Big Creek, to co-operate with Colonel Brooks. The infantry and artillery crossed Big Creek at 5 a. m. on the 26th, and learned that the rebel General Dobbin was near there in force, having three regiments, estimated at 1,500 men. Colonel Brooks recrossed his command, Dobbin crossing lower down and before him and attacked him in front and on the right flank with vigor. The infantry and artillery held their ground stubbornly for several hours, when Major Carmichael, hearing the cannonading, made a forced march and charged through Dobbin's command just at the moment when he had brought up his reserve and was about to make a final charge. Our forces immediately assumed the offensive and marched in the direction of Helena, the enemy giving way before them, but following them up within nine miles of that place. Our loss was about 50 in killed and wounded, including Colonel Brooks,* Captain Lembke, Adjutant Pratt, and Surgeon Stoddard,* of the Fifty-sixth Colored, killed, and Lieutenant Crane* severely wounded; 1 caisson and 1 limber that were blown up, their horses having been killed. The enemy's loss is estimated by officers who were in the action at about 150 men. 27th, a force of between 1,500 and 2,000 rebels, under General Gano, attacked our outposts seven miles from Fort Smith, consisting of about 200 men of the Sixth Kansas, under command of Captain Mefford, moving up in two columns, the one driving in the pickets and the other flanking them. Captain Mefford fought his men bravely, but was soon overpowered, and he and 82 of his men were taken prisoners. The enemy retired before re-enforcements could be sent. Ten of our men were killed and 15 wounded. The enemy lost 12 killed and 20 wounded, left on the field. Major Galloway, of the First Arkansas Cavalry, routed Major Pickler's and Buck Brown's forces, killing Major Pickler and a number of his men, and capturing 35 horses and mules. Captain Worthington, of the same regiment, subsequently attacked a portion of Brown's force, killing 9 and capturing 15 horses and mules. 29th, Captain Napier, Third Arkansas Cavalry, returned from scout to Greenbrier, having killed the rebel Captain Birr near Red River. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, F. STEELE, Major-General, Commanding. Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. No. 2. Reports of Col. Abraham H. Ryan, Third Arkansas Cavalry (Union). LEWISBURG, ARK., July 13, 1864–9 p. m. CAPTAIN: Captain Gill has returned from scout through Perry and Yell Counties; had two fights with Conly's bushwhacking regiment. Run them, killing 5 and wounding 10, bringing in 2 prisoners and 8 *Of the 56th U. S. Colored Infantry. Of Battery E, 2d U. S. Colored Light Artillery. horses. The men retreated on island below.Dardanelle, where Conly is trying to raise an old flat-boat lying there. There is no other force of the enemy in that section. I have sent scout this evening beyond Perryville, then up the Fourche; also one to Norristown, Dover, &c. Is that infantry regiment coming? River rising. Respectfully, Capt. C. H. DYER, Assistant Adjutant-General. A. H. RYAN, Colonel, Commanding Post. LEWISBURG, July [14], 1864. CAPTAIN: Lieutenant Williams in from scout to Norristown. All quiet on this side of the river. Great complaints made against Ninth Kansas Cavalry; they robbed men and women, friend and foe, indiscriminately. Captain Gill had a fight on Sunday with Captain Adams' company on river above Petit Jean, killing two and wounding several of the enemy. He is now after a force reported eight miles back of Dardanelle. Captain Adams' wife is now in Little Rock arranging to sell and get away cotton. She [has] sold and shipped seven bales already. Respectfully, Capt. C. H. DYER, A. H. RYAN, Colonel, &c. Assistant Adjutant General. No. 3. Report of Maj. Thaddeus S. Clarkson, Third Arkansas Cavalry (Union). LEWISBURG, July 7, 1864–10 a. m. CAPTAIN: I sent out Captain Hamilton, with fifty-five men, on Saturday, the 2d. to go into Searcy County and break up a company of men organizing to join Shelby; he returned last night, having killed 7 rebels, wounded 4, and captured 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, and 53 men, who had organized and were to start on Tuesday last for Shelby. He captured also 12 horses and mules, 15 stand of arms, and 1 stand of colors. Captain Hamilton reports from an organized [sic] a