CHAPTER LX.

OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA
LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-
MISSISSIPPI STATES AND TERRITORIES.*

JANUARY 1-JUNE 30, 1865.

PART I.

Jan.

SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

1, 1865.-Skirmish at Bentonville, Ark.

1-27, 1865.-Operations in Arkansas, including actions at Dardanelle (14th),

Ivey's Ford (17th), and skirmish at Boggs' Mills (24th).

2-7, 1865.-Scout in Shannon County, Mo.

2-10, 1865.-Scout from Fort Wingate to Sierra del Datil, N. Mex.

4-16, 1865.-Expedition from Bloomfield to Poplar Bluff, Mo., and vicinity.

4-27, 1865.-Expedition from Brownsville to Augusta, Ark.

6, 1865. Skirmish at Huntsville, Ark.

7, 1865.-Skirmish in Johnson County, Ark.

Skirmishes with Indians at Valley Station and Julesburg, Colo.

Ter.

7-9, 1865.-Expedition from Pine Bluff, Ark., and skirmish (9th).

7-11, 1865.-Scout from Fort Ellsworth, Kans.

8, 1865.-Skirmish near Ivey's Ford, Ark.

Action at Dove Creek, Coucho River, Tex.

9-11, 1865.-Skirmishes in Texas County, Mo.

10, 1865.-Skirmish near Glasgow, Mo.

11, 1865.-Skirmish near Lexington, Mo.

11–13, 1865.—Expeditions from Helena, Ark., to Harbert's Plantation, Miss.

11-21, 1865.-Scout from Fort Wingate to Sierra del Datil and vicinity, N. Mex.

12, 1865.-Affair near Sugar Loaf Prairie, Ark.

12-15, 1865.-Expedition from Morganza, La., with skirmishes.

Scout from Camp Grover to Texas Prairie, Mo.

12-17, 1865.-Scout from Warrensburg to Miami, Mo.

14-29, 1865.-Operations on the Overland Stage Road between Julesburg and

Denver, Colo. Ter., and skirmishes with Indians at Godfrey's

Ranch (14th), at Morrison's or American Ranch, at Wisconsin

Ranch, and near Valley Station (15th), at Gittrell's Ranch

(25th), at Moore's Ranch (26th), at Lillian Springs Ranch

(27th), and near Valley Station (28th).

Including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Indian Territory, Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas, and the Department of the Northwest, embrac-
ing Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Of some of the minor conflicts noted in this Summary no circumstantial reports

are on file.

1 R R-VOL XLVIII, PT I

Jan.

Feb.

15, 1865.-Skirmish in Madison County, Ark.

15-17, 1865.—Expedition from New Orleans to Mandeville, La.

15-18, 1865.-Expeditions from Pine Bluff, Ark.

15-21, 1865.-Scout from Fort Larned to Pawnee Fork, Walnut Creek, and Smoky Hill River, Kans.

16-18, 1865.—Expedition from Brashear City to Whisky Bayou, La.

16-22, 1865.-Operations about Waynesville, Mo., including skirmish near McCourtney's Mills, on Big Piney.

18, 1865.-Skirmish at Clarksville, Ark.

18-19, 1865.—Expedition from Napoleonville to Grand River, La.

18-22, 1865.-Scout from Warrensburg to the Snibar Hills, Mo.

19-20, 1865.-Scout from Donaldsonville, La.

19-22, 1865.-Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., to Marion, Ark., with skirmishes (20th and 21st) at and near Marion.

20, 1865.-The Territory of Arizona reannexed to the Department of the Pacific.

Skirmish at Point of Rocks or Nine-Mile Ridge, Kans.

Skirmish near Fort Larned, Kans.

21-22, 1865.—Expedition from Brashear City to Bayou Sorrel, La.

22, 1865.-Skirmish on the Benton Road, near Little Rock, Ark.
22-Feb. 4, 1865.—Expedition from Little Rock to Mount Elba., Ark., with
skirmish at Saline River.

23, 1865.-Skirmish at Thompson's Plantation, La.

