing the river is still at flood stage.
Article:
BATTLE LOSSES AT JENKINS' FERRY, THE NUMBER COUNTED
Office returns filed by General Steele indicate that he employed about 4,000 officers and
men in the fighting on the 30th. Killed, wounded and missing makes the Federal loss at
least 700.
Brigadier General Samuel A. Rice, a staff officer of the 1st Brigade, was struck in the
ankle by a minie ball resulting in the amputation of his foot. His would is regarded as
serious and may prove fatal.
Captain Paris T. Totten and 1st Lieutenant Thomas R. Connor were killed. Colonel C. H.
Mackey, Lt. Col. J. E. Hayes, Colonel C. W. Adams, Captain Alexander Rush, Captain Andrew
J. Comstock, 2nd Lieutenant Oliver J. Kindig, 2nd Lieutenant Wilson deGarmo, and
Lieutenant Baird were wounded.
Other Federal losses are as follows:
50th Indiana Infantry, Lt. Col. S. T. Wells: K-13, W-71, M-9
29th Iowa Infantry, Col. T. H. Benton, Jr.: K-8, W-84, M-0
33rd Iowa Infantry, Col. C. H. Mackey: K-9, W-105, M-9
9th Wisconsin Infantry, Col. C. E. Salomon: K-14, W-71, M-0
Casual Detachment, Captain M. H. Darnall: K-5, W-27, M-5
43rd Illinois Infantry, Col. Adolph Englemann: K-3, W-9, M-0
40th Iowa Infantry, Col. J. A. Garrett: K-6, W-34, M-0
27th Wisconsin Infantry, Col. C. Krez: K-5, W-11, M-14
2nd Kansas Colored Infantry, Col. S. J. Crawford: K-15, W-55, M-3
Springfield Illinois Light Artillery, Lt. C. W. Thomas: K-15, W-55, M-3
Federal forces not engaged included the following:
Co. D, 3rd Illinois Cavalry
Co. H, 15th Illinois Cavalry
2nd Missoouri Light Artillery
Co. F, 9th Wisconsin Battery
2nd Arkansas Infantry
18th Iowa Infantry
Indiana Light Artillery
1st Kansas Colored Infantry
Arkansas Light Artillery
2nd Kansas Cavalry
6th Kansas Cavalry
3rd arkansas Cavalry
13th Illinois Cavalry
3rd Iowa Calvary
1st Missouri Calvary
2nd Missouri Calvary
10th Illinois Cavalry
1st Iowa Cavalry
3rd Missouri Cavalry
Losses of the 1st Arkansas Infantry under Lt. Col. E. J. Searle; 12th Kansas Infantry
under Lt. Co., J. E. Hayes; and the 14th Kansas Cavalry under Lt. Col. J. G. Brown were
not reported.
*******
Confederate forces commanded personally by General E. Kirby Smith numbered about 6,000.
Of these, 800 to 1,000 were killed or wounded at Jenkins' Ferry, according to most recent
figures.
The dead included Brigadier General William R. Scurry, General Horace Randal, Colonel J.
R. Watson, Captain McIver, Lieutenant Cude, Lieutenat Lasiter, Lieutenant Ponder, General
H. L. Ginstead, Lt. Col. Simon Harris, and Lieutenant Hugh McCollum.
Brigadier General Thomas N. Waul, General John B. Clark, Jr., Lt. Col. Smizer, Colonel W.
M. Moore, Lieutenant Von Phul, Captain Anthony, Major Stanley, Lieutneant Scull, Captain
Dickson, Lieutenant John Lockhart, and Surgeon Edward Rundall were wounded.
Other Confederate losses reported are as follows:
3rd Missouri Cavalry, Capt. D. Brown: K-6, W-31, M-0
4th Missouri Cavalry, Lt. Col. W. J. Preston: K-1, W-12, M-0
19th and 24th Arkansas Infantry, Lt. Col. W. R. Hardy: K-8, W-18, M-0
28th and 38th Arkansas Infantry, Col. R. G. Shaver: K-4, W-22, M-0
33rd Arkansas Infantry, Col. H. L. Grinstead: K-21, W-71, M-0
Gause's Brigade, Arkansas Infantry, Col. L. C. Gause: K-15, W-67-, M-0
Dismounted Casuals: K-1, W-14, M-1
8th Missouri Infantry, Col. C. S. Mitchell: K-7, W-22, M-0
9th Missouri Infantry, Col. R. H. Musser: K-7, W-45, M-0
Ruffner's Missouri Battery, Col. S. T. Ruffner: K-4, W-6, M-0
10th Missouri Infantry, Col. W. M. Moore: K-3, W-7, M-0
11th Missouri Infantry, Lt. Col. T. H. Murray: K-2, @-15, M-0
12th Missouri Infantry, Col. W. M. Ponder: K-1, W-2, M-0
16th Missouri Infantry, Lt. Col. P.W.H. Cumming: K-5, W-20, M-0
9th Missouri Sharpshooter Battalion, Maj. L. A. Pindall: K-4, W-4, M-4
Confederate forces not reporting losses or not engaged included the
following:
14th Missouri Cavalry
8th Missouri Cavalry
Harris' Missouri Battery
11th and 14th Texas Infantry
28the and 6th Texas Cavalry
Daniel's Texas Battery
12, 18th and 22nd Texas Infantry
Halderman's Texas Battery
3rd, 16th, 17th and 19th Texas Battery
29th, 34th, and 35th Arkansas Infantry
Lesueur's Missouri Battery
Article: IOWA CASUALTIES REPORTED
Captain C. B. Boydstrom of the 33rd Iowa Infantry has furnished this paper with a list of
enlisted men recorded as killed, wounded, or taken prisoner at JenkinsŐ Ferry. The
regiment is currently in Little Rock, and it is hoped that this list will reach families
in Marion, Keokuk, and Mahaska counties where the companies were organized. (in the
article copied, the names were not in alphabetical order, it is done here for quicker
reference)
33rd Casualties: Companies A-K
Adams, David wounded
Alsup, John R. prisoner
Bacon, Daniel wounded
Bartlett, Owen wounded
Bevin, Clark wounded/prisoner
Bird, Willis S. wounded
Bonebrake, Peter A. wounded
Bowers, William J. wounded
Brobst, Joseph wounded/prisoner
Bruett, John wounded/prisoner
Chadwick, Wheeler wounded/prisoner
Cochram, Lewis H. wounded
Coleburn, William H. wounded/prisoner
Compton, James D. wounded/prisoner
Coomes, Reuben prisoner
Cornes, Amos killed
Cowan, William R. wounded
Crawford, John R. wounded/prisoner
Cruzen, Benjamin killed
Currey, Robert W.B. wounded
de Bruyn, Kyln prisoner
Decker, Dennis wounded/prisoner
Dewesse, Samuel L. wounded
Dison, William T. wounded
Doughman, Samuel H. wounded
Dove, John wounded
Downes, William O. wounded
Duncan, James T. mortally wounded
Dunlap, Smith wounded/prisoner
Dyer, Francis M. wounded/prisoner
Eichelberger, Adam wounded/prisoner
Evans, David T. wounded
Fergerson, Hans prisoner
Finney, John M. wounded
Garrett, James wounded
Gaunt, John F. wounded
Gibson, Framcis M. prisoner
Gibson, Walker B. wounded/prisoner
Goldthwalt, William wounded
Goodenough, Eri wounded
Graham, Edward killed
Grover, James W. wounded
Hager, Alfred wounded
Harris, John B. wounded
Harris, William H. killed
Haskell, Henry C. wounded/prisoner
Hawk, Anthony wounded/prisoner
Henderson, Enoch F. wounded
Henderson, John M. killed
Henry, Hiram P. wounded
Henry, John wounded/prisoner
Hiner, Dorman wounded
Hinkle, Thomas H. killed
Holloway, David wounded/prisoner
Hoyt, William R. wounded
Jackson, Mortimer wounded
Johnston, John S. wounded
Jones, Alexander wounded/prisoner
Jones, John W. wounded/prisoner
Jones, Oscar L. wounded
Landry, Thomas wounded/prison
Lawler, Thomas J. wounded
Martin, John W. wounded
McCleland, John M. wounded
McMullen, Philander wounded/prisoner
McNeal, Owen P. wounded
McNeil, Allen A. wounded
Miller, John H. wounded
Mitchell, George R. wounded
Montgomery, Samuel B. wounded
Nichols, John E. wounded
Niermeyer, John wounded/prisoner
Osborn, William wounded
Parker, William H. wounded
Parks, William J. wounded/prisoner
Peck, Marin A. wounded/prisoner
Playle, Francis M. wounded/prisoner
Quaintance, Morris A. wounded/prisoner
Ream, Samuel wounded
Redpath, Joseph wounded
Reed, William G. wounded
Reynolds, Lucien wounded/prisoner
Ritner, Isaac N. wounded
Roberts, John C. wounded
Robertson, Samuel S. wounded
Rodman, William M. wounded/prisoner
Rogers, Hannibal wounded/prisoner
Roland, Joseph M. killed
Shanafelt, George W. killed
Shaw, Levi wounded
Shoff, John wounded
Skinner, Jasper killed
Smith, Ephraim killed
Smith, Samuel H. wounded/prisoner
Snyder, John S. wounded/prisoner
Stratton, George B. wounded/prisoner
Strong, James W. wounded/prisoner
Suitor, Philip wounded/prisoner
Taylor, Jacob wounded
Thorp, William wounded
Tindall, Johathan S. wounded
Towne, George W. wounded/prisoner
Trobridge, William wounded/prisoner
Walker, William B. wounded
Wallace, Thomas D. wounded
Welch, David T. prisoner
Welch, James I. killed
Wells, Joshua B. wounded
Wertz, Francis M. wounded
Wightman, John killed
Wilson, Davis G. wounded
Windell, James killed
Article: PONTOON BRIDGE DESTROYED
Henry Atchley of this county visited our office and presented us with a piece of General
Steele's pontoon bridge which was destroyed by the Federals after crossing the Saline
River at Jenkins' Ferry. Our souvenir is a brass air nozzle, still with part of the
rubber cloth attached.
The bridge, a type developed by George W. Cullum, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, was first
used in the Mexican War. The pontoons are mode of double India-rubber cloth and consist
each of three tangent cylinders, peaked at both extremeties like the ends of a canoe,
which are firmly united together by two strong India-rubber ligaments along their lines of
contact, and widening into a connecting web towards the ends. The whole thus forms a
single boat 20 feet long and 5 feet broad, of great bouyancy and stability. Each cylinder
is 20 feet long, 20 inches in diameter, and is divided into three air-tight compartments,
each of which has its own inflating nozzle. The middle compartment occupies the entire
width of the roadway of the bridge, but the ends of it are placed sufficiently within the
ends of the cross boards to be secure from injury except in rare cases. The end
compartments are exposed, but if pierced can be quickly repaired by means of rubber
patches.
