No. 11. Report of Lieut. Jacob Morehead, Sixth Kansas Cavalry. FORT SMITH, ARK., July 29, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report to you that I was in command of Company B, Sixth Kansas Cavalry, on the morning of the 27th instant, when the enemy made the attack on our camp, on Massard Prairie; and as soon as the alarm was given that the enemy was in the prairie, which was about 6 a. m., I sent immediately for the herd, which had been out grazing since daylight, and was about threequarters of a mile southwest of camp. I formed my men on the right of camp to protect my herd as it came in and until it could be secured, but before the horses could be brought up the enemy charged on us, which stampeded the herd and left the men on foot to fight as best they could. We drove the enemy back, and as I had received no orders from the commanding officer, I ordered my men to fall back until they could form on the right of the other companies. When I had fallen back to the left of my company's parade ground I came in speaking distance of Major Mefford, when I received orders to form my company on the right to protect the camp. I immediately took the position assigned me, with Company D on my left. We held our position, repulsing three distinct charges of the enemy. At this time I saw that Major Mefford had, with Companies E and H, been driven from their position on the left of the line and had begun to fall back across the prairie. I knew that I could not hold my ground much longer with what men I had, so, without receiving orders from Major Mefford, commenced falling back toward him. As we fell back I had several men captured by the enemy that was advancing through the timber in the center of our camp. We fought and retreated in good order until we came within half a mile of the house on the prairie, when the enemy closed in on all sides, taking many more of our men prisoners. Those that were left continued fighting and falling back to the house. There the men that were left were overpowered and captured. Before we reached the house I received a slight wound in the right thigh. Some of my men who were first captured made their escape by hiding in the thick brush, the enemy not staying to hunt for stragglers, but left immediately after the men at the house were captured, taking with them all the men that could travel. All did well under the circumstances, it being a surprise; after driving in the pickets the enemy was in our camp. I lost in the engagement 3 killed, 2 mortally wounded, 5 severely wounded, and 40 men taken prisoners. JACOB MOREHEAD, First Lieut., Sixth Kansas Car. Vols., Comdg. Company B. Col. W. R. JUDSON, Commanding First Brigade. No. 12. Report of Lieut. Levi F. Stewart, Sixth Kansas Cavalry. CAMP NEAR FORT SMITH, ARK., August 2, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report according to instructions the following: Being stationed on outpost duty on the Texas road about four miles and a half from Fort Smith, Ark., about 11 p. m. [a. m.] of the morning of July 31, 1864, hearing my pickets firing, I immediately mounted m men, numbering thirty-five in all, and started to learn the cause of t firing. After proceeding about half a mile I met my pickets comin toward me on a run and a number of the enemy following them, which I halted and formed in line, and after exchanging shots with t enemy I found they were too strong for the number of men under m command and I [was] forced to fall back toward Fort Smith, Ark exchanging shots continually with the enemy. I was forced to fall bac some two miles and a half. I halted and formed into line and four the enemy had halted. During the skirmishing one of my men wa either killed or taken prisoner and one wounded. The enemy captured all of my camp and garrison equipage, as was forced to have some camp and garrison equipage as my can was a permanent outpost. I have the honor, colonel, to be, very respectfully, your obedie servant, L. F. STEWART, Second Lieutenant, Commanding Camp. COMDG. OFFICER SIXTH KANSAS VOL. CAVALRY. No. 13. Reports of Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby, C. S. Army. July 16, 1864. COLONEL: Lieut. J. S. Green, bearing this communication, is du authorized by me to communicate with you and get definite instruction in regard to certain questions he will ask, but which I am unwilling trust to paper for fear of accidents. On the 12th instant I organized a column of 1,000 men into thr distinct raiding detachments, and sent them straight at the railroa with orders to waste, burn, and destroy. The column on the extrem right, commanded by Col. B. F. Gordon, struck the Tenth Illino Cavalry between Searcy and Bayou Des Arc [on the 14th], fough them fiercely for half an hour, routed them, killed 20 on the field, wounde many, captured 87 prisoners, 1 six-mule wagon loaded with supplies, ambulance, and 200 stand of cavalry fire-arins. This