24, 1865.-Skirmish near Bayou Goula, La.

Skirmish at Fayetteville, Ark.

24-Feb. 22, 1865.-Expedition from Cape Girardeau, Mo., to Eleven Points

River, Ark.

26-31, 1865.-Scout from Pine Bluff toward Camden and Monticello, Ark., with skirmishes.

26-Feb. 4, 1865.-Expedition from Plaquemine to The Park, La., with skirmish (February 4) at The Park.

26-Feb. 11, 1865.-Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., into Southeastern
Arkansas and Northeastern Louisiana.

27, 1865.-Expedition from Fort Pinney to Kimball's Plantation, Ark.
28-Feb. 9, 1865.-Operations on the Upper Arkansas, with skirmish (Feb-
ruary 1) at Fort Zarah, Kans.

29-Feb. 7, 1865.-Scouts from Bayou Goula to Grand River, La., with skir-
mish (January 30) at Richland Plantation.

30, 1865.—The Department of Kansas merged into the Department of the

Missouri.

The Military Division of the Missouri created, including the
Departments of the Missouri and the Northwest.

Maj. Gen. John Pope, U. S. Army, assigned to the command of
the Military Division of the Missouri.

Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis. U. S. Army, transferred to the com

mand of the Department of the Northwest.

Skirmish in La Fayette County, Mo.

30-31, 1865.-Expedition from Thibodeaux to Lake Verret and Bayou Planton, La., with skirmish (30th) near Lake Verret.

31, 1865.-Expedition from Morganza to New Roads, La.

Skirmish near Oxford, Kans.

31-Feb. 1, 1865.-Expedition from Fort Pike to Bayou Bonfouca, La., with skirmish (January 31).

1, 1865.-Maj. Gen. J. Bankhead Magruder, C. S. Army, assumes command of the District of Arkansas.

Feb.

1-5, 1865.-Scout from Warrensburg to Wagon Knob, Big Grove, Greenton, and Texas Prairie, Mo.

Scout from Warrensburg to Tabo Creek, Dover, Oaklin Church, and Davis' Creek, Mo.

2-18, 1865.-Operations against Indians on the North Platte River in Colorado and Nebraska Territories.

3-8, 1865. Scouts in La Fayette County, Mo.

Scout from Fort Larned to South Fork of Pawnee Creek and

Buckner's Branch, Kans.

4, 1865.-Maj. Gen. John Pope, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Military Division of the Missouri.

6-8, 1865.-Operations in Ozark County, Mo.

7-10, 1865.-Scouts from Morganza to Fausse River and Grossetete Bayou, La.
8, 1865.-Maj. Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, U. S. Army, assumes command of
territory formerly comprised in the Department of Kansas.
8-9, 1865.-Expedition on the Arkansas River, near Little Rock, Ark.
8-13, 1865.-Scout from Helena to Madison, Ark., with skirmish (12th) near
Madison.

9, 1865.-General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army, assumes command of the Con-
federate Armies.

The Northern Division of Louisiana formed, to consist of the Districts of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson, and the Post of Morganza, and Maj. Gen. Francis J. Herron, U. S. Army, assigned to its command.

The Defenses of New Orleans changed to the Southern Division of
Louisiana, with Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Sherman, U. S. Army, in
command.

9-19, 1865.-Scout from Pine Bluff to Devall's Bluff, Ark., with skirmish.
10, 1865.—The Department of Mississippi declared to embrace so 'much of
the State of Mississippi as was occupied by the troops of the
Division of West Mississippi, on the river.

All troops in the Departments of Kentucky and the Cumberland
declared subject to the orders of Major-General Thomas except
the posts on the east bank of the Mississippi River, which were
subject to Major-General Canby's orders in movements for pro-
tecting the navigation of that river.

The Department of the Gulf declared to embrace the States of
Louisiana and Texas.

Skirmish at Kittredge's Sugar House, near Napoleonville, La.
Scout from Friar's Point, Miss., and skirmish.