Inflating bellows are used for inflation. The bridge, which can support 7,000 pounds, was
moored by a light 45-pound anchor.
The bridge used at Jenkins' Ferry was determined to be over two years old and much the
worse for wear. The 34 wagons used to transport the bridge would also slow the movement
of the train, according to Captian Wheeler, Chief Engineer.
The bridge was then pulled to the bank where the pontoons were punctured with bayonets and
thrown back into the river. The 34 wagons were also destroyed. Two companies of the 24th
Missouri, detailed as pontoniers, rejoined the column.
Article: DESTRUCTION OF WAGONS
An Iowa soldier writes that Steele's column experienced much difficulty crossing the swamp
east of the Saline River. Federal soldiers, according to this source, were compelled to
wait and linger near the enemy while the long train of wagons would stick in the mud and
the mules would flounder in the mire. Although many wagons were destroyed, the train
still stretched out two or three miles. Soldiers cut down all the nearby young pine
trees, carried them to the deepest part of the mire, and so built corduroy across most of
the swamp. When a wagon stuck, every endeavor was made to raise it. If all means failed,
the nules were unhitched and the wagon broken or burned. The contents were thrown over
the ground where many of the cartridges and powder kegs exploded.
The artillery horses were continually falling, while the limbers, caissons, and guns sank
to the axles.
Article: CARR'S RIDE
We have learned that Federal Brigadier General Eugene A. Carr was ordered by General
Steele to proceed in advance of the VII Corps after leaving Camden. Crossing the Saline
River on the 28th at Jenkins' Ferry, Carr's Cavalry Division consisting of about 2,000
troopers proceeded toward Little Rock in defense of the city. His force corssed on the
pontoon bridge set in place by Captain Wheeler's pioneers and fatigue parties.
Carr is said to have sent word back to Steele that the Camden Road in the bottom was very
bad and that he had seen thousands of hoof marks there indicating that a large forcehad
recently passed. This is now assumed to be marks made by General Fagan's force which had
passed their earlier.
It is now reported that Carr's force clashed with Elliott's Missourians a few miles east
of Pratt's Ferry at Whitten's Mill. Following this encounter the Federals destroyed many
of their wagons before proceeding.
General Kimball, Federal Commander at Little Rock, said that Carr's cavalryment entered
the city on May 1, about 5 a.m.
Article: ELLIOTT'S REPORT
Recent dispatches indicate that while following Steele's column within twenty mieles of
Little Rock, Confederate Major Elliott was unable to cut off any stragglers and return to
Pratt's Ferry by way of Benton. He reported passing the smoldering wreckage of ten wagons
and the carcasses of sixty-five mules which had been destroyed to keep them from falling
into enemy hands.
DEATH OF GENERAL GRINSTEAD
The long weary march for Confederate Brigadier General Hiram L. Grinstead has ended. The
popular commander of the 33rd Arkansas Infantry was killed at Jenkins' Ferry, along with
Brigadier General William R. Scurry and Horrace Randal of Walker's Texas Division
Grinstead, who was born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1829, graduated in law and served as
District Judge in Jefferson, Texas when he was twenty-five years of age. He married Miss
Kate A. Goodwin of New Orleans in 1852. In 1859 he moved to Camden, Arkansas, and
obtained license to practice law from Judge Scott, Supremem Judge of the State.
In 1862 he was the first to form a regiment from Camden and served at Prairie Grove and at
Pleasant Hill, Louisiana.
DEATH OF GENERAL RANDAL
Brigadier General Horace Randal of Walker's Texas Greyhound Division was killed at
Jenkins' Ferry on April 30th. The 31-year old Confederate office, a graduate of West
Point, ws a veteran of the Vicksburg Campaign and had personally recruited the 28th Texas
Cavalry Regiment in and around Marshall, Texas. He served in General Bragg's
Quartermaster Corps in Florida and was appointed aide-de-camp to Major General Gustavus W.
Smith. The General was mortally wounded on the field and later carried to the hamlet of
Tulip for burial. The loss is considered great for the Southern cause.
SON OF DISTINGUISHED ARKANSAN DIES OF WOUNDS
Confederate Captian Jacob Wythe Walker, 34th Arkansas, of Fayetteville has died as a
result of wounds received recently at Jenkins' Ferry. Captian Walker was the son of david
Walker, Supreme Court Justice, State Senator, and President of the Arkansas Secession
Convention. Judge Walker was at Washington in Hempstead County when he heard the news of
his son's wound and visited the widow Matlock's home in Tulip where Captain Walker died.
It is through that the body will be returned to Fayetteville for burial.
*********
"Sgt. David McCullough, Co.A, Ark. Inf., CSA. when my line of skirmishers was ordered to
advance as near as possible to the enemy's line, with a view to draw their fire, rushed up
to within a few yard of their line shot down one man, captured another, and brough him off
under the enemy's fire."
Col. R. G. Shaver
"Capt. Dickson of Co.A seeing the color-bearer shot down, gallantly raised the colors and
kept them up until he was cut down by three balls."
Lt. Col. T. D. Thomson, 33rd Ark. Inf., CSA.
"Maj. W.W. Dunlap, chief of artillery; Maj. H.M. Clark, assistant inspector-general;
Lieut. A.H. Sevier, acting assistant adjutant general; Capt. J.L. Thomas paymaster; Col.
John W. Polk, Capt. C.E. Royston, and Capt. C.J. Hanks - behaved with distinguished
gallantry, were alike reckless of like and danger and seemed rather to court death than to
avoid it."
Brig. Gen. T. J. Churchill, CSA.
"Confederate Lieuts. Celsus Price and B.F. Scull and my orderly Private D. Kavenaugh
particularly distinguised themselves at Jenkins' Ferry by responding with alacrity to a
call for volunteers to reconnoiter the enemy's position, riding up to their ranks and
receiving a heavy volley, which disclosed the Federal lines, but unfortunately took effect
upon Lieut. Scull, fracturing his leg which was afterward amputated."
Maj. Gen. Sterling Price, CSA.
"Capt. Alexander Rush, 2nd Reg. Kansas Colored Infantry, whom a truer or braver offier
never lived, fell, pierced through the head by a musket-ball while gallantly leading his
company into the battle. Sgt. John P. Mosley and Pvt. George R. Benedict, 13th Kansas
Infantry, both wounded. No priase in the respect would sufficiently do justice to their
heroic conduct."
Col. S.J. Carwford, 2nd Kansas Colored Inf.
"Lieut. Baird was wounded, while fearlessly doing his duty in the hottest of the fight.
My color-bearer, Mortimer W. Nelson, as brave a man as ever bore a flag, was shot in the
shoulder and fell. Out of four, two color guards, Corporals Davis and Bare, fell severly
wounded, and I regret to say Davis was left on the field. Lieutenant Amos, Capt. Jordan,
Capt. Sennet, and Lieut. Christie foudn with the cool determination of veterans. One
noble sergeant, Simmons, of Co.H, shot in the breast, when his lieutenant told him the
enemy was beaten, waved his hand and died with a smile."
Col. John A. Garrett, 40th Iowa Inf. Volunteers
********
TWO DEATHS REPORTED
At a late hour we received the following account from Dr. J.M. Brown, chaplain of the 29th
Arkansas Volunteers engaged at Jenkins' Ferry.
"My regiment had crossed over a fence on the battlefield when I found a Union captian who
had been shot in the neck. He had taken position behind the roots of a large pine log and
had fallen back into the water, out of which he was trying to keep his head. I took him
out of the hole and placed his knapsack under his head. He held up his hand on which was
a fine ring. He said, 'My sister, English settlement, Iowa.' But he was so far gone I
could not get his name. I regretted that I did not preserve the fine belt, sword and
scabbard that I left beside his dying body.
In our first charge, almost the first man hit was the son of a ruling elder of my
congregation at home. It was a spent ball that buried itself in the muscle of the arm,
lodging against the bone. He was but a few feet in front and I saw him drop back, but
quickly took his place in line again. I saw him fall back the second time and again take
his place; ther third time he staggered back and threw his gun down. Getting down from my
horse, I aught him in my arms. William, are you hit? 'Yes' Where? He pointed behind
his neck. It looked bad, but of course the neck was not broken. Where else? He was
getting very weak and placed his hand on his stomach. One look and I knew that it was
fatal. He was helped upon the horse and taken to the hospital where after a few hours
suffering, he passed to another mode of existence."
MR. CHERRY'S DEATH
Q.V. Stephens has written that M.M.J.Cherry, an enlisted soldier, was among those killed
at Jenkins' Ferry on the 30th. According to Mr. Stephens, he fll while gallantly charging
the enemy and whil discharging his duty as a soldier. A single ball struck him in the
right temple and went out the other. He was killed instantly and never spoke after he was
struck. Friends went to the battlefield and carried him off to a good place and buried him
on the bank of Cox Creek about two miles from Jenkins' Ferry on the Camden Road.
We offer our best respects and sincerest sympathy to his widow.
"Too much praise cannot be accorded those men who drove the enemy's center a half mile
after all support had given way. When all acted so gallantly it is difficult, if not
impossible to point out particular instances. Colonel Davie, Lieutenant-Colonel Brooks,
and Lieutenant Colonel Hicks, commanding regiments, did their who duty, urgin their men
forward in the advance and rallying them when driven back. In this they were faithfully
assisted by Major Hathaway, of Davie's regiment; Major Stanley, Yells regiment; and
Captain Anthony, acting lieutenant colone, and Captain Montell, acting major, Gause's
regiment. Major Stanley and Captain Anthony were both wounded, the latter severly. I am
particularly indebted to Lieutenant Smither, volunteer aide, for valuable services on the
march from Camden and during the engagement. He was conspicuoous for his gallantry, every
ready and prompt to execute orders, and deserves particular mention. I desire also to
mention Captain Carter, acting assistand adjutant-general; Lieutenantes Ross, assistant
Adjutant and inspector-general, and Leroy Burrow, acting aide-de-camp, of my staff, for
the promptness and energy with which they discharged their several duties. My loss is 16
killed and 67 wounded, as will be seen by reference to a report forwarded herewith. Among
the killed are the gallant Captain McIver, Lieutenants Cude, Lasiter and Ponder, all of
whom fell bravely leading the men in the charge. Their loss is sad and an almost
irreparable blow to their command. Braver or truer men never fell in any battle. Aboout
2 p.m. I withdrew my brigade from the field and bivouacked on the hill on the Princeton
Road, and marched thence to this place.
Respectfully submitted." Col. L.C. Gause, 32nd Ark. Inf. CSA.
