One hundred fifty years ago, on August 20, 1864, activity swirls around Pine Bluff: LITTLE ROCK; August 20, 1864. Col. P. CLAYTON, Commanding : What has become of the Annie Jacobs? She was aground yesterday morning. It is reported by Mrs. Grace that the rebels are advancing on us in force from Texas and Louisiana, and Magruder in command at Camden. Price is assigned to the cavalry. I have ordered two regiments of infantry to be sent to you. The steamers are ready to take them. A cavalry force of rebels was at Benton day before yesterday. They retired on the approach of a force sent from here. Our troops still in pursuit and may go to Princeton. Canby has written me twice advising me to abandon Pine Bluff. I have objected. If you cannot hold the place I presume you can retire across the pontoon and come up on the other side of the river. Give me your ideas about the reported advance. They are making some sort of a movement in Arkansas from Louisiana. Canby has organized a force at Morganza to be moved in case of any emergency. He appears to think the rebels will try to cross the Mississippi. The steamer Empress had sixty-three shots put through her at Gaines Landing; was disabled and towed off by a gun-boat. About 20 were killed and wounded. The captains head was taken off. General West has returned without catching Shelby. Is there a chance for a coup de main near you? Admiral Farragut has Mobile in a tight place. Forts Morgan and Gaines have surrendered, with all the troops, munitions, &c. General Stoneman has been captured with 500 men. The rest of the command except about 500 more are safe. Steamer arrived last night and brings a report that Sherman had taken Atlanta and 10,000 prisoners. I suppose you heard of the disaster to the negroes at Petersburg. F. STEELE, Major-General. ----- PINE BLUFF, ARK., August 20, 1864---2.50 p.m. Major-General STEELE: Cabell, with about 2,000 cavalry, is eighteen miles from here, on the road leading from Mount Elba to Pine Bluff. He has been there for several days. I cannot tell what his object is unless it is to cover movement of troops in this direction. A great many reports are rife from secesh quarters of the advance of a large force against this place, &c. While I pay but little attention to these reports, I believe the garrison of this post is too small for security against a force that could be brought against it at almost any time. The term of service of the First Indiana Cavalry expired yesterday. I have relieved them from duty, and will send them to Little Rock to-morrow on the Annie Jacobs unless I receive other orders. To keep up my outposts I have been compelled to mount what is left of the Third Minnesota, say about 200 men. In case of an attack my present force is not sufficient to man my line of defenses. The capture and burning of the Miller was one of the most pusillanimous affairs upon the part of those on board that I have ever heard of. She was captured and destroyed by three men. There was a large mail on her for this post and some commissary stores, which were lost. I recommend that all official documents be duplicated. Lieutenant Grove made a very gallant dash day before yesterday. I sent him to reconnoiter Cabells camp on the Mount Elba road. He surprised one of their outposts at a mill; captured several prisoners, 14 horses, and destroyed over 40 sets of horse equipments and a large amount of other stores. POWELL CLAYTON, Colonel, Commanding. ----- HEADQUARTERS, Pine Bluff, Ark., August 20, 1864--8.30 p.m. Major-General STEELE: I have nothing further to report. I believe the enemy are making a movement, but am unable to say where. The cavalry command on the Mount Elba and Pine Bluff road, at a place where the country affords no supplies, looks as if a movement was taking place in the rear that they desired to screen. I have sent out a reconnoitering party, with instructions to move out on the Princeton road and sweep around Ca-bells camp, betwixt it and the Saline. If this can be accomplished we can ascertain if any infantry is crossing the Saline, which I half suspect is the case. I am afraid it will be difficult to keep up telegraphic communication much longer. With the re-enforcements you are sending me I think I can hold this point. If the worst comes to the worst I can retreat across my pontoons. To allow the enemy to obtain this point would be to give them a strong foothold and a good base for operations upon our communications. POWELL CLAYTON, Colonel, Commanding.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 14:00:00 +0000