One hundred fifty years ago, on October 19, 1864, another Union patrol sets out: LIEUTENANT: Pursuant to Special Orders, No. 20, headquarters Cavalry Division, October 18, 1864, the command composed of the following detachments started from the camp of the Third Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, October 19, 1864, at 9 a.m.: First Missouri Cavalry, 159 men and 3 officers; Third Missouri Cavalry, 42 men and 2 officers; First Iowa Cavalry, 40 men and no officers; Ninth Kansas Cavalry, 100 men and 2 officers; Fourth Arkansas Cavalry, 50 men and 1 officer; Third U.S. Cavalry, 68 men and 3 officers; total 459 men and 11 officers. Assistant Surgeon Madison, Third Arkansas Cavalry, with four ambulances and attendants, accompanied the expedition. The command proceeded toward Benton, finding no opposition. Stopped to water at Collegeville for twenty minutes; distance from Benton said to be nine miles. On arriving at about two miles from Benton, sent the advance, composed of sixty-eight men of the Third U.S. Cavalry, in command of Capt. E. W. Tarlton and Lieut. William G. Hoffman, forward to charge into the town, with orders to arrest all parties found there. Captain Tarlton charged in, capturing 2 men and 3 horses of the Eleventh Arkansas (J. L. Logans brigade), then proceeded to picket the roads leading out of town; searched for men and arms but found none; found no forage. The command then advanced toward Fagans Ford on the Saline, where they encamped for the night. On arriving in camp foraging parties were immediately sent out across the river and found some corn, enough for one feed for the command; heard that Crawford was at Pratts Ford with about fifty men. Distance marched, twenty-seven miles. October 20, 1864, left camp at 5 a.m. No forage this morning. Roads very bad; numerous cross-roads. Marched toward Tulip and encamped in the woods at a branch said to be sixteen miles from Tulip; found a small quantity of forage. Distance marched, about twenty-three miles by our route. October 21, 1864, marched at 4 a.m.; roads rough and apparently not much traveled, owing to making a detour to get to the east of Tulip, in order not to allow the enemy to hear of our approach. When about twelve miles from Princeton the advance, consisting of a detail from the First Missouri, in charge of Sergeant Stewart, and 100 men from the Ninth Kansas, the whole command in charge of Lieutenants Dow and Haughawout, Ninth Kansas, found the enemys pickets, about sixty or seventy strong, posted in the roads. The pickets fired on the advance and then fell back toward Tulip and Princeton. Major Avery then sent part of the command through Tulip; and advanced on a road to the east of Tulip, driving the mounted infantry picket ahead of them. The squadron then went through Tulip; joined the main body at the intersection of the Tulip and Princeton roads. The command then proceeded to advance. Just then word arrived from the rear of the column that one of the ambulances had broken down. Major Avery ordered that if it could not be repaired without delay to the column to burn it, which was done. On arriving at about two miles from Princeton, organized a command to charge into town, take and hold it. Lieutenants Dow and Haughawout, Ninth Kansas, with their command, charged, supported by Captain Mills, Lieutenants Green and Adams, with their command, 159 men, First Missouri Cavalry. Lieutenant Haughawout, who was in the extreme front, found about seventy men (cavalry) drawn up in line of battle, but they broke out of town for their camp on the Camden road. We then proceeded to establish pickets on all the roads leading out of town and proceeded to search for arms and C. S. stores; found a building containing between fifteen and twenty stand of arms, which were immediately destroyed by the command. The major then sent forward the First Missouri to find the enemys camp. Captain Mills proceeded out on the Camden road for about two miles, and found the enemy strongly posted in the edge of the woods, with a bayou between fifty and sixty feet wide along their front. He reconnoitered their position and found it too strong to warrant an attack, and in accordance with orders fell back and joined the command. Captured during the day 14 prisoners: 12 men Eleventh Arkansas Mounted Infantry, 1 from Second Texas, and 1 man from the Monroe regiment, Cabells brigade, with their arms. Found one man from the First Iowa Cavalry, who had been captured by the enemy on the 1st of May and detained as a nurse in the hospital; was brought in. Found also another in hospital suffering from a compound fracture of the thigh, who, Doctor