Recapitulation: Killed, 3 officers, 12 men; wounded, 13 officers, 84 men. Skirmishes, 16. Engagements, 3. Distance marched by main body, 435 miles. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, COLTÓN GREENE, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. No. 73. Reports of Brig. Gen. Joseph O. Shelby, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry brigade. HEADQUARTERS SHELBY'S BRIGADE, Camp at Bullock's, May 3, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my division at the battle of Marks' Mills: On April 21, I received orders to report to Brigadier-General Fagan from General Price, and on April 24, I crossed the Ouachita with my division, having had assigned me the brigade of Colonel Crawford. The march on the 24th was a long and heavy one, and we encamped within 8 miles of the scene of the operations of the 25th, sending out scouting parties in every direction to find out the strength, position, and designs of the enemy, and also to ascertain the proximity of the train reported to be moving from Camden to Pine Bluff. By daylight of the 25th, it was known that the enemy was in heavy force, with a great number of wagons, and was moving from the Moro Bottom, where they had encamped the night before, to the Mount Elba crossing on the Saline River. As soon as their outlying pickets and flankers were encountered General Fagan with great rapidity and judgment made his dispositions for the fight. He ordered my division to turn square off to the right from the road the Federals were on, and by making a rapid detour came back to the road again in their immediate front, thus having them between two fires, for General Cabell's division was held in hand by General Fagan to attack the enemy in the rear. The 10-mile gallop was heavy and wearisome, but the men kept well together, and I knew they were keen and eager for the fray. The road which ran directly from Marks' Mills to Mount Elba was gained before even the Federal advance had passed, and I then at once commenced for the fight. I sent Major Elliott, of my own brigade, with the First Battalion Missouri Cavalry, to seize the Mount Elba crossing and guard it well, which was done with eminent success, driving off the guard, killing all their horses, and capturing many prisoners. I had advanced scarcely a mile in the direction of Marks' Mills when I met the Federal advance coming rapidly in the direction of Mount Elba, with their wagons thundering in their rear, and General Cabell's guns the grand keynote of the whole performance. I determined to charge them first, last, and all the time, so I formed Colonel Crawford's brigade, commanded by the gallant Wright, to the right of the main road and in advance, then Shanks' regiment, then Gordon's regiment, of my own brigade, holding well in hand as a reserve Smith's and Hunter's regiments. My own brigade was commanded by Col. David Shanks, as senior colonel, and was well and skillfully handled. As soon as the Federal advance had been driven back upon the main body I directed Captain Collins to fire two blank cartridges, to inspirit our own soldiers fighting gallantly in the rear, and then ordered my whole line to advance rapidly, which was done by an advance, under Captain Williams, at the charge. The effect was instantaneous. The charge was a defeat, the defeat a rout, the rout a panic, and the panic almost destruction. The Federals made scarcely any stand after first being broken, and we captured great numbers of prisoners, wagons, ambulances, negroes, guns, and 2 pieces of the famous Second Missouri U. S. Artillery,* which were charged and taken by Colonels Shanks and Gordon after a brief and bloody fight. My division captured over 800 prisoners, over 100 wagons, arms enough to arm every man with the most improved weapons, and everything else a routed and destroyed brigade could abandon in their frantic efforts to escape from the avengers of three years of wrong and aggression. The victory was complete, and the sober shades of evening came down upon one of the most final and crushing victories of the war. The men were now drawn off, the wounded cared for, the dead buried, and the weary and hungry soldiers rested for the night upon the "field of their fame, fresh and gory." It would be unnecessary to mention by name all who distinguished themselves on this day, for all did their duty well and nobly; but I will say that Colonel Wright and his officers and men fought well and gallantly, and by their side came the officers and men of my own brigade, and especially Captain Williams, of my advance, who at all times and under all circumstances is a brave, skillful, dashing, successful, and competent officer. From the battle until ordered to report again to General Marmaduke my division marched whenever and wherever ordered by General Fagan. Hoping this report may prove satisfactory, I am, captain, very truly, yours, Capt. WYATT C. THOMAS, JO. O. SHELBY, Brigadier-General, Comdg. Division. Assistant Adjutant-General, Fagan's Division. HEADQUARTERS SHELBY'S BRIGADE, Camp Bullock, May 3, 1864. MAJOR: I have the honor to send