Defending a Wagon Train...

5fish

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Skirmish at Arkadelphia, AR, the Camden (AR) Campaign was the battle to defend a Union wagon train form the confederates like Shelby and Cabell. It did last over a few days...


After capturing Little Rock (Pulaski County) and Fort Smith (Sebastian County) in September 1863, Union forces were in control of much of the state. From these two occupied cities, Federal troops could launch an attack into southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, and eastern Texas. In March 1864, an attack on northwest Louisiana and eastern Texas was launched from both Arkansas and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Leaving Little Rock on March 23, Major General Frederick Steele set out to help the Union column from New Orleans capture Shreveport, Louisiana, which was the headquarters for the Confederate Trans-Mississippi. Arriving in Arkadelphia (Clark County) on March 29, Steele remained for three days waiting for reinforcements from Fort Smith under the command of Brigadier General John Thayer. The progress of Thayer’s Frontier Division’s was hampered by bad roads and a lack of provisions. After three days, Steele was forced to continue his mission without the extra men.

Brigadier General Samuel A. Rice was in command of the brigade at the rear of the column and was tasked with defending the force and the wagon train from Confederate cavalry attacks as the expedition departed Arkadelphia on April 1. Just outside the town, the first of many attacks throughout the day was launched by Confederate troops under the command of Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby.

Shelby’s mission was to harass the rearguard of the Federal force and slow its advance. This allowed time for other Confederate units in front of the Union forces to prepare defensive works. After repeated clashes, Shelby launched a major attack near Terre Noire Creek around noon on April 2. All 1,500 of Shelby’s men charged the Union lines, supported by three pieces of artillery. Rice rushed to the growing sounds of battle and deployed his entire brigade and a battery of artillery to repel the attack. After pushing the Confederates back, Rice and his men returned to the wagon train, which had continued to advance with the rest of the Union force. The Union force then repulsed another attack that was under the command of Brigadier General William L. Cabell. This was the last major attack of the day on the Union force. Rice and his command rejoined the main body near Okolona (Clark County) after more than six hours of fighting.


The skirmishes fought near Arkadelphia were all Union victories. Rice was able to protect both the Union force’s rear and its wagon train. The Confederate cavalry was unable to effectively hamper the movement of the Federals and was unsuccessful in causing any major losses within the Union ranks.
 

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Here are some of the other skirmishes related to the wagon train...


Near this site on April 1, 1864 Confederate General Joseph O. Shelby caught up with and attacked the rear guard of Union General Frederick Steeles army. Union General Samuel A. Rice, in charge of the supply, pontoon and brigade trains, rushed to support the troops under attack. After eight long and bloody hours of savage fighting between a small southern cavalry brigade and a large union division, darkness fell upon many wounded and dead. Nearly 400 union prisoners were taken


Skirmish at Bozeman's house
This skirmish was about four miles from Arkadelphia on the old Military Road which is Highways 26 and 51. On April 1, 1864, Confederate General Joseph O. Shelby caught up with and attacked the rear guard of Union General Frederick Steele's army. Union General Samuel A. Rice, in charge of the supply, pontoon, and brigade trains, rushed to support the troops under attack. After eight long and bloody hours of savage fighting, the opponents being a "brigade against a division," darkness fell and the battle ended. Nearly 400 prisoners were taken. There were many dead and wounded. "Rice, shot twice, hatless and swordless, finally reached the main army, swearing he fought nothing but devils who rode horses upon his bayonets, and shot his infantry in square with revolvers."

Skirmish at Spoonville (Hollywood)
This battle was two miles south of Hollywood on Terre Noire and Gentry Creeks, now Highway 26. On April 2, 1864, General Joseph Shelby attacked the Union Army from the rear and Generals Marmaduke and William L. Cabell came from Antoine, at Gentry Creek, and attacked the front. Marmaduke and Cabell withdrew to Antoine to set up on Wolf Creek to attack the Union forces as they crossed the Little Missouri River on their way to Washington. However, the Federals turned at Halfway on the Military Road and headed toward Camden.

Battle of the Bees, Okolona
This took place one mile north of Okolona. On April 3, 1864, General Joseph Shelby caught up with General Samuel Rice's Union troops. They engaged in a skirmish in a pecan orchard during a severe thunderstorm. Along with the other damage due to hail and high winds, several beehives were overturned. The insects first attacked the Confederates, then turned their attention to the Union army. Both armies left the battlefield to their stinging tormentors.

Skirmish at Elkins' Ferry
This skirmish took place three or four miles south of Okolona. General Joseph Shelby had fallen back at the Little Missouri River and moved on the Washington road to Antoine. He crossed the river there to join Marmaduke and Cabell, informing them that the Federals planned to cross at Elkins' Ferry. The Rebels crossed Wolf Creek on the south side of the Little Missouri, skirmished a while, then set up at Elkins' Ferry to await the Federals. Union Colonel Drake described the heavy skirmishing on April 3, and 4, 1864, as "very warm, and my men were falling wounded on my right and left." He commented that the Rebel forces "in one continuous line rushed upon us, firing volleys of musketry and yelling like demons." After many hours of intense fighting, the Federals finally gained control of the ferry crossing. The Union Army camped there and constructed bridges and corduroy roads across the river and bottoms. These were all afloat by April 7, due to heavy rains
 

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These skirmishes run into each other...


The Skirmish at Terre Noire Creek, also known as the Skirmish at Wolf Creek or Skirmish at Antoine, an engagement during the Camden Expedition of the American Civil War, was fought on April 2, 1864. The action occurred about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Terre Noire Creek along a defile near the towns of Hollywood, Arkansas (sometimes known as Spoonville or Witherspoonville) and Antoine, Arkansas. A Confederate States Army cavalry brigade under Brigadier General Joseph O. Shelby attacked a Union supply train of more than 200 wagons accompanying Union Army Major General Frederick Steele's force which was attempting to reach Shreveport, Louisiana to join with Major General Nathaniel Banks's force in the Red River Campaign with the objective of occupying Shreveport and controlling western Louisiana.
 
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