regiment north of Batesville, to join Shelby, who, he still thinks, is down on White River. One of the men killed by Captain Hamilton was a deserter from this regiment, who had joined the rebels. I will send the prisoners down by first boat. T. S. CLARKSON, Major, Commanding Post. Capt. C. H. DYER, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 4, Report of Col. James Stuart, Tenth Illinois Cavalry. HUNTERSVILLE, July [9], 1864. CAPTAIN: The scout of one lieutenant and twenty men sent out by me returned last night. They ran into a small party of rebels; killed and wounded 4; took 1 prisoner. JAS. STUART, Capt. C. H. DYER, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 5. Colonel, Commanding Post. Reports of Capt. David H. Wilson, Tenth Illinois Cavalry. BROWNSVILLE, ARK., July 14, 1864—5 p. m. GENERAL: My camp at Bayou Des Arc was attacked at 4.30 this a. m. by a large force-I should think 800. I went into the fight with 214 men and 7 officers, and came out with 75 men and 5 officers. The atacking party I believe to be Shelby. Respectfully, D. H. WILSON, Captain, Tenth Illinois Cavalry. Brig. Gen. E. A. CARR, Commanding District. BROWNSVILLE, July 14, 1864-9.50 p. m. GENERAL: Yours by telegraph is just at hand. The attack was made on my command at 4.30 this a. m. The attack was made on three sides at the same time. The enemy was dismounted in the front and rear, and mounted on left flank. They must have got into position and made the attack at once, as my dispatch bearer to Brownsville left camp at 4 o'clock and saw nothing of the enemy. I intended to move to Austin this morning and was all ready to start when the attack was made. On the fire of the first gun I ordered my bugler to blow to horse. The Squadrons H, K, and D were pressed so hard by the enemy that they only made out to mount and fall back, and lost largely in men and horses before that could be done. By this time both squadrons were mounted and in line. I ordered them to dismount, to fight on foot, intending to fall back to the bayou, which was about fifty yards in the rear of the two last named squadrons. As they were dismounting they received volleys from three squadrons of the enemy that had advanced to the north side of the bayou, dismounted and crossed the bayou, and lay under the south bank. I then ordered the two squadrons to mount, and seeing the enemy nearly 'round my right to the bayou and about three squadrons of mounted cavalry coming up on my left, I ordered the two mounted squadrons to break by fours, the left, and charge out between the left of mounted cavalry and the right of the dismounted. They did so, fighting their way out. The enemy did not show but very little disposition to pursue. My loss in killed, wounded, and missing is 129 men and 2 officers; also my team and ambulance. I am, respectfully, D. H. WILSON, Captain, Commanding Detachment Tenth Illinois Cavalry. General CARR. No. 6. Reports of Brig. Gen. Napoleon B. Buford, U. S. Army, commanding District of Eastern Arkansas. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF EASTERN ARKANSAS, Helena, Ark., July 26, 1864. SIR: In order to ascertain the force and design of the enemy, yesterday at 4 p. m. I sent out a reconnoitering party of 280 of the Fiftysixth U. S. Colored Infantry, eighty of the Sixtieth, and one section of Lembke's colored battery, all under the command of Col. W. S. Brooks, of the Fifty-sixth, with orders to cross Big Creek at Wallace's Ferry, and co-operate with Major Carmichael, of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, who left at the same time with 150 men of his regiment, dropping down in a steamer below Old Town, and marching to Simms' Ferry, on Big Creek, to pass through Trenton, and co-operate with Colonel Brooks. All moved as was designed. The infantry and artillery crossed Big Creek at 5 this a. m. and learned that Colonel Dobbin was near there in force with three regiments estimated at 1,500 men. Brooks recrossed, Dobbin crossing lower down before him and attacking him in front and on his right flank with vigor. The assault was bravely resisted for three and a half hours against this great odds, when Major Carmichael, who heard the cannonading, recrossed Big Creek to this side and made a forced march, arriving at the critical moment, when Dobbin had marshaled his reserve and was about to make a final charge on our exhausted