"Feeling that it would be invidious to make any distinction between the commanding
officers of regiments, assisted by their other field officers, in valor, skill, and
efficiency on the field, I will say that they did everything that could be expected from
them. Considering the well-earned laurels they have gathered upon other battlefields, I
think I pay them the greatest compliment when I say they sustained that reputation.
Lieutenant-Colonel Smizer, of the Eight Missouri Infantry, was wounded while gallantly
discharging his duty.
Captain Ruffner's battery was left on the hill when we first formed to await my orders.
Receiving an order from one of General Smith's staff to send a section, which was
unfortunately, captured by the enemy. Having no knowledge of the circumstances and the
order of putting him in action, I attach his report for your consideration.
My staff discharged their duty, Lieutenant Von Phul, aide-de-camp, receiving a wound on
the arm and chest, Lieutenant Waldo having his horse severely wounded.
I am, very respectfully, your obediant servant."
Brig. Gen. John B. Clark, Jr., CSA.
"I beg to make favorable mention of Col. William M. Moore, commanding Tenth Missouri
Infantry. This gallant officer was severely wounded near the close of the action while at
his post encouraging his men, and refused to quit the field until ordered by me to do so.
Lieut. Co. Simon Harris, of the same regiment, was instantly killed while bravely
[engaged] in the discharge of his duty. The army has not been called to mourn the loss of
a more gallant or efficient officer nor the country a more disinterested patriot and
citizen than Simon Harris. Endeared to all who knew him, his memory is inshrined in the
hearts of his comrades in arms. His loss to the country is irreparable. Major Magoffin
efficently commanded the regiment after the command devolved upon him. Lieut. Cols. P.W.H.
Cumming and Thomas H. Murray, commanding, respectively, the Sixteenth and Eleventh
Missouri Regiments of Infantry. deserve the highest praise for their gallant bearing on
the field and the ability which they displayed in handling their commands in action. Maj.
L.A. Pindall, commanding battalion of sharpshooters, was conspicuous for coolness and
courage. The ability which he displayed in the management of his command during the
action marks him an officer of the highest merit. The battalion of sharpshooters deserve
especial merit for the sturdy and unwavering courage displayed by them on the battlefield.
Capt. A.A. Lesueur, commanding Missouri Light Battery, belonging to thisbrigade, was
detached from my command at the beginning of the engagement and ordered to report to
Brigadier-General Marmaduke, commanding cavalry. He rendered efficent service with his
batter on another portion of the field. I desire to return my thanks to Lieut. Samuel M.
Morrison, acting assistant adjutant-general of the brigade, and Lieut. H. Buford
Armistead, my aide-de-camp. The zeal and intelligence with they exhibited in carrying and
delivering my orders, and their gallant bearing in the face of the enemy, renders
honorable mention of them but an act of justice. My entire loss in the engagement was 10
killed and 50 wounded."
Col. S.P. Burns, 2nd Missouri Brigade CSA.
***********
"The serious loss in officers and men, the fall of the gallant and daring Scurry and
Randal, the only general officers from Texas, save myself, on the field, fully sustain the
well-earned reputation of the troops from that State. I would specially commend the
conduct of Col. Overton Young, commanding the Eighth[Twelfth] Regiment Texas Infantry; as
at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, he behaved with much fitness for command. Severely
wounded, his loss would be a great one to the service should he be unable to again take
the field. I earnestly recommend him for promotion. Colonel Watson, a brave and
excellent officer, commanding the Eighteenth Regiment Texas Infantry, was killed while
gallantly leading his men. It is with great satisfaction that I acknowledge my
indebtedness to Col. Washington L. Crawford, of Texas, on the staff of J=Major General
Price, who after his command had been withdrawn tendered me his services. He proved
himself a cool, daring, active, and efficient officer by promptly extending my orders and
watching and penetrating the designs of the enemy. Surg. Edward Randall, brigade surgeon,
a most skillful, attentive and active officer, was severely wounded in the commencement of
the action. Capt. Adolph King, assistant adjutant general, and Capt. Robert Brodnax,
aide-de-camp performed their several duties with their usual zeal and ability, the highest
encomium they can receive. Indeed, the conduct of officers and men fully sustained the
character their former behavior won for them, with the additional advantages that
experience has brought of being calm, cool and collected, the officers devoting themselves
to the all important duty of holding their men in hand and subject to control.
I have the honor to be, very respectlly, your obedient servant."
Brig. Gen. T. N. Waul, CSA.
"While all the commanding officers performed their duty well, I cannot refrain from
noticing the action of Lieutenant Gillespie, Twelfth Battalion Sharpshooters, commanding
detachment on the field. For activity and daring he was particularly conspicuous, and I
would respectfully urge that promotion could not be bestowed upon a more worthy or
efficient officer. Captain Franklin, First Battalion Dismounted Cavalry, commanding a
company, deserves the highest praise for his conduct. Indeed, all my commanders did well.
All honor is due my adjuant, Thomas H. Simms, for his bearing and efficiency on the field,
being found at all times where duty called him, regardless of danger, I cannot close this
report without offering my thinks to Lieutenant Cunningham, aide-de-camp to General Smith,
for the valuable services rendered me. Cool and collected, he rode in front of my line
seeking favorable positions and ascertaining the whereabouts of the enemy, urging and
encouraging my men to deeds of daring. Indeed, I attribute my success in a great degree
to his skill and good judgement, and feel that I was extremely fortunate in having the
services of so brave and skillful an officer."
Lieut. Co. H.G.P. Williams, Dockery's Brigade, CSA.
"My casualties are 28 killed, 124 wounded and 6 missing. Among the killed was Lieut. Col.
Simon Harris, of the Tenth Missouri, who fell while gallantly cheering on his regiment.
In his fall the country has lost a brave and accomplished officer. Brig. Gen. John B.
Clark was wounded in the arm while leading his brigade with his accustomed skill and
daring. Colonel Burnes, commanding the Second Brigade, is entitled to an honorable
mention by me for the good judgement, coolness, and courage with which he handled his
brigade.
Officers and men all are entitled to the thanks and admiration of their country for their
patient endurance and energy in their pursuit, and for their firmness and valor in the
battle which routed the enemy at Jenkins' Ferry. Officers of my staff-Major Maclean,
Captain Kelly, and Captain Edwards-were with me on the field. their energy, courage, and
experience greatly contributed to the success of the day."
Brig. Gen. Mosby M. Parsons, CSA.
*********
Article: CONFEDERATE ROLL OF HONOR
FOR CONSPICUOUS COURAGE
GOOD CONDUCT
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 64
ADJT. And INSP. General's Office,
Richmond, VA. 1864
I. The following roll of honor is published, in accordance with paragraph I General
Orders, No.131, 1863. It will be read to every regiment in the service at the first
dress-parade after its receipt.
* * * *
BATTLE OF JENKINS' FERRY
Missouri: Eighth Regiment of Infantry
Capt. E. A. Pinnell, Co. D
Capt. A. M. Curry, Co. G
First Lieut. T. L. Johnson, Co. C
Senior Second Lieut. James Hulsey, Co. E
Junior Second Lieut. M. O. Roberts, Co. F
Junior Second Lieut. T. B. Logan, Co. I
Ninth Regiment of Infantry
Private George E. Kirby, Co. G
Tenth Regiment of Infantry
Private A. J. Hutchinson, Co. E
Private Ozias Benton, Co. F
Private J. R. Adams, Co. G
Private Stephen Crismon, Co. K
Eleventh Regiment of Infantry
Private W. H. Dodson, * Co. A
Private Peter Black, * Co. B
Private D. O. Daugherty, Co. C
Private William Park, Co. D
Sergt. Green B. Smith, * Co. F
Private B. F. Mock, Co. G
Private Thomas Conner, * Co. H
Private Jacob S. Barnard, * Co. I
Sergt. S. B. McBride, Co. K
Company E on detached service.
Twelfth Regiment of Infantry
Private J. W. Kilgore, Co. A
Sergt. James Hawkins, Co. B
Private H. K. Taylor, Co. C
Sergt. Geroge Hirsch, Co. D
Private John E. Morris, Co. E
Sergt. James Lincycomb, Co. F
Private M. Gibson, Co. G
Sergt. William Kemp, Co. H
Sergt. A. J. Hinkle, Co. I
Private N. C. Foster, Co. K.
Sixteenth Regiment of Infantry
Private Loyd T. Stepenson, * Co. C
Private D. P. Neel, * Co. F
Private William Tyree, Co. I
Private W. L. Jackson, Co. K
Other companies declined selecting.
Ninth Battalion of Sharpshooters
Private W. B. McElwee, Co. A
Sergt. H. B. Stiles, Co. B
Private W. Clay Green, Co. C
Private John King, Co. D
Lesueur's Battery
Corpl. Jefferson H. Gillespie
By order: S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General
All noted [*] KILLED IN ACTION
Article: 27TH WISCONSIN CASUALTY REPORT
Colonel C. Krez, 27th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, has filed this list of his killed,
wounded, and missing at Jenkins' Ferry on April 30th:
KILLED
Walter Osborn
Wesley H. Stagg
Peter Barth
Lawrence Dickensford
Carl White
WOUNDED
John J. Borland
John Henry
G. Dietrick Vandaen
F. Rumery
Justin C. Cretton
Joseph Mesmer
conrad Plinke
John Gehring
J. Kingsland
H. Hemke
Christian Timmingson
MISSING
Paul Casley
Conrad Martin
Adam Eifler
H. Mandel
M. Wagner
Joseph Gretzer
Jacob Brick
Edward O'Hara
Philip Theiss
T. Proffsman
T. Abel
P. Refhel
Levi Dean
George W. Cole
Article: DEATH OF LIEUT. HUGH MC COLLUM
We have just learned of the death of Lieut. High McCollum of Camden, who fell at Jenkins'
Ferry. He enlisted in the 1st Regiment of Arkansas Infantry on the 17th day of May, 1861,
and was later wounded in the Battle of Shiloh. He joined Grinstead's 33rd Regiment and
was in the Battle of Prairie Grove and with E. Kirby Smith at Pleasant Hill at Mansfield,
Louisiana.
McCollum was killed leading his men against a circling fire of musketry and artillery.
In the true spriit of the patriot, his last words were: "Carry me home and tell them I
did my duty and died at my post."
Article: VETERAN'S COMMENTS
Upon reaching the safety of Little Rock, some of the veterans of Steele's march were asked
to comment on their experiences. Those statements are printed here in the hope that
family members might receive the news through this paper.
Confederate veterans were interview in Camden by our correspondent assiged to Kirby
Smith's army.
FEDERAL COMMENTS:
"We had been hungry form some time but now we began to actually suffer for want of food.
