Monthly Archives: April 2014

JENKIN’S FERRY, Ark. In the opening scenes of the movie “Lincoln,” the fighting sequences are supposed to dramatize the fighting at Jenkin’s Ferry in the mud and rain. The bottom land over which the forces actually fought might not have … Continue reading →

SALINE RIVER, Ark.  Union General Steele issued orders the night of April 28th that the column would again move out at 4:00a.m. the morning of April 29th.  This was accomplished with General Carr’s cavalry, again, taking the lead, with the … Continue reading →

OUACHITA and SALINE RIVERS, Ark.  On April 27th Confederate Commander Kirby Smith had ordered General Marmaduke to send a cavalry brigade, under General Greene, north to cross the Ouachita River at any point they could find. Greene was to proceed … Continue reading →

NORTH of CAMDEN, Ark.  The Union evacuation of Camden had occurred without a hitch.   The Confederates didn’t learn of the mass withdrawal until a few hours after the Union army had left Camden. It was the next morning, April 27th,before the … Continue reading →

CAMDEN, Ark.  The defeat at Marks Mills galvanized Union General Steele’s need for action. It also gave him the answer to his 3 questions: 1. Union gunboats couldn’t help him now. 2. He had too many Confederates confronting him to … Continue reading →

MARKS MILLS, Ark.  Early in the morning of April 25th, the Union cavalry detachment rode out to execute their patrol.  The first thing they encountered was Lt. Schrom’s buggy mired so deep in Moro Bottoms that it couldn’t be recovered. … Continue reading →

ON THE CAMDEN ROAD, Ark.  On April 24th, the Union wagon train was up and moving early.  The column made good headway and was not harassed by any Confederates during the day’s march. This didn’t bode well for the Union … Continue reading →

CAMDEN, Ark.  Before dawn, Lt. Col. Drake had his Union wagon train awakened and made ready for their trek to Pine Bluff. Drake had 1200 infantry – 240 cavalry troops under the command of Major McCauley – and 4 cannons … Continue reading →