Campden Expedition 19th Arkansas Infantry Regiment (Dockery's)

1 campden expedition

1.1 expedition mount elba
1.2 battle of prairie d ane
1.3 battle of poison spring
1.4 battle of jenkins ferry

campden expedition

after being exchanged , reorganized regiment, along rest of dockery s brigade, saw extensive action during camden expedition @ battles of prairie d ane, marks mills, , jenkins ferry.

the expedition mount elba

the 1864 camden expedition part of two-pronged strategy union army drive confederate resistance out of southwestern arkansas , northern louisiana, , penetrate confederate texas. union major general frederick steele led union force little rock on march 23, 1864, objective of joining forces major general nathaniel prentice banks @ shreveport, louisiana. confederate forces in arkansas directed washington, confederate government of state relocated after fall of little rock.

in support of general steele s movements toward arkadelphia, arkansas, union colonel powell clayton, stationed @ pine bluff, decided conduct attack colonel dockery s forces @ monticello. clayton had received information dockery leave monticello oppose steele s movement. expedition mount elba began on march 27, 1864 when powell s forces under left pine bluff. colonel clayton s force consisted of elements of eighteenth illinois infantry, twenty-eighth wisconsin infantry, fifth kansas cavalry, first indiana cavalry, seventh missouri cavalry (us), totaling approximately 237 men.

major general sterling price, commander of confederate district of arkansas, had ordered general dockery harass rear flanks of union troop movements , attack union supply trains. general dockery s forces consisted of own brigade , elements of colonel crawford’s arkansas cavalry brigade, including poe’s , mcmurtrey’s cavalry battalions. unfortunately, price reported, before brigadier-general dockery execute order on march 29 attacked @ mount elba party of enemy pine bluff , routed. @ same time captured @ long view entire train (twenty-six wagons) , 200 prisoners. col. clayton, commanding expedition pine bluff, destroyed pontoon bridge @ longview--burned train of thirty-five wagons loaded camp , garrison equipage, ammunition, quartermaster s stores, etc., , captured on 3 hundred prisoners.....he engaged dockery s division, of 1200 men, monticello, on morning of 30th ult., routed , pursued him ten miles, loss on side of on 1 hundred killed , wounded--capturing large quantity of small arms , 2 stands of colors. our loss did not exceed fifteen in killed, wounded , missing.....three hundred horses , mules , many wagons captured. col. clayton expedition has added fresh laurels brow. worthy of honor, , deserving highest reward @ hands of government. has been in every instance successful , promoted rank of brigadier general valiant service union cause. justly deserves honor.

battle of prairie d ane

confederate major general sterling price ordered brigadier general john s. marmaduke harry union column , prevent crossing little missouri river moved toward washington. advance union forces clashed confederate defenders in battle of elkin s ferry on april 3. outnumbered confederates forced withdraw, , general marmaduke established defensive position, lightly fortified earthworks, on road between elkin s ferry , washington @ western edge of sparsely-populated prairie d ane, circular area of prairie surrounded woodlands.

after waiting arrival of reinforcements, general steele advanced on april 9, stopped in battle of prairie d ane, series of encounters ended on april 12. general dockery s brigade assisted marmaduke s division in prairie d ane, 9–12 april. after making feint in direction of confederate state capital @ washington, arkansas, steele turned , occupied camden, on april 15, in order resupply army, on half-rations. price had stripped camden of personnel in order defend washington, , union forces occupied city against no significant opposition.

battle of poison spring

after two-day wait, general steele sent out foraging parties countryside , awaited news banks. however, banks in retreat, having been defeated @ battle of mansfield, , more of kirby smith s forces heading arkansas intercept steele. dwindling supplies army @ camden forced steele send out 1,200-man foraging party gather corn confederates had stored twenty miles away. after loading corn on 200 wagons , proceeding 5 miles on april 18, col. james m. williams s party savagely attacked john marmaduke s division, assisted 19th arkansas part of dockery s brigade @ battle of poison spring. williams forced retreat northward marsh, men regrouped , fell camden, minus wagonloads of needed corn.

battle of jenkins ferry

steele relieved on april 20 when wagon train arrived pine bluff welcome supplies. 1 week later, battle of marks mills resulted in capture of 2,000 more of steele s men , many more wagons. steele decided abandon camden under cover of darkness , retreated toward little rock on april 26. 3 days later, reached saline river @ jenkins ferry , began constructing pontoon bridge. smith s confederates arrived on april 30 , repeatedly attacked retreating federals in windy , rainy conditions.

colonel h. g. p. williams, of 19th arkansas, led dismounted casuals of dockery s brigade on left of churchill s division during battle , filed following report of operations:

i carried action 400 men, divided 4 small detachments, commanded respectively capt. s drewry , etris, maj. southerland, , lieut. gillespie, composing infantry portion of brig.-gen. dockery s brigade. being temporarily detached division, ordered gen. smith cross large creek or bayou, , moved rapidly down on left until engaged enemy. had moved 1,000 yards when skirmishers engaged of enemy, , line continuing advance, engagement became general. after severe contest of thirty minutes succeeded in driving him before me until entirely disappeared in under-brush. again advanced , cautiously, desultory firing, until engagement again became general, , lasting 1 hour, heavy musketry on each side; again driven , fire virtually silenced. @ stage of battle ordered staff officer of gen. smith withdraw forces , recross creek first entered bottom. fought advantages, command being in brush , thick timber, while heaviest body of enemy occupied left corner of open field across creek, upon whom fire principally directed.... ....i cannot refrain noticing action of lieut. gillespie, twelfth battalion sharpshooters, commanding detachment, on field. activity , daring particularly conspicuous, , respectfully urge promotion not bestowed upon more worthy or efficient officer. capt. franklin, first battalion dismounted cavalry, commanding company, deserves highest praise conduct. ....my loss 1 killed, 14 wounded, , 1 missing

colonel steele repulsed confederate attacks , crossed left of force, destroying bridge prevent smith following. compelled abandon of remaining supply wagons in swamp north of river. badly chagrined steele reached base @ little rock arsenal on may 3.

on may 8, 1864, brigadier general t.j. churchill reported strength of dockery s brigade 870 effectives of 900 assigned.

on 25 june 1864, union intelligence report placed dockery s brigade including 900 paroled , exchanged prisoners @ washington, arkansas.