I knew of a case where one man paid a comrade two dollars for a single piece of hard-tack,
and another traded a silver watch for two of them"
"When we reached Little Rock, we filed past General Steele's headquarters. There would
undoubtedly have been a good deal of music, but the fifes and drums had been so nearly
used up on the campaign, the pounding was hardly as lively as usual."
"We were almost at the limits of human endurance, and some actually slept while marching."
"At Little Rock we received long-needed rations. Never were rations more speedily
distributed or hard-tack and sow-belly put inside blue uniforms with greater haste."
"Many wagons were abandoned at Jenkins' Ferry as we privates were not so much interested
in them as we were in the contents. The officers had all their fine clothes in them, so
there came a sudden change of garments to save the best from burning; and men who had laid
down ragged and dirty at dark were seen at daylight finely dressed in glossy coats with
shining buttons, but hungry and tired as ever."
"Oh, the interminable time in that dreary swamp! Driven to the last extreme of haste by
the imperative necessity for food, we were compelled to wait and linger, while the long
train of wagons would stick in the mud, and the mules would flounder in the mire."
"Water and mud were waist deep in places; we waded, rather than walked. Timber with which
to corduroy the road was scarce and when teams gave out, those used to pull the sutler's
wagons were commandeered; when thses balked, the wagons were burned. Animals too weak to
be led were turned loose. Vehicles becoming hopelessly mired in the mud were left."
"During the battle, smoke became so dense, waving like a thick mass between the dark trees
over the enemy ground, that it was impossible to see anything else at a distance of 20
yards."
"The Rebels did indeed fire too high or too low. Our men learned to stoop down under the
smoke and fire at breast level which could not fail to hit its mark. The crowded and more
than double formation of rebel lines must have suffered a dreadful slaughter."
CONFEDERATE COMMENTS:
"Our troops did not fight well. They got in confusion and it was impossible for the
officers, most of whom are of no earthly account, to do anything with them."
"Following the fight in the cornfield, we posted ourselves at the edge of the woods in
order to watch Infirmary Corps search for any wounded that might have been left behind.
We wanted to prevent the mutilation and murder of our wounded which the enemy had
inflicted on some owho had been left on the field from the conflict before our arrival."
"Our brigade was dashed up gallantly to an old cornfield, where using our muskets quite
soldierly, sustained the fight without assistance, agains 7,000 of the enemy for forty
minutes."
"My General's arm was broken by a minie ball, but he refused to go to the rear. The foe
threatened to envelop us in a sheet of flame."
"At one time during the battle our boys retreated. General Churchill rode up at that
time, leaped off his horse, and seized a musket from one of our slackers. He rallied the
remnant of the brigade around him in spite of a galling fire."
As Missourians we are part of the best brigade in the Confederacy and all that is left
that volunteered at the breaking out of the war. We never lost a man except by death."
"After standing on the ridge for over 20 minutes, we advanced into the bottom. There was
no romance of war or battle; no waving of banners; no martial music, no thronging of wome
and children. It was raining and we walked with our officers into that cheerless, dismal
swamp. We were as steady as if we were on drill."
Article: AN EASY WAY TO FIGHT A BATTLE
A Confederate veteran recently at Jenkins' Ferry observed that some shots were wasted
during the battle. He reported as follows: "We stood there and saw the other two
regiments, the 19th and 24th Arkansas Consolidated and the 27th and 38th Arkansas
Consolidated, to the right and left of us go forward and disappear in the woods beyond a
little field. It was interesting. Two or three of them behind the same tree would sight
for an interminable length of time at the woods, then fire and hide behind the tree until
they could load their guns again. This looked like to us to be a very good and easy way
to fight a battle, and indeed it was for after events developed it was a good half-mile to
where the enemy was located."
Article: CONFEDERAT ATTEMPT FLEECED BY YANKS
A rebel attempt to mislead Federals at Jenkins' Ferry has met with failure. During the
early stages of the battle, a number of mounted Confederat soldiers in Federal uniforms
appeared on the field driving a flock of sheep before them. Apparently they hoped to spy
and deceive their enemy into believing they were a friendly foraging party. As soon as
the Federal soldiers saw through the ruse, they opened fire. Sheep and sheepherders
quickly scattered into the woods, their judgement of Yankee intelligence miscalculated.
Article: INFANT CHILD
We are told that a large number oc camp followers, including colored Americans, attached
themselves to Steele's column as the Federals abandoned Camden. Many of their pitiful
wagons and teams became hopelessly stuck in the mud along with the military.
Mr. McElroy, who lives near Turin Post Office, reportedly found a black infant on the
field after the battle and has taken the child home where it will be raised.
A Federal soldier said he personlly saw a least one wagon containing a half-dozen black
babies of assorted sizes stuck in a slough and drawn by the feeblest of all possible
mules, just executing his last drowning kick as he waded by.
A large number of sutlers' and refugees' wagons were also lost at Marks Mills.
Article: CAPTURE OF CONFEDERATE COLORS
We have ascertained that three Confederat flags were taken by the Federals at Jenkins'
Ferry. Two were taken by the Fiftieth Indiana and one by the Ninth Wisconsin. The
captured colors are now in Little Rock and are paraded as trophies of war.
Article: BATTLEFIELD HOSPITALS
Most of our readers are already aware that hospitals still remain on the battlefield at
Jenkins' Ferry. The Federal hospitals, we are told, consisted of sever tents on both
sides of the river and a house located on the battlefield. All the ambulatory wounded
were sent across the river to the east side while the stretcher cases were found and
carried into the house. One surgeon, Doctor Loehr, and two assistants were left behind to
care for the seriously wounded.
A hospital steward reported that one tent contained at least thirty-seven Federal soldiers
requiring amputations and that Dr. Loehr and his staff were later taken prisoner by
Confederates and removed from their duties. A Confederate medic was assigned in his
place. It is throught that the entire hospital, aides, and equipment will soon be
transferred to Camden.
All buidings in the neighborhood were turned into field hospitals by the Confederates to
house the wounded of both sides.
The dead were buried in shallow graves on or near the battlefield while some were carried
to Tulip in Dallas County to await the final judgement.
Atricle: CONFEDERATE PRIVATE DESCRIBES HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE
Robert M. Rodgers of Ashley County enlisted at Company B, 26th Arkansas Regiment in 1863
at the age of 17 and was wounded in action at Jenkins' Ferry. He was interviewed by our
correspondent visiting Camden last week where he described his experiences.
"I was numbered among the unfortunates. Wounded in my left arm about 9:00 o'clock on the
monring of April 30th when the battle seemed to reach its highest pitch. I was powder
burned and my face smoked so black my comrades could scarcely recognize me. While I was
attempting to get off the field, I met my regimental surgeon who called, 'Is that you,
Rodgers?' By that time my wound was very painful, and the blood was flowing freely down
my side and around my waist. My surgeon secured the necessary hel, and I was take back to
a line of vehicles that stood just behind the battle ranks. My old comrade, Grizzell, and
I were soon placed in one and conveyed at once to the hospital ground where may poor
wounded soldiers were bieng rapidly collected. Grizzell was beside me and was wounded at
the same time I was. I remember very well the expression on his face at the time my gun
was shot from my hand. I thought he was killed, but it so happened that he had received a
severe wound from which he finally recovered.
We remained on the battlefield for three days after which wer were removed to the hospital
at Tulip. The serious condition that soldiers may be placed can hardly be described.
Imagination only can picture. Our baggage train had been sent to Texs and of course we
were without a change of clothing, and we were forced to remain in our blood-stained
clothes for nine or ten days. The enemy had over run the country which made it almost
impossible for the patriotic citizens to give aid to the wounded. However, with
sympathizing hearts and ready hands they did everything they could to give relief to the
wounded soldiers. I had become despondent by this time. My clothes saturated with blood
for so long had become bvery offensive and flies were bad, creeping things as large as
wheat grains had now infested my body round about my blood-stained clothes. This was the
condition of many of my wounded comrades.
My first nurse was very slothful and unconcerned, and on account of his unfaithfulness he
was discharged and ordered to report to the command without delay. My second nurse was a
good man and was exceedingly careful with me.
It was about two weeks after the battle that I seemed to be getting weaker very rapidly
and I thought I must be dying. It was late in the afternoon of that day, it came my time
to get a little bed and a clean shirt and a pair of trousers. I remember my nurse-called
me and asked if I could bear for them to lift me, and hold me up until they could change
my clothes and place me on a small bed. I consented to this although I was so very weak.
While all this was taking place, I could see some wounded comrades in another part of the
room, dying. I knew nothing more for some time; and when I cam to myself I was lying on a
little bed with clean clothes on, with my right hand and arm laid across my breast.
Nature had changed. I soon fell into a deep sleep and enjoyed a good nights rest for the
first time since my misfortune.
When I awoke the next morning, I did not feel soweak and from that time forward I began to
improve. Two weeks later I was able to take leave of my wounded comrades that were still
at the hospital. I left in company with my Division Surgeon who amputated my arm at the
battlefield, and who now dressed my stub every mroning on our way to Camden.
Article: GENERAL STEELE REMEMBERED FOR DODD INCIDENT
Our readers will recall the role of General Steele four months ago in David O. Dodd's
arrest and execution. dodd, a popular 17-year old and a former citizen of Benton then
living in Camden, was arrested by Federals near Little Rock and charged with spying for
the Confederates. Sergeant Miller of Company B, 1st Missouri Cavalry made the arrest.
The trial wich followed lasted for six days with a sentence of death by hanging.
A number of citizens begged the General to spare the boy's life, but he refused to
interfere. The execution took place on January 8th on the grounds of St. John's College
with burial in Little Rock.
This incident took place just three months before Steele embarked on the Red River
Expedition.
Article: COMMENTS CONCERNING E. KIRBY SMITH & CONFEDERATE COMMANDERS
A most distinguished assemblage of Trans-Mississippi Department Confederates was present
at the recent battle on the Saline. With General E. Kirby Smith were: Brigadier General
John S. Marmaduke, Major General John G. Walker, Brigadier General Thomas N. Waul,
Brigadier General William R. Scurry, Major General Sterling Price, Brigadier General James
C. Tappan, Brigadier General Alexander T. Hawthorn, Brigadier General Mosby M. Parsons,
Brigadier General John B. Clark, Brigadier General H. L. Grinstead, Brigadier General
Horace Randal, and Brigadier General T. J. Churchill.
General E. Kirby Smith was born in 1824 in Florida and graduated from West Point at the
age of 21. After serving in the Mexican War, he returned to West Point as an instructor
of mathematics. In 1852 he was transferred west and participated in the Texas Frontier
Indian Wars where he attained the rank of major in the Union Army.
In 1861 he resigned his commission and became a Confederate Brigadier General, service in
the Battle of Bull Run where he was wounded.
