Biographical and historical memoirs of northeast Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state biographies of distinguished citizens a brief descriptive history of the counties, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties. V. 1, Part 13

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

USA > Arkansas > Biographical and historical memoirs of northeast Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state biographies of distinguished citizens a brief descriptive history of the counties, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties. V. 1 > Part 13

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

the most of them that were preserved until after the war being now in Washington, and the pass- ing away of so many of the prominent participants, and a common fault of human memory, make it well-nigh impossible to gather for permanent form any satisfactory roster of the different Confederate commands or the order of their organization. No Arkansan so far, which is much to be regretted, has attempted to write a history of the State in the civil struggle.

Gov. J. P. Eagle happened to keep dupli- cates of certain reports he made while in the ser- vice, and discovered them recently where they had been laid away and forgotten among old papers. Fortunately when he made the reports the idea occurred to him to keep a copy for himself, that some day he might look over them and be inter- ested.

"This is a list of the killed and wounded in my regiment," he remarked, "the Second Arkansas, from May 8 to August 31, 1864, and the other is a report of the same from November 26, 1864, to March 21, 1865."

The Second Arkansas at the beginning of the war was a mounted regiment, commanded by Col. James McIntosh. It was dismounted early in the conflict. Col. McIntosh was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in the spring of 1862. He led his brigade bravely into the heaviest fighting at the battle of Elkhorn (Pea Ridge), where he was killed. He was succeeded by Col. Embry, who was soon after succeeded by Col. Flannagin, afterwards the "War Governor" of Arkansas. Flannagin was succeeded by Col. James William- son, who lost a leg at the battle of Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864. Col. J. T. Smith then became colonel. He was killed July 28 following, in the fight at Lick Skillet Road, and J. P. Eagle, now governor of Arkansas, became colonel. Col. Eagle had been wounded at Moore's Mills, and at the time of his promotion was not with the famous regiment. He remained in command until the regiment was consolidated with other regiments and the whole formed into one regiment, with Col. H. G. Bunn commanding. Gov. Eagle became lieutenant-colonel and George Wells, major.

The battle of Elkhorn checked the advance of Curtis' army into Arkansas, and the Federals re- mained hovering in the southwest of Missouri and northwest of Arkansas for some time. Immedi- ately after the fight Van Dorn's forces were with- drawn and taken east of the Mississippi to resist the Federal advance down the river to Vicksburg. Gen. T. C. Hindman returned and took command of the Confederates in Arkansas and established headquarters at Little Rock and slightly fortified the place.

Gen. Curtis then moved with the Federal army down the valley of White River, acting in con- junction with the river fleet, and when he reached Cotton Plant a flank attack was made on his army and the battle of Cotton Plant was fought. The Confederates were repulsed, and Curtis moved on and took possession of Helena, the Confederates retiring. Northern and Northeastern Arkansas were then in the possession of the Union army. The Federals were in the possession of the Missis- sippi down to a point just above Vicksburg. The Confederates made a futile effort to re-capture Helena, July 4, 1863, but heavy rains, swollen streams and impassable roads thwarted every move.

June 2, 1862, Gov. Rector issued the following:

"It being essential that but one military organization shall exist within the Trans-Mississippi department. all Arkansas troops are hereby transferred to the Confeder- ate service." (Signed) H. M. RECTOR,

Gov. & Prest. Mil. Board.

The authorities at Richmond, as well as in the Trans-Mississippi district, were anxiously awaiting news of the war steamer, "Arkansas," then build- ing up the mouth of Red River. June 2, 1862. she steamed out of that river and passed the fleet guarding the river for the purpose of capturing the rebel steamer. The attempt and success in run- ning the fiery gauntlet was one of the most exciting scenes ever witnessed on western rivers. Proudly the vessel kept on her course, sending volleys into every vessel to the right and left, and at nearly every turn of her wheels encountering new enemies. A Federal surgeon of the Union fleet said that wonderful trip of the "Arkansas" reminded him

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

of the Irishman's advice on going into the " free fight"-"wherever you see a head hit it." The Confederate reports say two Federal gun-boats were captured and others disabled.

August 7, following, the "Arkansas," when five miles above Baton Rouge on her way down the river, again encountered Federal gun-boats. Her machinery being disabled, after she had fought long and well, her crew "blew her up, and all escaped."

· January 3, 1863 Gen. J. M. Schofield wrote to Gen. Curtis, from Fayetteville. Ark. : "The oper- ations of the army since I left it have been a series of blunders, from which it narrowly escaped dis- aster * * At Prairie Grove (fought in Decem- ber, 1862) Blunt and Herron were badly beaten in detail and owed their escape to a false report of my arrival with re-enforcements." It now is revealed that Hindman did not know the extent of his victory, but supposed he was about to be overwhelmed by the enemy. Thus the two armies were as secretly as possible running away from each other.