forces. Colonel Brooks, Captain Lembke, Adjutant Pratt, and Surgeon Stoddard had been killed, and Lieutenant Crane severely wounded. Carmichael charged right through Dobbin and at once changed the fortune of the day, our forces immediately assuming the offensive and marched homeward, the enemy giving way before them, but following up within nine miles of this place. The whole force returned in high spirits, having successfully combated more than three times their number, and leaving only about 50 killed and wounded, with a very slight loss of baggage, and one caisson and one limber that were blown up, owing to their horses having been killed. The colored troops fought like veterans, none flinched. Major Carmichael by his decision and energetic efforts saved the day. All the troops deserve praise. Major Carmichael captured 4 prisoners, from whom I learn that but for this reconnaissance Dobbin would have attacked the plantations below this place at daybreak to-morrow, and that Shelby is in force on the Spring Creek road, and it was expected that Dobbin would draw me out with a large part of my command, when Shelby would attack the batteries from the hills. I will soon make you more detailed reports of the exact losses. All the officers estimate the enemy's loss at about 150 killed and wounded. The artillery was nobly served by its brave commander, who has given his life to his country. In the loss of Colonel Brooks the army and the country will mourn a brave and gallant officer. The other officers who were killed died at the post of duty, leaving behind them spotless reputations. I again earnestly call General Steele's attention to the smallness of my cavalry and artillery force. But for this reconnaissance I should have had my hands full to-morrow. What may it bring forth? I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, N. B. BUFORD, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Lieut. Col. W. D. GREEN, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF EASTERN ARKANSAS, DEAR SIR: Soon after my dispatch of this date left, I learned by my returning forces that my troops, instead of disaster, made a glorious fight. The colored infantry, 360, and one section of colored artillery, all under the command of Col. W. S. Brooks, Fifty-sixth U. S. Colored Infantry, crossed Big Creek at 5 a. m., and learning the enemy were in force recrossed, and were attacked by Colonel Dobbin with three mounted regiments on the front and right. The assault was bravely resisted for three hours and a half, when Major Carmichael, commanding 150 men of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, who had crossed Big Creek at a point seven miles below the infantry, hearing the artillery, made a forced march, recrossed the creek, and came in to the relief of the infantry, just as they were being overpowered. Dobbin had a full regiment of his reserves brought forward to make a final charge on our exhausted forces, Colonel Brooks, Captain Lembke, of the artillery, Adjutant Pratt, and Lieutenant Crane having fallen, the first three killed and the latter severely wounded, and having lost about eighty killed and wounded, when Major Carmichael charged through his lines and turned the fortune of the day. Our forces returned here in good order, bringing off the killed officers and all the wounded, with very light loss of baggage. Surgeon Stoddard, of the Fifty-sixth U. S. Colored Infantry, was killed in the act of examining the mortal wound of his brave colonel. The officers report the enemy suffered the loss of at least 150 killed and wounded. All the command have returned in fine spirits, only mourning the gallant dead. Major Carmichael captured four prisoners, from whom I learn that it was the design of Dobbin to have overrun the leased plantations to-morrow at dawn and draw me out, and that Shelby's force are marching on me by the Spring Creek road. If this is true, except for this reconnaissance I would have had my hands full to-morrow morning. All the country are in arms. If you send me re-enforcements I shall march out and try to clear the country of the enemy. The colored troops, 280 of the Fifty-sixth, eighty of the Sixtieth, and Lembke's battery, have won great credit. I am, your friend and obedient servant, Maj. Gen. C. C. WASHBURN, N. B. BUFORD, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Commanding District of West Tennessee. |