you the following report of my operations against the enemy since leaving Camden, Ark., up to the time when ordered to report to Brigadier-General Fagan: March 23, 1864, I received General Marmaduke's orders to move in the direction of Little Rock, and that night camped 16 miles north of Camden. Upon arriving at Princeton, and finding no subsistence there for either men or horses, I continued Colonel Gordon in command of that post, with his regiment picketing and patrolling the whole front and left of the town, while with the remainder of my brigade I took post on the Saline River, near Jenkins' Ferry, and watched the river for 50 miles. Here learning from my scouts that General Steele was advancing in heavy force in the direction of Arkadelphia, I imme * Battery E. diately determined to collect my scattered forces and close up with the enemy. This required two days, and on the 30th I had an interview with General Marmaduke at Tate's Bluff, where I received orders to attack the enemy in the rear. The balance of the day and night was spent in preparation for the march, and at daylight of April 1, I started and crossed the Ouachita River about dark, fording the horses and ferrying over my artillery and wagons at the Montroy Ferry, then marching all night to get within striking distance of the Federals by the morrow. Before crossing the river, however, I sent a scouting party to Arkadelphia to ascertain if all was clear behind me, and they, under command of Private Daniel Ingram, dashed into the town and captured 1 captain and 12 men, numbering themselves only 8. On the morning of the 2d, I struck the main Arkadelphia and Washington road and found the trail broad and the scent hot and breast-high. The pursuit was rapid and resolved. About 11 o'clock their rear was gained, consisting of one brigade of infantry and one regiment of cavalry, with two pieces of artillery. Captain. Thorp, commanding my advance of 100 picked men, charged desperately down the road upon the infantry, and the men fired their revolvers with deadly effect at point-blank range. I supported Thorp with my entire force in battle line on each side of the road, and steadily drove them before me. The Federals were perfectly drilled and fought well, and retired at first in splendid order. I had with me only two pieces of my battery, under Captain Collins, and they were advanced as flying artillery either at the trot or gallop. There were many disadvantages and obstacles to be overcome, not the least of which was the wind, being directly in my front, and the enemy firing the dry woods in every direction, thus causing my lines frequently to encounter and pass through almost intolerable heat and dust. The pursuit was pressed hard. From one position they retired to another, and sometimes I had to resort to my artillery to dislodge them. The men seemed eager as bloodhounds, and never halted or retired under the hottest fire. In the first charge the gallant Thorp was shot down, and Lieutenant Trigg, of General Marmaduke's escort, mortally wounded. I immediately ordered Capt. D. A. Williams, of Smith's regiment, to take command of the advance, which he did with proud and chivalrous daring. Until dark the fight was kept up, and just as the action closed Colonel Gordon and Major Elliott, with their commands, made a desperate and daring charge upon the enemy's whole line, now re-enforced by another brigade of infantry and two more pieces of artillery, and drove them from it with severe loss and the capture of many prisoners. Without a mouthful to eat for men or horses I bivouacked upon the field, determined to push them again on the morrow and harass them in every possible manner. Carefully posting my pickets and ascertaining their position, I waited for daylight. On the morning of the 3d, their vedettes were encountered about a mile north of Okolona, which were soon driven in, and I found the entire army lying quietly in camp, with their same rear guard, now heavily covered by cavalry, about 2 miles from the town. This I at once attacked and fought three hours, inflicting on him severe loss. While engaged a terrible hail-storm came up from the northeast and spread its dark wings over the sky. The scene was rugged and sublime. Amid the jar of the thunder, the flash of the lightning, and the moaning and sighing of the pines as the pitiless hail-stones tore through them, there was mingled the crash of artillery, the sharp rattle of musketry, and ever and anon as the wind ceased there came the wild blare of bugles and the ring of sabers from the valley below, where the enemy were fighting. Twice during the day I felt their entire line and found it nearly 2 miles long, and twice they advanced in force, but were driven back each time. I drew off at 2 o'clock and retired to the little village of Antoine, where I fed men and horses and camped for the night. Long before morning my ever-trusty and faithful scouts brought me intelligence that General Carr had marched with a brigade of cavalry to my rear, and another brigade of infantry was on my left flank waiting until I attacked again, when they