boasted regiment, which has weekly made a pilgrimage to Searc and thrown to us the gauge of defiance, was whipped, routed, and sea tered, and only saved from utter annihilation by the superior qualit of its horses. The other two columns were progressing finely when la heard from, and I hope soon to tell you of good work done for the rai road. I have a heavy force below Clarendon, on White River, whic levies a stern contribution of lead on every passing transport, and m scouts range unmolested from the Mississippi River to Devall's Blu which latter place they have fired into no less than four times and ca tured prisoners on the opposite bank of the river. Acting Brigadier-General Adams is in command of the Northern Sul District of Arkansas, whose duty it is to regulate its internal affair supervise and systematize its civil functions, and perform the necessar duties of a military governor. But I have assumed control of all th troops in the field and left General Adams a few provost guard because but few were needed. In the event of my leaving here with a the troops the district will be without support, and I wish to kno definitely whether in such an event General Adams is to be left in command of everything; and if so, what number of troops shall be left with him. You are well aware that when the forces under my command leave this country all organized resistance to the enemy will cease, therefore the fewer number of soldiers left here the less incentive will the Federals have to waste and pillage the country. You will remember I informed you that I had sent Colonel McCray to the Mississippi River for arms and ammunition, and I can now assure you of the success of that expedition-840 stand of arms have been added to the effective force of this district, together with 68,000 rounds of ammunition. I firmly believe I can bring 6,000 new men to the army, and if I have good luck I intend to arm them all. The material for my operations is rather inferior, but by patience, perseverance, and tact I think I shall make "the calling and election sure." In the event of my leaving here shall I bring General Adams with me, and shall I give him any command over the troops I bring out? These questions I desire to have answered immediately. I send you late papers. The news from the East is still, as usual, very encouraging. Colonel Coffee bas received authority from General Smith to raise a regiment, giving him until September 1. Shall I leave him here if I return before that time? But it will not do, in my opinion, to leave any troops here, as it will be only a nucleus for deserters to come back to. COLONEL: Again I have to report another severe fight and another brilliant victory. You will remember that I informed you in my last dispatch of having sent Colonels Dobbin and Gordon with 1,000 men to ravage and destroy the Government plantations below Helena. They started on the 26th[?], and on the 28th [26th] they met, fought, and routed completely 1,250 white men and negroes, killing 1 colonel, 1 lieutenant-colonel, and 153 men, besides 5 captains, and capturing 5 Wagons loaded with commissaries, 2 caissons containing ammunition, horses, mules, guns, and pistols. The enemy had two pieces of artillery; was attacked and driven out of a chosen position behind a levee and driven pell-mell into the corporation limits of Helena. On the same day at another hour Colonel Gordon with 200 men attacked Major Carmichael of house-burning memory; charged him furiously, scattered his force of 300 veterans, and left 63 of them dead on the field. No quarter was given and none asked. The fight was bloody and brief, and their superiority of horses alone saved them from annihilation. The Confederate loss was 8 killed and 40 wounded. Dobbin and Gordon immediately proceeded to the plantations, since which time I have no further reports. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Lent. Col. J. F. BELTON, JO. O. SHELBY, Brigadier General, Commanding. Assistant Adjutant-General, District of Arkansas. COLONEL:* HEADQUARTERS SHELBY'S DIVISION, I rested until July 12, organizing and putting into running or various regiments and brigades, and scouting and patrolling the co try from one end to the other after jayhawkers and robbers, many of wh were caught and executed directly on the spot. In these quiet and try days of summer a Federal cavalry regiment-the Tenth Illinoi came weekly to Searcy and sent an indirect challenge for an equal fo to come down and fight them. On the 11th [12th] Colonel Gordon w 500 men started after them, and on the 12th [14th] at daylight charg directly into camp, firing upon some sound asleep and others undress The panic and rout was complete. Out of the 600 boasting Feder not 100 escaped to tell the tale. Gordon gathered up carefully all arms, and sending part of his force to the railroad under Major Daniel, returned to camp with his