Compton, the C. S. surgeon and the surgeon of our command, both say will not recover (name George Sidney, regiment Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry) who was left in charge of Doctor Compton, the C. S. surgeon, who they say has been very kind to them. The command then marched back toward Jenkins Ferry on the Saline; halted three miles from Princeton, fed and watered the horses; started again and marched to Jenkins Ferry, which was crossed and a camp established. Heard that the enemy was on the Saline River 300 strong, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel McMutter, Second Texas. No forage to-night. Distance marched, about forty-nine miles. October 22, 1864, marched at 5 a.m. No forage. At 11.50 obtained corn and fed; marched again and encamped in an opening about twenty-six miles from Little Rock and eight miles from Hurricane Creek. To-day the march was made very slowly, with numerous rests, owing to the severity of the preceding march and scarcity of forage. Distance marched, about twenty-two miles. October 23, marched at 5 a.m.; heard at a house that an immense body of men had passed during the night, moving toward Hurricane Creek; moved cautiously forward, having all on the alert, owing to the density of the timber on either side. At 8.30 a.m. crossed Hurricane and moved forward toward the Benton road. Rebels fired into the advance, and immediately the fight became general. The position held by the rebels was a semi-circle, covering our front and rear. Major Avery proceeded to put the command in position, which brought them on our front, but their line was so great that they covered both flanks. The Texans then charged across a small opening in our front, demanding a surrender. Just then Major Averys horse was shot from under him, the ball passing through his pants and saddle into the opposite saddle-skirt. Lieutenants Haughawout, Ninth Kansas, and Clayton, Third Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, were both wounded at the same charge. Sergeant [Young], Ninth Kansas Cavalry, was shot through the head, killing him instantly. Every company in the command, and individual, was soon hotly engaged, and though the rebels charged furiously several times, in every instance our men drove them back into the bush. Our men also charged them, but they broke and ran in every direction, though their officers were seen trying to form them, but found it impossible, as our men pressed them back every time. They then fell off toward our right and rear, after which we could find no trace of them. Casualties, United States: One killed (sergeant, Ninth Kansas); wounded--First Iowa, 1 (private, mortally, since died); First Missouri, 2 (privates, severely); Third Missouri, 2 (privates, severely); Fourth Arkansas, 2 (privates, severely); Third United States, 2 (1 very severely in head); commissioned officers, Lieutenant Clayton, Third Missouri, severely; Lieutenant Haughawout, Ninth Kansas, severely. Rebel loss, as far as known, 27 killed, 1 captured. Very respectfully submitted. G. J. CAMPBELL, Second Lieut., Third U.S. Cav., Actg. Engr. for the Command. [Indorsement.] The above report is correct in every particular and is therefore approved. I am happy to recommend to the consideration of all whom it may concern the names of all the officers who accompanied me on the expedition. Were I to mention the name of one and not the other, I would do an injustice. I will, however, mention the name of Lieutenant Haughawout, of the Ninth Kansas Cavalry Volunteers, who after receiving a severe wound in the right leg just below the knee still continued to fight as though nothing had occurred, and after the battle was over he rode his horse to Little Rock before having his wound dressed. The men behaved with the greatest coolness and bravery. No one was seen going to the rear except from just cause. In addition to the above report I will state that I received no information relative to the movements of any large bodies of the enemy. I learned from prisoners that Magruder was at Camden fortifying. I also learned that there is one regiment of infantry and three pieces of artillery and some cavalry at Washington and pickets at Arkadelphia. The enemy have three pieces of artillery at their camp two miles from Princeton. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, GEO. S. AVERY, Major Third Mo. Vol. Cav., Commanding Expedition. Lieut. W. A. MARTIN, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Cav. Div., Seventh Army Corps.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 15:00:00 +0000
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