would close in upon me with deadly effect. My ammunition was now nearly exhausted, the men and horses completely worn out, and I determined to cross the Little Missouri River, supply myself with ordnance stores, and await further orders. So, on the 4th, I got over the river safely and took position on Prairie D'Ane near the Camden and Washington road and the Elkin's Ferry and Camden road, ready at all times to operate upon either, as the case might require. April 5, 6, 7, and 8, was spent in desultory skirmishing, with now and then an alarm, in which I formed my command in battle line; but on the evening of the 9th, sharp, rapid, and heavy firing on the Elkin's Ferry and Camden road warned me that an advance in force was being made upon our position, covered by Colonel Dockery's brigade. I turned out my command immediately and took position in rear of Colonel Dockery, covering the direct road to our intrenched position. The mêlée of the battle approached rapidly. Colonel Dockery was driven back, and I ordered him to take position on my extreme left, which he had scarcely done when I opened fire upon the enemy's cloud of skirmishers. Captain Collins had but two guns to fight the grand advance of Steele's army, and as battery after battery rushed up from the rear and opened upon him he never changed his position, but held his men to their hot and desperate work with calm and daring courage. The artillery duel was terrible and magnificent. The broad prairie stretched away smoothly as a sea of glass. The long lines of cavalry on either side of the guns, and over all the bursting bombs and the white powder clouds, came fast and furious. For three hours the fight went on. Collins fought their eighteen guns, and his supports never wavered for a moment, though exposed to a concentrated fire of artillery rarely ever endured by cavalry. At dark General Marmaduke ordered me to retire, which was done in perfect order. After falling back a mile I found the enemy advancing stubbornly upon me, and I knew that if he was not checked at once he would command our fortified position with his artillery before daylight. I ordered Collins once more in position on the naked prairie and deployed about 400 men as skirmishers along their entire front, and a real night battle began. For three hours more the fight went on, the whole heavens lit up with bursting bombs and the falling flames of muskets. Their advance was checked for the night, and at 12 p. m. I drew off, after eight hours of severe fighting. The next day I covered the withdrawal of our army, skirmishing with the enemy the whole time, and the next night I camped at Prairie De Rohan, 12 miles from the field of battle. On the 15th, I was ordered by General Marmaduke to get in front of the enemy, then advancing upon Camden, which, after a long and heavy march, was done, and I took position in advance of General Marmaduke's brigade, at Poison Spring, and after skirmishing with the enemy's advance that night until dark I rested in line of battle until morning, when the Federals advanced in force, and a fight of two hours ensued, when I was ordered to retire, and I turned off to the right of the road and went into camp near Woodlawn. On the 19th, I received orders to march to Miller's Bluff, on the Ouachita, which was done, and while there I received orders from General Price to report temporarily to General Fagan. During my entire active operations, both in front and rear of the enemy, I have to thank my officers and men for courage, devotion, endurance, and stern and dashing bravery. Colonels Shanks, Smith, and Gordon behaved, as usual, with undeviating courage. Captain Thorp is a brave and dashing officer and deserves promotion. Captain Williams, modest and retiring, is a lion in battle and a lamb in the quietude of the camp-fire. Captains Franklin and Adams, of Shanks regiment, in the first fight in the rear charged upon the Federal infantry closely enough to have their horses wounded by bayonets. Maj. Benjamin Elliott, Captains McDaniel, Schnabel, Lieutenants Tucker, Wood, Adjutant Wood, and Captain Walton, of the battalion, are towers of strength in danger's dark and trying hour. It is useless to particularize when all did so well. There is not an officer or man in my brigade that I noticed who did not do his duty. Collins is a perfect hero, and his artillery was splendid. Accompanying this please find a report of the killed and wounded. Hoping this may prove satisfactory, I will close by stating that since General Marmaduke ordered my brigade to attack General Steele at Arkadelphia, we have killed, wounded, and captured more Federals than my brigade numbers, likewise 2 rifled James guns, 4 stand of regimental colors, and 125 wagons, besides rearming my brigade at the cost of the enemy. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JO. O. SHELBY, Brigadier-General, Commanding Brigade. Major HENRY EWING, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Marmaduke's Division. ADDENDA. Return of Casualties in Shelby's brigade in the late engagements with the enemy (Marks' Mills not included). |