We have reason to believe that at Jenkins' Ferry, the General commanded personally,
cheering his men on to victory over the enemy.
Regardless of his demonstration at the recent battle, many Southerners feel that the
General badly mismanaged his troops, feeding them into the Federal meat-grinder piecemeal.
A soldier from Walker's Texas Division said, "The officers beseeched General Smith to
allow their commands to swim the river in pursuit of Steele's army. He felt, however that
it would be too great a risk to send his cavalry across the river without the infantry.
Smith was satisfied with the laurels he had already won; consequently he allowed Steele's
Army to return to Little Rock, his base of operations, unmolested."
Major General Sterling Price, commanding Arkansas and Missouri Infantry Divisions, also
did not distinguish himself at Jenkins' Ferry. He apparently took much too long to
concentrate his cavalry against Steele's column. Opion is that the handling of his men
here could scarcely have been worse and that the Richmond government should relieve him of
his command.
Article: CRITICISM OF GENERAL FAGAN
It is rumored that some criticism of Brigadier General James F. Fagan by Confederate
officers has surfaced since the 30th. Fagan, who commanded at Marks' Mills on Arpil 24,
attacked that Federal train in violation of his orders which were to get between Little
Rock and Camden and cut General Steele's line of retreat by felling trees across the road.
According to reports, had these instructions been obeyed, the VII Corps would have been
destroyed at Jenkins' Ferry.
Fagan reconniotered the west bank of the Saline River to Pratt's Ferry and said he found
no evidence of a Federal wagon train as described in his orders. Unable to cross the
flooding river to the east side, he turned his cavalry, consiting of about 2,000 men,
toward Arkadelphia to look for supplies. By the time Fagan learned of his mistake and
returned to Jenkins' Ferry, Steele had already crossed the river. It is common knowledge
in the Confederate camp that General Fagan could have won the battle by his presence but
lost it by his absence.
Article: COUNTY JUDGE WITH FAGAN
Major James T. Poe, former County and Probate Judge of this county, recently commanded a
Confederat cavalry battalion at Poison Spring and Marks' Mills and was with General
Fagan's Task Force at Jenkins' Ferry. The Major first served in the 11th Arkansas Regiment
organized in Benton in 1861 and spent several months in Federal prison following his
surrender in 1862.
While home on furlough here in 1863, his property was burned by Federals. Everything was
taken, including slaves, livestock, food and cooking utensils. He reported that they only
things left were a broken skillet, cedar churn, and a ten-toed chicken. Shortly after
this incident he moved his fmaily to Columbia County, Arkansas, and returned here to lead
Poe's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion under Colonel John C. Wright's Brigade during the recent
hostilities in South Arkansas.
Article: GENERAL STEELE REMEMBERED FOR DODD INCIDENT
Our readers will recall the role of General Steele four months ago in David O. Dodd's
arrest and execution. dodd, a popular 17-year old and a former citizen of Benton then
living in Camden, was arrested by Federals near Little Rock and charged with spying for
the Confederates. Sergeant Miller of Company B, 1st Missouri Cavalry made the arrest.
The trial wich followed lasted for six days with a sentence of death by hanging.
A number of citizens begged the General to spare the boy's life, but he refused to
interfere. The execution took place on January 8th on the grounds of St. John's College
with burial in Little Rock.
This incident took place just three months before Steele embarked on the Red River
Expedition.
Article: COMMENTS CONCERNING E. KIRBY SMITH & CONFEDERATE COMMANDERS
A most distinguished assemblage of Trans-Mississippi Department Confederates was present
at the recent battle on the Saline. With General E. Kirby Smith were: Brigadier General
John S. Marmaduke, Major General John G. Walker, Brigadier General Thomas N. Waul,
Brigadier General William R. Scurry, Major General Sterling Price, Brigadier General James
C. Tappan, Brigadier General Alexander T. Hawthorn, Brigadier General Mosby M. Parsons,
Brigadier General John B. Clark, Brigadier General H. L. Grinstead, Brigadier General
Horace Randal, and Brigadier General T. J. Churchill.
General E. Kirby Smith was born in 1824 in Florida and graduated from West Point at the
age of 21. After serving in the Mexican War, he returned to West Point as an instructor
of mathematics. In 1852 he was transferred west and participated in the Texas Frontier
Indian Wars where he attained the rank of major in the Union Army.
In 1861 he resigned his commission and became a Confederate Brigadier General, service in
the Battle of Bull Run where he was wounded.
We have reason to believe that at Jenkins' Ferry, the General commanded personally,
cheering his men on to victory over the enemy.
Regardless of his demonstration at the recent battle, many Southerners feel that the
General badly mismanaged his troops, feeding them into the Federal meat-grinder piecemeal.
A soldier from Walker's Texas Division said, "The officers beseeched General Smith to
allow their commands to swim the river in pursuit of Steele's army. He felt, however that
it would be too great a risk to send his cavalry across the river without the infantry.
Smith was satisfied with the laurels he had already won; consequently he allowed Steele's
Army to return to Little Rock, his base of operations, unmolested."
Major General Sterling Price, commanding Arkansas and Missouri Infantry Divisions, also
did not distinguish himself at Jenkins' Ferry. He apparently took much too long to
concentrate his cavalry against Steele's column. Opion is that the handling of his men
here could scarcely have been worse and that the Richmond government should relieve him of
his command.
Article: CRITICISM OF GENERAL FAGAN
It is rumored that some criticism of Brigadier General James F. Fagan by Confederate
officers has surfaced since the 30th. Fagan, who commanded at Marks' Mills on Arpil 24,
attacked that Federal train in violation of his orders which were to get between Little
Rock and Camden and cut General Steele's line of retreat by felling trees across the road.
According to reports, had these instructions been obeyed, the VII Corps would have been
destroyed at Jenkins' Ferry.
Fagan reconniotered the west bank of the Saline River to Pratt's Ferry and said he found
no evidence of a Federal wagon train as described in his orders. Unable to cross the
flooding river to the east side, he turned his cavalry, consiting of about 2,000 men,
toward Arkadelphia to look for supplies. By the time Fagan learned of his mistake and
returned to Jenkins' Ferry, Steele had already crossed the river. It is common knowledge
in the Confederate camp that General Fagan could have won the battle by his presence but
lost it by his absence.
Article: COUNTY JUDGE WITH FAGAN
Major James T. Poe, former County and Probate Judge of this county, recently commanded a
Confederat cavalry battalion at Poison Spring and Marks' Mills and was with General
Fagan's Task Force at Jenkins' Ferry. The Major first served in the 11th Arkansas Regiment
organized in Benton in 1861 and spent several months in Federal prison following his
surrender in 1862.
While home on furlough here in 1863, his property was burned by Federals. Everything was
taken, including slaves, livestock, food and cooking utensils. He reported that they only
things left were a broken skillet, cedar churn, and a ten-toed chicken. Shortly after
this incident he moved his fmaily to Columbia County, Arkansas, and returned here to lead
Poe's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion under Colonel John C. Wright's Brigade during the recent
hostilities in South Arkansas.
Article: HUMORUS
Dr. J. M. Brown of the 29th Arkansas Volunteers submitted a lighter story to us which we
print here. "As we marched toward the Jenkins' Ferry battlefield, it was so dark that
only the lightning showed us the road, stumps, and gullies. Just as day was beginning, we
were halted along a fence which appeared to enclose a last year's new ground, for there
were many small trees that had been deadened before last year's crop had been put in.
These orders rang back over the line. 'Attention! Face left! Make ready! Fire!' As the
lightning flashed, the effect of the brigade's shot on the dead branches of those trees
was wonderful to behold."
A veteran of the 33rd Iowa observed: "There was the most perfect equality and democracy,
we had ever seen in the army. The officers had no 'sleeping utensils' with them, and
therefore, had to lie down as they were. General Rice was fortunate enough to have a
cloak to lie on. He made a pillow of the bodies of one or two sleepy soldiers, who
happend to be near him. One of the men happened to awake about 4 o'clock, and in moving a
little, he almost stumbled over our division commander (Salomon), stretched upon the bare
ground, with his feet to the fire, and looking like any other Dutchman."
Dr. Brown remembered another incident: I did not relish my day's assignment. Shortly
after the brigade had halted and while the soldiers were building fires, an orderly
sergeant hailed me and took me before General Hawthorn. As soon as I had saluted, the
general remarked, "Chaplain, I have ordered a detail of sixty men, the best in the
brigade, to report to you at once, march them here as soon as you can line them up. I
want to say a word to them." At the risk of arousing the general's ire, I informed him
"there were two other chaplains in the brigade..., that had led the infirmary corps in
previous engagements, that I had lately married a wife." Hawthorn was a brave man, of
splended appearance and in every respect a worthy leader of men, a minister of the Gospel,
of the Primitive Baptist persuasion, he turned his large loving brown eyes upon me.
"Chaplain Brown, I selected you for this dangerous work because you are a Presbyterian and
believe just as I do, that whatever is to be, will be anyhow! Bring me that detail of
men."
A Confederat Office Reported: "At midnight we were called into the line and ordered to
move on. The night was so black that one could almost feel the darkness with the hand.
Sounds of distant thunder fell upon the ear, which as it came nearer, swelled into a roar.
In the darkness one could see nothing. Then a flash of lightning would come and reveal a
long line of bayonets stretching way down the road and out into the darkness. Every man
that spoke did so in reference to the whereabouts of himself and his command. Frequently,
a mounted officer was threatened by an infantryman, whom he had unwittingly ridden over.
We had stopped in the road for some purpose. I had dismounted and was leaning against my
horse, with a cape over my head, for the rain was falling steadily, when the knee of a
horseman took me violently in the back. I said something to him which caused him to turn
his head suddenly when he rode over two or three soldiers. One of them threatened to
bayonet the man and the horse both, wound up a tirade of abuse by demanding of....(the
horseman) his name and business. The horseman replied that his name was E. Kirby Smith,
and that his business was to command the army. The announcement appeard to be
satisfactory, as it was followed by profound silence."
Article: RATIONS
Near Little Rock the Federal column was met by a supoly train sent out by General Joseph
R. West where rations of hard-tack, coffee and sow-belly were distributed with haste.
A Texas veteran remarked that each Confederate soldier was issued rations of two ounces of
bacon and one ear of corn following the battle on April 30th. It is known that the
country through which both armies marched is unable to support such a force for very long.
Article: THE MULE BRIGADE
During the march toward Little Rock following the Battle at Jenkins' Ferry, sick, wounded
and weak Federal soldiers unable to walk were supplied with mules unhitched from abandoned
wagons. This became known as the mule brigade and was formed into something like regular
military style as it entered Little Rock.
These disable veterans, along with Confederate prisoners captured on the march, were
pressed into closer ranks and paraded into Fort Steele with what was left of the VII
Corps.
