Saturday, March 15, 2008

Standing Against Steele's Advance-Spring 1864

Well, starting March 23, 1864, General Frederick Steele's 'Frontier Division', begrudgingly started south to assist Gen. Banks for work against Shreveport. It took an order from the newly appointed Lt. General U.S. Grant who said, "Move your force in full cooperation with General N.P. Bank's attack on Shreveport. A mere demonstration will not be sufficient." Steele preferred inaction from his Little Rock HQ, but south he marched all the same.


So 'Old Pap' was ordered by Gen. Kirby Smith of the Trans-Mississippi Department to stop Steele's advance - if he could do so without much loss. "Do not risk a general action unless with advantage to yourself. You fall back toward reinforcement."


So Pap sent in parts of General Marmaduke's Brigade who was to harass Steele. They got right to work. To make a long story short, although the tallies below look like the 8th MO Cavalry was on the losing side of the battle, the fact is, Steele's so-called Camden Expedition didn't go at all liked planned nor hoped by anyone...except those on the Confederate side. In fact, Steele's Frontier Division just barely made it back to Little Rock before General Kirby Smith and gang could destroy them in detail. So after a little over a month, Gen. Steele was right back where he stated, and much worse for wear. In fact, this is considered hands down the worse Union loss in all the engagements of Arkansas during the War.

Of particular note though, on March 14, the day before Grant's telegraph came to him, General Steele did oversee by military force, the vote of the "reconverted 'loyal' ten percent of the state's voters" that would allow Arkansas to be represented in the Federal Congress. This was a recent development of President Lincoln to restore the Union called the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in December of 1863. Of course, much of the other 90% of the voters were out fighting with General Price throughout the state, but hey, wishful thinking is always a good thing, right?! This was a worthy accomplishment by Gen. Steele to cut him some slack.

So, it would have been good if Steele would have just 'stayed home' like he wanted to, because even though he was numerically superior, he was not able to overcome the superior fightin' man in the ranks of the Confederate force that awaited him under Pap Price!


Operations Against Steele’s Expedition from Little Rock to Camden, Arkansas
Mar. 23 – May 3, 1864

Elkins’ Ferry (Okolona) Apr. 3-4 - Loss
Prairie D'Ane (Gum Grove, Moscow) Apr. 9-13 - Loss
Camden Apr. 15
Poison Spring Apr. 18 - WIN

Marks' Mill Apr. 25 - WIN
Princeton Apr. 28
Jenkins’ Ferry Apr. 30
- Loss

NOTES - Much of the quotes of the post came from Shelby Foote's, The Civil War - A Narrative, Vol. VII

4 comments:

Nathaniel said...

Yeah, I thought I recognized some of that. Pretty cool. One of the things I don't like about Foote's book is the lack of pictures. I know that sounds silly, but being able to see the men he is talking about helps me to keep them straight.

CSA Brent said...

Yea, I know what you mean. I often go and look up the guy he is talking about. Otherwise, it is just names on a page, and very confusing.

Anonymous said...

Hey csa brent
I will start the same regiment in Belgium.
I have some questions and I would like to ask you if I can mail you.
Greetz
John fowler

CSA Brent said...

John

Glad to hear from you and really excited to hear that you want to start up an 8th MO Cavalry Regiment group. My ancestor was originally in Co. B and then it was condensed due to casualties into just Co. A.

It would be a great honor if you chose 8th Missouri Cavalry Regiment Co. B or A as your group.

I wish I was in a position to start one now. It is my goal someday. I'm in the 5th Texas Partisan Rangers for the moment now.

At any rate, my email is csaharty@yahoo.com. Feel free to contact me. I look forward to your email and hope to be of any assistance as possible.

Brent Harty