10-11, 1865.—Expedition from Brashear City to Lake Verret, La.
10-13, 1865.-Expedition from Thibodeaux to Lake Verret, La.
11, 1865.-Skirmish at Clear Creek, Ark.

Skirmish near Pine Bluff, Ark.

12, 1865. Skirmish near Columbia, Mo.

Skirmish at Macon, Mo.

Skirmish near Lewisburg, Ark.

12-20, 1865.-Operations about Forts Riley and Larned, Kans.

13, 1865.-Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Department of the Northwest.

Skirmish in Mississippi County, Mo.

14, 1865.-Maj. Gen. Francis J. Herron, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Northern Division of Louisiana.

14-18, 1865.-Expeditions from Donaldsonville to Grand Bayou and Bayou Goula, La., with skirmish (15th) at Martin's Lane.

Feb.

Mar.

15, 1865.-Brig. Gen. Mosby M. Parsons, C. S. Army, assigned to temporary
command of the District of Arkansas.

16–18, 1865.—Operations about Bennett's Bayou and Tolbert's Mill, Ark.
16-20, 1865.-Scout in Ozark County, Mo., and Marion County, Ark.
16-21, 1865.-Scout from Fort Larned, Kans.

17, 1865.-The Territory of Utah and that part of Nebraska Territory lying
west of the twenty-seventh degree of longitude added to the
Department of the Missouri.

Skirmish in Washington County, Ark.

17-18, 1865.-Scout from Pine Bluff, Ark., to the Arkansas River, with skirmish (17th) near Bayou Meto, Ark.

17-22, 1865.—Expedition from Plaquemine to The Park, La.

18, 1865.—The Thirteenth and Sixteenth Army Corps constituted; the former from the Reserve Corps, Military Division of West Mississippi, the latter from the troops arriving from the Army of the Cumberland.

Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, U. S. Army, assigned to command of
the Thirteenth Army Corps.

Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Smith, U. S. Army, assigned to command the
Sixteenth Army Corps.

19-22, 1865.-Expedition from Helena, Ark., to Friar's Point, Miss.

20, 1865.-Skirmish at Center Creek, Mo.

21, 1865.-Brig. Gen. Douglas H. Cooper, C. S. Army, assigned to command of the District of the Indian Territory.

21-22, 1865.—Scout from Pine Bluff to Douglas' Plantation, Ark., and skirmish

(22d).

22, 1865.-Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Smith, U. S. Army, assumes command of the
Sixteenth Army Corps.

Brig. Gen. John McNeil, U. S. Army, assigned to command of the
District of Central Missouri.

22-24, 1865.-Scout from Pine Bluff to Bayou Meto, Ark., and skirmishes at Mrs.
Voche's (23d) and Bayou Meto (24th).

23-Mar. 2, 1865.-Scouts from Salem and Licking, Mo., to Spring River Mills, Ark., with skirmishes.

24, 1865.-Affair at Switzler's Mill, Mo.

Scout from Helena to Clarke's Store, Ark.

26-28, 1865.—Expedition from Pine Bluff to McMilley's Farm, Ark., with skirmish (27th) at McMilley's Farm.

27, 1865.-Skirmish near Sturgeon, Mo.

Brig. Gen. Edmund J. Davis, U. S. Army, assumes temporary com-
mand of U. S. Forces at Morganza, La.

Brig. Gen. John M. Thayer, U. S. Army, assigned to command of
Post of Saint Charles, Ark.

Brig. Gen. John McNeil, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Dis-
trict of Central Missouri.

Brig. Gen. Morgan L. Smith, U. S. Army, assumes command of the
District of Vicksburg, Miss.

1, 1865.-Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, U. S. Army, assigned to command
the cavalry of the Military Division of West Mississippi.

Brig. Gen. Douglas H. Cooper, C. S. Army, assumes command of
the District of the Indian Territory and superintendency of
Indian Affairs.

1-12, 1865.-Expedition from Baton Rouge to Jackson and Clinton, La.
2, 1865.-Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, U. S. Army, assumes command
of the cavalry forces in the Military Division of West Mississippi.