Atricle: SAVED BY A BOY AND A MULE
Sergeant Peter K. Bonebrake of the 33rd Iowa Infantry Volunteers was wounded at the Battle
of Jenkins' Ferry. The Federal troops were scattered in such haste that they could not
stop to pick up the injured and that meant that many men died who should have recovered.
Bonebrake was one of the wounded left on the field where a spent musket ball had struck
his shoulder. He fell and could not move and would have bled to death if help had not
come. He was saved by a black boy called Clem whom he had befriended.
Sergeat Bonebrake lay helpless all afternoon and night. He knew that he had to get away
from the battlefield before morning and was weak from loss of blood and lack of food.
Just then his boy found him. Clem knew that some had already begun robbing the sick and
the dead. He saw one of the mules that had been used to pull artillery and it still had
the bridle and some other portion of harness on. Clem caught him, and lifted his
protector onto the mule's back.
Leading the mule, he set out after the retreating Union Army hoping to overtake them. But
the mule was slow, and the soldier on his back could not hold on safely. In the early
afternoon they were halted by a group of three guerrilla horsemen who were not Southern
soldiers but who lived by robbery. They three discussed what to do with the white man and
the boy. Two of them voted to shoot both, but one advised against it; He won't live
anyway; why kill him? Then they shot Clem and rode away.
The sergeant sat on the mule's back all the rest of that day and night. He dared not get
off lest he could not get on again. He was have-starved and only partially conscious.
The mule stopped for long intervals to eat grass and Peter toppled but held on.
Eventually, after three days, they reached the Federal camp.
How he had been able to stay on the mule's back, he could not tell. He was almost
delirious when he struggled into a camp which proved to be that of the 33rd Iowa Infantry.
Some of his own company carried him into the regimental hospital where food was brought to
him. He ate very little. One of the doctors remarked that he could not live until
morning. He dropped to sleep but awakened at early dawn. He knew that an operation to
remove the bullet would be the finish. He did not know the Regimental doctors but he
determined to reach his Company Hospital and the doctor he knew. He was too weak to
stand, so he crept on hands and knees, much of the way. He rested at frequent intervals
and sometimes was certain that he had fainted. Just as dawn was changing to daylight, he
reached the hospital, fainted, as his friends recognized him and carried him to the
improvised hospital. The good doctor saw that an immediate operation was necessary. So
with Peter stretched out on a rough tableunder the light of a lantern, the bullet was
removed, and the wound soon healed and the sergeant returned to his company in Little
Rock.
Article: QUARTERMASTER'S REPORT OF FEDERAL PROPERTY LOSSES
Statement of wagons and mules captured and destroyed during the expedition of the VII Army
Corps: Total number of wagons captured by the enemy, 298; total number of wagons burned
during engagements by the enemy's projectiles, about 90; total number of wagons destroyed
by orders, 247; total number of wagons missing, 635; total number of mules captured, about
2,000; total number of mules lost and abandoned, about 500; total number of mules missing,
2500.
Article: SCOUTING CREWS ACTIVE HERE
Captain Jonas Webb's Independent company of scouts is reportedly operating in the vicinity
of the Saline River. Webb's activities here ahve been met with frequent criticism from
the local population, although he maintains that he supports the Southern cause in very
way.
In recent months he had been accused of robberty and murder.
Tom Grant, a former member of Webb's company who has left the country, gave this story to
the editor: "I know that this is true. Webb himself ordered his men to go into the houses
and take what they wanted. Sometimes he would tell them he was taking them to
Headquarters because they objected to his actions. Instead, he would take them to the
Saline River bottom and murder them.
I was there when Webb arrested Dan Morris. He ordered me and Fate Allee to take Morris to
Headquarters which actually was a canebreak on the Saline River. When Fate refused to
shoot Morris, he old chum, I myself, did the job with one shot through his heart."
Article: STEELE'S REPORT TO GENERAL W. H. HALLECK, CHIEF OF STAFF
On my arrival at Little Rock night before last, I learned that my dispatches from Camden
up to the 18th ultimo had been forwarded to you, and also dispatches from Colonel Clayton
and General Andrews giving imperfect accounts of subsequent events.
I shall defer my detailed report of the campaign until reports and returns of casualties
can be obtained from subordinate commanders, giving in this only a synopsis of the
operations since the 18th ultimo. The command had been on short rations during the whole
campaign, except with occasionally supplies could be obtained in the country. On the 20th
ultimo we received a supply from Pine Bluff, with ten days' half rations for the command.
Some meat was obtained on the east side of the Ouachita, and one small grist-mill and ten
hand-mills were constantly kept at work grinding corn, for which the country for a great
distance from Camden on both sides of the river was scoured. Four thousand or 5,000
bushels were captured on the steamer Homer. The rebels destroyed all the good mills and
all the corn in the neighborhood of Camden. On the 22nd ultimo the supply train was sent
back under escort of a brigade of infantry (about 1600 men), 400 cavalry, and four pieces
of artillery. Captain Dunham, bearer of dispatches from General Banks, arrived,
confirming the report which I had previously received that Banks had fallen back behind
intrenchments at Grand Ecore. I also received information that Price had been re-enforced
by 8,000 infantry from Shreveport. In the evening of this day he opened with artillery
upon my outposts. Captian Dunham returned with dispatches to General Banks, informing him
of my inability to advance on account of a want of supplies and the superior rebel force
in front of me. He had sent me a request to move forward at once and join him on Red
River. On the night of the 25th, we learned that the train, the artillery, and most of
the infantry of the escort had been captured by a forece under Fagan, said to be 5,000 or
6,000 strong. This force must have crossed the Ouachita 50 or 60 miles below Camden, as
my cavalry scouting parties and spies reported the country all clear between the Moro and
Ouachita, and that no crossing of the river by rebels could be heard of. The rebels came
up between the Moro and Saline and attacked the train about 8 miles from the crossing on
the latter in the Moro Swamp. Out troops fought gallantly, but were overwhelmed by a dash
of the rebels. Lieutenant-Colonel Drake, their gallant commander, was severely wounded and
taken prisoner. About 500 veterans of the First Iowa Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Caldwell, going on furlough, were a few miles in rear of the train when it was attacked.
On hearing the firing they pressed forward, but were met by a superior force and fighting
fell back. I sent all my available cavalry to their support. They returned to Camden,
having lost one lieutenant captured and a few men wounded. They captured a rebel captain
and killed a colonel, who led the attack upon them.
Article: STEELE'S REPORT TO GENERAL W. H. HALLECK, CHIEF OF STAFF CONTINUED
(new paragraph)
We received information through prisoners, deserters, and spies that Kirby Smith had come
up with re-enforcements from Shreveport, and was presnt at the cannonading on our outposts
on the 22nd. If we had been supplied at Camden I could have held the place against Kirby
Smith's entire force, but on learning that my communications were effectually interrupted,
and that the line of the Arkansas was threatened by so large a force of the enemy, I
decided to fall back at once. The ammunition and baggage trains were put across the river
on the pontoon bridge, and at nightfall on the 26th, the troops commenced to cross, the
pickets being kept in position until everything was over, when they were quietly withdrawn
and the pontoon bridge taken up with any suspicion on the part of the enemy that the
movement had commenced. To aviod the bad roads through the Moro Swamp on the Mount Elba
Road, the march was directed toward Jenkins' Ferry, via Princeton. Fagan with a
considerable force, crossed our road a few hours in advance of us, moving toward Benton,
where it was said he was going to cross the Saline for the prpost of threatening Little
Rock.
Our advance reached the Saline at Jenkins' Ferry at 2 p.m. on 29th. It rained very
heavily. The pontoon was laid, and the cavalry commenced crossing immediately. The
stream was high and was continually rising from the rain which continued to fall. From the
same cause the bottom, being cut up by our artillery and baggage trains, was becoming
almost impassable and required corduroying. Before the rear of the column got into the
bottom it was attacked by infantry and artillery. No damage was done us; the rebels were
kept off by our skirmishers. The infantry bivouacked in the bottom, while the trains and
artillery were beng crossed all night.
At daylight on the morning of the 30th, the enemy commenced skirmishing with our pickets.
I suppost ie was Fagan's command, which had returned on our rear. The firing did not
become very heavy for several hours. I directed Generl Carr, with nearly all the
effective cavalry force, to move as rapidly as possible by the shortest route to Little
Rock to intercept any rebel force that might be moving in that direction. The Saline
bottom is 2 1/2 miles wide on each side of the river along the Jenkins' Ferry road. The
rain continued and many of the wagons became irretrievably stuck in the mude on the east
side of the river. Some of the animals, from exhaustion and want of forage, were unable
to make their way through the miry places without the harness, consequently a good deal of
baggage and some of the wagons had to be destroyed and teams doubled on the ammunition
train. The trains and artillery were parked on the high grounds, two and a half miles
from the bridge, as they arrived. They were guarded at first only by about 1500
dismounted and ineffective cavalry. As we did not know where the enemy might strick us,
it was thought prudent to order forward two regiments of infantry to their support. While
the crossing was going on General Salomon was left with his division, consisting of the
brigades of General Rice and Colonel Englemann, supported by General Thayer's division of
the Army of the Frontier, except two regiments that had been sent to the front to cover
our rear and prevent the enemy from interrupting the crossing. The fire of the enemy
became heavy, and Salomon formed his line of battle in a good position for defense, the
right resting on an impassable bayou, and the left, which was protected by a wooded swamp
against anything except, perhaps, skirmishers, was thrown back. The reserve was so posted
that any part of the line which might be pressed could be promptly re-enforced. About 9
a.m. the enemy made a desperate assault in heavy force upon our line, but were handsomely
repulsed, our troops having the advantage in cover as well as position. General Salomon
asked for more troops, and expressed some doubts of being able to hold his position
without them. I ordered up two regiments of infantry that had been sent to the front, and
instructed him to hold his position at all hazards. This effort was renewed with
redoubled energy, but they were again repulsed and driven back with great slaughter.
Article: STEELE'S REPORT TO GENERAL W. H. HALLECK, CHIEF OF STAFF CONTINUED
(new paragraph)
At 10:30 a.m. another assault was made along the whole line and the rebels repulsed and
driven off the field, our troops charging them as they fell back. The Second Kansas
(colored) took 2 guns and the Twenty-ninth Iowa 1, under the immediate direction of
General Rice. A number of prisoners were captured, officers and privates, all of whom
concurred in saying that Kirby Smith and Price were both present, and that they had nine
brigades of infantry. Smith did not know that we had evacuated Camden until noon the next
day, when he immediately gave orders for the pursuit. His troops were crossed on a raft
constructed of logs with planks nailed across them, at the very spot where our pontoon
bridge lay. The artillery was crossed in a flat-boat. They marched without baggage, with
five days' rations in haversacks and expected to capture our entire command. They did not
capture a man except those whom I thought it necessary should be left on the battlefield.
