One hundred fifty years ago, on July 4, 1864, a month-long series of raids and battles begins: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF ARKANSAS, ETC., Little Rock, Ark., August 15, 1864. Record of military operations in the Department of Arkansas for the month of July, 1864: 4th, a party of fifty-five men, of the Third Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers, from Lewisburg, under command of Captain Hamilton, of that regiment, made a raid into Searcy, Ark., and killed 7 rebels, wounded 4, and captured I captain, 2 lieutenants, and 53 men, who were organized for General Shelbys command. They also captured 12 horses and mules, 15 stand of arms, and 1 stand of colors. 6th, Lieutenant Mason, Third Arkansas Cavalry, returned to Lewisburg from a scout to Norristown, having captured 3 deserters and destroyed 5 flats and skiffs. 10th, a scouting party, consisting of one lieutenant and twenty men of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, ran into a small party of Confederates about twenty miles north of Little Rock, killing and wounding 4 and taking 1 prisoner. 11th, Lieutenant Treadway, Third Arkansas Cavalry, returned to Lewisburg from scout to near Devils Fork, having killed rebel Captain Christopher and 1 man. 12th, Captain Gill, Third Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers, returned to Lewisburg, having had a fight with Captain Adams company on the Arkansas River near Petit Jean [10th], in which he killed 2 and wounded several of the enemy. 14th, a battalion of the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry returned from scout through Saline, Hot Springs, and Montgomery Counties. Fought with small bands of the enemy daily until arriving at Farrs Mill. Captain Green, with twenty-five men of this battalion, engaged Cooks and Crawfords companies, numbering about 100 men, drove them and killed 4 and wounded 6 of the enemy, without a single accident happening to his men. The battalion lost, during the expedition, I private killed, Captain Quin and Lieutenant Spiva and 6 privates wounded, and 3 men missing. 17th, Lieutenant Williams, Third Arkansas Cavalry, returned to Lewisburg from scout to Norristown, Dover, &c., having killed 3 bushwhackers and 2 horses on the Arkansas River below Norristown. 22d, Captain Taylor, Third Arkansas Cavalry, returned to Lewisburg, from scout to Red River, having killed 4 of the enemy. Maj. L. K. Thacher, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, while on a scout fifteen miles northwest of Pine Bluff, surprised the camp of Captain Lightfoot, of Cabells command, wounding 1 man, capturing 2 horses, 3 guns, and a large amount of provisions and medical stores, which he destroyed. 24th Lieutenant Reynolds, Third Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers, returned to Lewisburg from scout eight miles beyond Camp Myrick, having killed 10 of Jackmans and Shelbys men and bringing in 3 prisoners. 25th, a scouting party from the Third Missouri Cavalry, under command of Captain Ing, proceeded to Benton, Ark., and charging into the town Private George W. Lucas, Company C, Third Missouri Cavalry, pursued and killed the rebel Brig. Gen. George M. Holt, Arkansas militia, capturing his arms and horse. 25th, a reconnoitering party, consisting of 360 men of the Fifty-sixth and Sixtieth U.S. Colored Infantry and one section of Lembkes colored battery, the whole under command of Col. W. S. Brooks, Fifty-sixth U.S. Colored Infantry, moved from Helena in the direction of Wallaces Ferry, on Big Creek, with the view of ascertaining the designs and force of the enemy. At the same time 150 men of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, under command of Major Carmichael, dropped down the Mississippi River on board a steamer, and landing at a point below Old Town, marched in the direction of Simms Ferry, on Big Creek, to co-operate with Colonel Brooks. The infantry and artillery crossed Big Creek at 5 a.m. on the 26th, and learned that the rebel General Dobbin was near there in force, having three regiments, estimated at 1,500 men, Colonel Brooks recrossed his command, Dobbin crossing lower down and before him and attacked him in front and on the right flank with vigor. The infantry and artillery held their ground stubbornly for several hours, when Major Carmichael, hearing the cannonading, made a forced march and charged through Dobbins command just at the moment when he had brought up his reserve and was about to make a final charge. Our forces immediately assumed the offensive and marched in the direction of Helena, the enemy giving way before them, but following them up within nine miles of that place. Our loss was about 50 in killed and wounded, including Colonel Brooks,(*) Captain Lembke, (+) Adjutant Pratt,: (++) and Surgeon Stoddard, (*) of the Fifty-sixth Colored, killed, and Lieutenant Crane(*) severely wounded; I caisson and 1 limber that were blown up, their horses having been killed. The enemys loss is estimated by officers who were in the action at about 150 men. 27th, a force of between 1,500 and 2,000 rebels, under General Gano, attacked our outposts seven miles from Fort Smith, consisting of about 200 men of the Sixth Kansas, under command of Captain Mefford, moving up in two columns, the one driving in the pickets and the other flanking them. Captain Mefford fought his men bravely, but was soon overpowered, and he and 82 of his men were taken prisoners. The enemy retired before re-enforcements could be sent. Ten of our men were killed and 15 wounded. The enemy lost 12 killed and 20 wounded, left on the field. Major Galloway, of the First Arkansas Cavalry, routed Major Picklers and Buck Browns forces, killing Major Pickler and a number of his men, and capturing 35 horses and mules. Captain Worthington, of the same regiment, subsequently attacked a portion of Browns force, killing 9 and capturing 15 horses-and mules. 29th, Captain Napier, Third Arkansas Cavalry, returned from scout to Greenbrier, having killed the rebel Captain Birr near Red River. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, F. STEELE, Major-General, Commanding. Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D.C.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 12:00:00 +0000