prisoners. McDaniel struck the railroad the next day, captured 13 prisone destroyed about half a mile of track and telegraph, and returned. train of cars coming under full steam from Little Rock ran off embankment, killing 6 soldiers, wounding severely 17, and destroy 1 locomotive and 2 cars. At the same time I sent Colonel McCray w sufficient force to the Mississippi River for several hundred stand arms, which had been negotiated for. McCray was entirely success and succeeded in bringing over about 900 good guns. I now organiz a combined attack upon river and railroad, determining to strik double blow in different directions. Colonel McCray went toward railroad with about 1,000 men, and I went to White River with ab 600. Af Reaching the river on the 31st, seven miles below Clarendon, I co menced immediately to get my guns in position. While doing so, a before I could possibly use them, two gun-boats passed slowly do one of them landing within ten feet of my concealed scouts. they left the preparations were completed, and the river watched a d and a night, but nothing passed up or down. Still waiting, my tr and trusty spies soon brought me intelligence that a large Federal fo was advancing up White River by boats and was already at Des A thus gaining my rear and threatening both the reserve ammunition a unarmed recruits at Jacksonport. No time was to be lost. March immediately all that day and night and the next day, I reached Augu shortly after the arrival of the enemy, who fled hurriedly on my approa This sudden and rapid movement on my part alone saved me from irr arable loss. McCray reached the neighborhood of the railroad safe held a good force back as a reserve, and commenced operations. C man went first with 500 men, destroyed some of the track, burned so trestle-work, and retired fighting. Jackman one day later made a v orous attack again, killed 10 Federals, captured 23, destroyed a mile railroad, stirred up a hornet's nest, and fell back hard pressed. T a large force of the enemy massed on McCray, forced him back, and sent to me for help. I marched my entire force night and day to assistance, checked the Federals, and drove them back, after which command rested for several days.f * For portion of report here omitted, see Vol. XXXIV, Part I, p. 926. My thanks are earnestly due to all my officers and men for their Courage and devotion and their eagerness at all times to meet the enemy. Hoping this report will prove satisfactory, I am, colonel, very respectfully, JO. O. SHELBY, Maj. L. A. MACLEAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding Expedition. Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of Arkansas. No. 14. Reports of Maj. Gen. Samuel B. Maxey, C. S. Army. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF INDIAN TERRITORY, GENERAL: I have the honor to report that I was officially advised Last night that on the morning of the 27th instant a detachment about 600 strong, under the command of Brig. Gen. R. M. Gano, made up from Gano's brigade, Col. S. N. Folsom's (Second Choctaw) regiment, and Lieut. Col. J. W. Wells' battalion, attacked the Sixth Kansas Cavalry within five miles of Fort Smith, completely routing it, killing and ounding about 50, capturing 127 prisoners, about 200 Sharps rifles, and about 400 six-shooters, a number of horses, some sutler's stores, camp equipage, &c. Among the prisoners is Major Mefford, who comhanded said regiment. A body of Arkansas Federals, who were with the Sixth Kansas, stampeded. Our loss 8 killed and several wounded; the exact number not known. An unofficial note from an officer states that the enemy from Fort Smith followed General Gano out on his return and that an attack on the camp was likely. I do not believe the enemy will now throw out anything more than a reconnaissance in force. Preparations to the extent of our means will be made. Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. W. R. BOGGS, S. B. MAXEY, Major-General, Commanding. Chief of Staff, Trans-Mississippi Dept., Shreveport, La. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF INDIAN TERRITORY, Fort Towson, C. N., August 6, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that I received official advices from General Cooper last night, under date August 2, that on the 31st ultimo he made a demonstration in force on Fort Smith, ran in the pickets and all outside the breast-works. Subsequently the enemy on recovering from surprise came out and a picket fight ensued, he losing men killed, and the enemy he thinks considerably more. He cap tured 12 prisoners and burnt their camp and commissary stores at Green Springs, three miles from Fort Smith; also captured some horses and cattle. The next day having taken up camp on Cedar Prairie, about nine. miles from Fort Smith, he sent a small scout near Fort Smith, west of Postean, which was heavily shelled (without damage) for several hours |