This necessity I regretted, but thought it of more vital importance to secure the safe
passage of my command across the Saline than to attempt to bring off wounded men for whom
I did not have proper transportation. More were brought off than we could have carried
away had they been as severely wounded as those who were left behind. Some of our troops
pursued the retreating rebels a mile, and even over the whole field. they say the enemy's
loss was five to one compared with ours. I cannot now give a correct estimate of the loss
on either side, but will endeavor to do so in my detailed report. The number of our
troops engaged did not exceed 4,000. I have no means of estimating that of the enemy, but
it was at least three times this number, with artillery. All our artillery had been sent
across the river early in the day except one section, and even that was withdrawn to get
it out of the mud. At the time the enemy was routed, all of our trains and artillery had
just completed the passage of the river.
The enemy having disappeared from the field our troops were withdrawn and passed over the
bridge without interruption from the enemy. The bridge was kept two hours to pass over
our wounded men and stragglers. It was nearly worn out (India rubber floats), having been
in use over two years; some parts of it were 2 feet under water and I ordered it to be
destroyed. We had no transportation for it, the mules were exhausted, the wagons were
destroyed. It had done good service; without it my whole command would in all probability
have been lost. General Halleck sent it to me two years ago last March, to operate on
Current and Black Rivers. One surgeon and two assistant surgeons, with sufficient number
of hospital attendants, were left to attend the wounded. Hospital supplies were also
left. The rebels did not attempt to follow us. The rain continued until late in the
evening and the road toward Little Rock had become almost impassable for trains and
artillery. I ordered the worst of the wagons and the least valuable baggage to be
destroyed, and the best teams to be put to the artillery and the remaining wagons. the
ambulances and wagons carrying the sick and wounded and all the refugees were started
toward Pine Bluff, that being the nearest route to the Arkansas and the one least liable
to interruption from the enemy. The command and the trains were started toward Little
Rock, in order to frustrate the designs which the enemy was supposed to have on that
place. Owing to the state of the roads, for the first five miles progress was very slow,
and it became necessary to destroy a few more wagons which could not be got along. We
moved on as rapidly as possible and reached this place on the 2nd instant, withouth having
seen the enemy after they retired from the battlefield near Jenkins' Ferry. It was
reported, however, that Fagan corssed some artillery and part of his troops at Benton for
the purpose of threatening Little Rock. If this were true they retired on learning that
we were marching on the same point. Our troops behaved in all the engagements of this
campaign in the most gallant manner. I have never seen troops in whom I had more
confidence on the battlefield, and I regret exceedingly the necessities which have caused
me to lose so many brave men in detail, while I firmly believe that while together they
could not have been routed on a fair field by the superior force which Kirby Smith could
have brought against them. The conduct of the colored troops of my command proves that
the African can be made as formidable in battle as a soldier of any other color.
I wish to recommend to the favorable consideration of the Government, for gallant and
meritorious conduct on the field, Brig. Gen. F. Salomon, commanding division; Brig. Gen S.
A. Rice, commanding brigade. These are both officers of superior merit. General Rice has
been twice wounded during recent campaigns. At Jenkins' Ferry he received a wound which
would cause the loss of his right foot. His self-possession, good judgement, energy, and
faculty for managing men in the camp as well as in the field entitles him to distinguished
honor. He was wounded in a charge upon the enemy's battery, after which his brigade fell
to the command of Col. C. E. Salomon, Ninth Wisconsin Infantry, who managed it with skill.
Brig. Gen J. M. Thayer, although commanding the reserve, was frequently under fire and
deserves special mention. Colonel Englemann, Forth-third Illinois, commanded a brigade of
Salomon's division.
Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant,
F. Steele,
Major-General, Commanding.
This article may loose some form when posted on the e-mail, the original printed form is
paragaphed in four line segments. The second and fourth line are indented a few spaces.
Article: A SOLDIER'S FAREWELL TO HIS LOVE by General H. L. Grinstead
(Killed at Jenkins' Ferry)
Farewell! I go where duty calls,
and faith and honor point the way
Where many a high-souled hero falls
Upon each bloody battle day.
I go; for I would scorn to be
A laggard in the glorious strife
That shapes our nation's destiny
And wakes us to a nobler life.
I fain would gird my idle sword
That all too long hath lain at rest,
While I upon thy lightest word,
Have hung, 'til now, supremely blest.
O! oft amid the din of firhgt,
When swift the hurtling bullets fly,
Thy image pure shall glad my sight,
And nerve my arm for purpose high.
Like crested knights of ancient song
Who fought to please their haughty loves,
I'll think of thee and still press on,
Knowing thy soul the deed approves.
For thou art worthier far than they
Thoughtful and modest, fir and true
Like the sweet flower that shuns the day,
But opes to drink the dvening dew.
I covet not the warrior's crown,
Nor other boon or guerdon claim,
But as I float life's stream adown
Dearest to know that love the same
As when beneat the star-lit dome,
I wooed and won thy guileless heart
Such as now bids the tear drops come
To bathe thine eyes e're we part.
O! brighter than Italian skies
And purer than the lily's hue,
Thy beaty shames the dolphin's dyes
And send the life blood coursing through,
My veins, as speeds the lightning flash,
When mountain storms all wildly roar,
And foaming billows leap and dash
And, wearied, break upon the shore.
Time cannot dim such love as ours--
Distance no barrier interpose;
Its light shall guide the fleeting hours,
Unquenched, till life, itself shall close.
Weep not! I soon will come again
To claim and clasp my gentle bride,
I go to prove how madly vain
Th' insulting foeman's boasted pride.
Article: PINE BLUFF OCCUPIED BY FEDERALS
A visitor who recently returned from Pine Bluff reports that they city is still occupied
by Federals under the command of Colnel Powell Clayton. Under orders from General Steele,
the Federals entered the city late in 1863 to reopen trade and protect river traffic.
Confederate Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke moved from Princeton and attacked the city
on October 25 but was driven back after suffering heavy losses.
The Federal supply train ambushed at Marks' Mills on April 25 had been senet to Camden
from Pine Bluff by Colonel Clayton in response to orders from General Steele.
It is reported that the courthouse in Pine Bluff was damaged in the October attack and
that many buildings have been destroyed.
Article: POST OF PINE BLUFF
Colonel Powell Clayton
18th Illinois, Liet. Col. Samuel B. Marks
1st Indiana Cavalry (8 companies), Maj. Julian D. Owen
5th Kansas Cavalry (10 companies), Lieut. Col. Wilton A. Jenkins
7th Missouri Cavalry, Maj. Henry P. Spellman
28th Wisconsin, Lieut. Col. Edmund B. Gray
Article: SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS
MARCH
23, 1864 - Steele's column advance from Little Rock
23-24, 1864 - Skirmishes on the Benton road
27-31, 1864 - Expedition from Pine Bluff to Mount Elba and Long View
27, 1864 - Affair at Branchville. Skirmish at Brooks' Mill
28, 1864 - Skirmish at Mount Elba
29, 1864 - Skirmish at Long View. Skirmish at Arkadelphia
30, 1864 - Action at Mount Elba & pursuit of Confederates to Big Creek
31, 1864 - Skirmish near Arkadelphia
APRIL
1, 1864 - Skirmish at Arkadelphia
2, 1864 - Skirmishes at Antoine, or Terre Noir Creek & on Wolf Creek
2-3, 1864 - Skirmishes at Okolona
3-4, 1864 - Engagement at Elkin's Ferry, Little Missouri River
5, 1864 - Skirmish at Marks' Mill
6, 1864 - Skirmish at the Little Missouri
9-12, 1864 - Skirmishes on Prairie D'Ane
13, 1864 - Action at Moscow
14, 1864 - Skirmish at Dutch Mills. Skirmish at White Oak Creek
15, 1864 - Skirmish at Camden
16, 1864 - Skirmish at Liberty Post-Office
16-18, 1864 - Skirmishes about Camden
17, 1864 - Skirmish at Red Mound
18, 1864 - Engagement at Poison Spring
20, 1864 - Skirmish near Camden
23, 1864 - Confederate demonstration on Camden. Affair at Swan Lake
24, 1864 - Skirmish near Camden
25, 1864 - Action at Marks' Mills
25-26, 1864 - Skirmishes in Moro Bottom
26, 1864 - Steele's column retreats from Camden
28, 1864 - Skirmish near Princeton
29, 1864 - skirmish at the Ouachita River. Skirmish near Saline Bottom
30, 1864 - Engagement at Jenkins' Ferry. Skirmish at Whitten's Mill
MAY 3, 1864 - Steele's column arrives at Little Rock
Article: LETTER TO THE TROOPS OF THE VII ARMY CORPS by F. Steele, Major-General
Commanding
To you, the troops of the Seventh Army Corps, who participated in the recent campaign
designed to co-operate with General Banks' movement against Shreveport, the major-general
commanding tenders his earnest and grateful thanks. Although you were compelled to fall
back without seeing the main object of the expedition accomplished, you will have the
satisfaction of knowing that you have beaten the enemy wherever he had met you in force,
and extricated yourselves from the perilous position in which you were placed by the
reverses of the co-operting column. This let loose upon you a superior force of the enemy,
under one of their best generals, causing the loss of your trains, a total interruption of
you communications, and rendering it impossible for you to obtain supplies. You have met
the enemy, and this you have done successfully, punishing the enemy severely at the same
time. The patience with which you have endured hardships and privations, and your heroic
conduct on the battlefield, have been brought to the notice of the Government, and will
furnish a page in the history of this war of which you may well be proud.
F. Steele, Major-General, Commanding
Article: Untitled
Yes, give me a land that hath legends and lays
That tell of the memories oflong-vanished days;
Yes, give me a land that hath story and song!
Enshrine the strife of the right and the wrong!
Yes, give me a land with grave in each spot,
And the names in the grave that shall not be forgot.
Article: TO THE CHILDREN OF THE CONFEDERACY
Wandering in the Garden of Memory, where the Bonny Blue Flag waves overhead; whence we
catch echoes of voices now stilled, and gleams of glory from the stainless swords of the
bravest men the world ever knew, we have plucked, here and there, roses red as the blood
of our heroes; and palm branches sturdy and strong as the hearts of the wives and mothers
who, in their lonely homes, worked and watched and prayed. Precious little pansies, too,
like the faces of the children who said good-bye to the dear father, and watched in vain
for his return. These, and many other blossoms, we have bound together, with a background
of laurel and re-the glory and grief of those by-gone days--and we now leave the garland
in your keeping.
Article: ALBERT PIKE'S DIXIE
Southrons, hear your country call you!
Up, lest worse than death befall you!
To arms! To arms! To arms! In Dixie!
Lo! All the beacon fires are lghted,
Let all hearts be now united!
To arms! To arms! To arms! In Dixie!
Chorus:
Advance the flag of Dixie!
Hurrah! Hurrah!
For Dixie's Land we take our stand,
And live or die for Dixie!
To arms! To arms!
And conquer peace for Dixie!
To arms! To arms!
And conquer peace for Dixie!
Article: NEWS AND NOTES
Our neighbor to the west, Pastor James E. Caldwell of New Prospect Methodist Church near
the Jenkins' Ferry Battlefield in Hot Spring County, reports that his building is now
being used to house wounded Confederate soldiers.
*
New Prospect Lodge #20 of the Independent Order of Good Templars May meeting is cancelled
due to conditions resulting from the recent battle.
*
The Masonci Lodge at Belfast will not meet as scheduled due to interruptions brought about
by the passage of the VII Corps in this vicinty. Regular meeting Saturday on or before the
full moon in each month at 5 p.m.
*
Barbeques will be held at Elza Taylor's home in Madison Township, Jefferson County, and at
Dr. R. C. Rhodes' plantation, Calvert Township, in this county for purposes of the
Southern cause.
*
Federal soldiers of Steele's column took a milk cow belonging to Susan Hannah Fentress
Lindsey of Cross Roads, Hot Spring County, and were obligated to return it when ordered by
their officer.
*
Social gatherings in this neighborhood have slowed somewhat due to the war.
*
I desire to return thanks to the people of this township for the liberal patronage given
me during the year just passed. And I pledge myself to solicit a portion of your trade
this year.
Respectfully, Your servant, Samuel Henslee, Cherry Grove
*
NOTICE:
On consigment at Elza Taylor's Store: 50 bushels sale, 2 barrels whiskey, 10 beef hides.
We also off the following merchandise at all times:
(posted in two columns under this notice)
plug tobacco, leather shoes, nails, bottle snuff, axe handles, wool socks, balsams and
bitters, bearskin gloves, ink, blue muslins, flannels, trace chains, thread, bridle bits,
calico, buttons, lye, bacon, oysters, garden seeds, candles, bed ticking, bed cords,
pitches, lumber hinges, eggs, pants, laces, candy, teas, pepper, pins and needles, indigo,
potter's ware, matches.
*
Squire Nathan Pumphrey was a pleasant caller here Monday.
*
Died that we have been made aware in this cicinity since the war began in 1861 include:
Sarah Elizabeth Fowler, Louisa C. Poe, Abner Garner, Henry C. Moren, Addie Higdon, John J.
Bishop, Catherine Gill, Sammie Roberts, Thomas Ward, Ade Wright, M.Z.S. Benning, Nancy R.
Wilson, John Henry Wilson, and Francis Reese.
*
The tannery at Allee's in Calvert Township is in operation and ready for business despite
interference from Federal patrols in the area.
*
Dr. R. C. Rhodes of Calvert Township reports that Federal soldiers stole chickens from his
yard on the 30th. He also reports that he and his family have traveled to Tulip and
returned over territory now controlled by Confederate patrols.
*
The school at the ford on Francois Creek north of Cross Roads in Hot Spring County is
closed. Liberty School and Big Creek School in this township are also closed and will
reopen as conditions improve.
*
W. E. Beavers preports that the road from Cherry Grove to Turin and Pratt's Ferry is
currently free of Federal patrols.
*
Try celebrated Golden Bitters, an unequaled remedy for Dyspepsia, Heartburn and General
Debility. Manufactured by George C. Hubbel and Company, Hudson, N.Y.
*
Berry's Tricopherous for preserving and restory har. Sold by Reuter-Barry, Inc. N.Y.
*
Batley's Cinchona Liquor for fevers.
*
You can count on Drake's Plantation Bitters. they purify-strengthen, and invigorate the
system and enliven the mind. They make the weak man strong. Sold by all grocers,
druggists, hotels, and saloons in Arkansas.
*
The old reliable, Duffy's Malt Whiskey, cures Consumption.
*
For Sale: Dr. C.V. Girard's Ginger Brandy. A cure of Cholera, Colic, Dysentary, Chills
and Fevers. Try a sample at your local drugstore.
*
Good health, you owe it to your children. For their sake, use Dr. Hand's Children's
Remedies. Colic cure, Croup, and Coungh Medicine, Diarrhea mixture, General Tonic,
Pleasant Physic, Teething location and Worm Elixir. Sold by the Hand Medicine Company.
*
Dr. Henley's Celebrated Wild Grape Root Bitters cures Dyspepsia and Indigestion. Sold by
Celery Beef, and Iron Extract Co., San Francisco, California.
*
Your life is valuable! Not only to yourselves, but to your fathers and mothers, sisters,
wives, and brothers. Then while you may, purchase your health for 50 cents. Professor
Holloway's Phills, a world-known and world-tried remedy for Diarrhea. A product endorsed
by the arm of occupation.
*
Here are four remedies which no family should ever be without: Baker's Rheumatic Balm,
Fever Cooler, Cough Mixture, and Croup Alleviator. One dollar per bottle each and sold by
mail on request.
*
One the home front try Hull's Mediated Worm Lozenges. For dogs and children.
*
We have Hyatt's Life Balsam for sale. Cures Scrofula and Rheumatism. See Dr. Harrison of
New Prospect District for your needs.
*
For purifying the blood, there is no better tonic than Langley's Root and Herb Bitters.
*
A Certain Cure! Rev. R. L. McElree's Wine of Cardui, Chattanooga, Tennessee, a proven
remedy for female weakness.
*
Cure the scourges of a soldier's life! Dr. D. Evans Medicated Flannel Abdominal Supporter
should be worn by all exposed to malarious diseases. Sizes small to large, 75 cents to two
dollars. General agent located in Little Rock, Arkansas.
*
CONFEDERATE GENEAL ASSEMBLY TO MEET
It is rumored that the next session of the Confederate Geneal Assembly to meet in
Washington, Arkansas, may prove to be ineffective due to the condition of the war at this
time. It is throught that this session may be the last political activity here since
Governor Murphy has already appealed for reconciliation.
Confederat Governor Harris Flanagin has made plans to negotiate wtih Federal officials in
Little Rock in order to preserve the peace in our villages as soldiers return to their
homes.
We speculate that upon return to Little Rock, General Steele's troops will be ordered east
of the Mississippi to assist Sherman in his march across Georgia to the sea. We also
believe that Federal garrisons will remain on the line of the Arkansas for some time.
Article: POSTAL NEWS
The post office at Hungary, Calver Township has received notice that a decision may be
forthcoming that the service there may be discontinued.
*
Isaac Shephers, postmaster at Merry Green Post Office, reports that mail service from
Benton has been disrupted and is expected to resume shortly. He also reports that a few
letters in his office are unclaimed.
*
A citizen of Turin has informed us that he personally collected a number of letters from
the battleground near the Saline River after visitng there before the overflow. Addressed
to Northern destinations, most were found in a two-wheel cart abandoned at the junction of
the Camden and Pine Bluff Road and were placed in the Turin Post Office.
*
The postmaster at Henslee's Springs Post Office north of this place reports that a Federal
patrol passed on the night of the 29th. They were believed to be scouts for General
Carr's cavalry.
*
Darysaw Post Office on the Jenkins' Ferry to Pine Bluff Road reports to us that a large
number of Federal ambulances and wagons of camp followers have passed that way since the
30th.
*
OPINION
We in this state are concerned that so many Southern troops have been pulled out of
Arkansas to provide reinforcements for Eastern fronts. The recent invasion of this
territory by the VII Corps is what we must expect unless the Confederate Government in
Washington sees fit to put this to a stop.
*
PRICES
Prices of goods in our Southern markets reflect the current shortages we are experiencing.
Coffee is $18 a pound; tobacco, $6 a plug; butter, $5 a pound; a good saddle, when found
will bring $2,000. The currency issued by the Confederate Government at the beginning of
the war and so eagerly accepted by the local population at first is rapidly becoming
unacceptable. In Little Rock, Benton, and Pine Bluff markets it is worthless due to the
Federal occupation.
*
PERSONAL
Lost on Jenkins' Ferry Battlefield, on April 30th, one white gold Lepine pocket watch made
in France. Intricate engraving on outside with two sets of initials, T.D. and J.T.
Reward if found and returned to this office.
*
I need help rounding up my stock lost during the battle on the 30th in the vicinity of Cox
Creek. Your obedient servant, Jessie Tucker, Hot Spring County.
*
Notice...Mules, horses and other livestock bearing U.S. Army brands, being presently
recovered by the local population should be returned in hast to Chief Quartermaster
Captian Charles A. Henry, Fort Steele, Little Rock, Arkansas.
*
ATTENTION SHOPKEEPERS: For Immediate Sale....Damaged tents, mess chests, cooking
utensils, harnesses, corn mils, blankets, abandoned by the Federal Army at Camden,
Inquiries welcomed. Major R. C. Wood, Camden, Arkansas
ARTICLE: FROM THE EDITOR
(large black blocking used)
This special edition newspaper was complied and published by the Grant County Museum in
Sheridan, Arkansas, in 1989, in observance of the 125th Anniversary of the Civil War
Battle fo Jenkins' Ferry fought April 29-30th, 1864, in what was then Hot Spring and
Saline County Territory, a region later incorporated into Grant County in 1869.
The events and situations described here as well as comments and individuals depicted in
the accounts were researched from contemporary sources in the museum archives.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the following persons for their interest in the
preservation of our Grant county heritage and for their financial assistance in support of
this "special edition":
Mr. & Mrs. Dean Bailey
Mr. & Mrs. Lavelle Bailey
Mr. & Mrs. Hurschel Ballard
Mr. & Mrs. Troy Brashears
W. H. Carder
Gerry S. Carter
Dr. & Mrs. Warren Douglas
Mr. & Mrs. W. B. Freeman
Mary Beth Glover
Kay M. Goolsby
Mr. & Mrs. Hollis Harrington
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Hines
Dr. Jack Irvin
David J. Jones
Mr. & Mrs. Leland Lamb
Odie Lovett
Mr. & Mrs. Euell Lowman
Mr. & Mrs. Gean McDonald
Julie McDonald
Dr. & Mrs. George Mitchell
J. L. Reeves
Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Reeves
Dr. Bob Rushing
Mr. & Mrs. Roy L. Sharpe
Dr. & Mrs. Bob Slaughter
Mrs. Robert C. Smith
Murry Toler
Mr. & Mrs. A. C. Tygart
Dalton V. Walker
Don Waddell Watson
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Whitworth
Dr. Ronald Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Joe Wise, Jr.
Elwin L. Goolsby, Museum Director, Grant County Historian