July 13, 1863, Gen. E. Kirby Smith wrote from Shreveport, headquarters of the Trans-Mississippi district, to Govs. Thomas C. Reynolds, F. R. Lub- bock, H. Flannagin and Thomas O. Moore, calling on these, as the heads of their respective States, to meet him at Marshall, Tex., August 15, following: "I have attempted to impartially survey the field * I found on my arrival the headquarters of Arkansas district at Little Rock. * Vicksburg has fallen. The enemy possesses the key to this department. * * The possession of the Mississippi River by the enemy cuts off this department from all communication with Richmond, consequently we must be self- sustaining, and self-reliant in every respect. * * With God's help and yours I will cheerfully grapple with the difficulties that surround us." etc.

of my labor. *

This was a gloomy but a correct view of the situation west of the Mississippi River after the fall of Vicksburg.

On January 11, 1863, from Helena, Gen. Fiske reported to Washington: " Found Gorman actively organizing expedition to go up White River to

co-operate with Gen. McClernand on Arkansas River. Twenty-five transports are waiting the signal to start."

From "Prairie Landing, twenty-five miles up Arkansas, January 13, 1863," Amos F. Eno, sec- retary pro tem of Arkansas and adjutant-general, telegraphed Staunton: "Left Helena on 11th, and took with me books and papers of office of military government of Arkansas."

January 14, 1863, the Federals captured St. Charles, the Confederates evacuating the day before.

January 18, Gen. W. A. Gorman occupied Devall's Bluff, which the Confederates had also evacuated.

These captures and evacuations were the pre- liminary movements looking toward Little Rock, the Federals clearing out the small outposts, and the Confederates gathering in their forces.

On August 5, 1863, Gen. Frederick Steele "assumed the command of the army to take the field from Helena, and advance upon Little Rock."

In his order for movement mention is made of the following: First division-cavalry under command of Gen. J. W. Davidson; Second division -Eighteenth, Forty-third, Fifty-fourth, Sixty- first, One Hundred and Sixth, and One Hundred and Twenty-sixth regiments, Illinois Infantry; Twelfth Michigan, Twenty-second Ohio, Twenty. seventh Wisconsin, Third Minnesota, Fortieth Iowa and Forty-third Indiana Infantry regiments: Third division-Twenty ninth, Thirty-third and Thirty-sixth Iowa, Forty-third Indiana. Twenty- eighth Wisconsin, and Seventy-first Ohio Infantry regiments; and the Fifth Kansas, First Indiana Cavalry, and a brigade under Col. Powell Clayton. Four batteries of field pieces -- five wagons to each regiment: 160 rounds of ammunition, 40 rounds to each cartridge-box; 400 rounds to each piece of artillery, and sixty days' rations for the whole army, were the supplies granted these forces.

Gen. Steele was occupied in the expedition from Helena to Little Rock, from August 5 to Sep- tember 10. The cavalry under Gen. Davidson had to scour the country to the right and left as they made their slow advance. Twelve miles east of Little Rock, at Bayou Meta bridge, was a heavy

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

skirmish. indeed, a regular battle, being the first serious effort to check the Federal advance upon the capital. Again there was heavy fighting six miles east of Little Rock, at what is now the Brugman place. Here Confederate Col. Coffee, of Texas, was killed. This was the last stand made in defense of the city, and in a short time Davidson's cavalry appeared in Argenta, and trained their field pieces on the city, and fired a few shots, when the place was surrendered by the civil authorities, September 10, 1863. The Con- federates had evacuated but a few hours before the Federal cavalry were galloping through the streets, and posting sentinels here and there.

There was no confusion, no disorder, and none of the usual crimes of war under similar circum- stances. In an hour after Gen. Steele was in possession of the city he had it under strict con- trol, and order prevailed. Gen. Reynolds was put in command of Little Rock. *

The Confederates wisely retreated to Arkadel- phia. They were pursued by the Federals as far as Malvern, but no captures were made and no heavy skirmishing occurred.

It is said that Price evacuated Little Rock un. der the impression that his force was far inferior to that of Gen. Steele. Those who were Confeder- ate officers and in Little Rock now believe that his force was equal at least in numbers to Steele's.

*Abstract from consolidated tri-monthly report of the Army of Arkansas, Maj. - Gen. Frederick Steele command- ing, for September 10, 1863: headquarters, Little Rock:

Present for duty.

Command.

Officers.

Men.

Aggregate pres't.

Aggregate pres'nt

and absent.

Pieces of artillery.

First Division ( Davidson).

200 3,328

5,272

*,725

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140: 2.047

6,885

Third Division ' Rice ).

123

1,683

4,007

Infantry Brigade (Truer

59'

1,290

3,250

2,825

Cavalry Brigade ( Clayton)

30.

445

1,200

Artillery ( Hayden).

495

814:

Cavalry escort ( McLean)

Total

619 9,854.

14,362

23,6201

Gen Price had not made a mistake of the comparative strength of the two armies. The commissary informs me that on the morning of the evacuation he issued 8,000 rations-full number.

They think that Price had based his idea of the enemy's numbers by allowing the usual propor- tion of armies of infantry and artillery to cavalry. They believe also that the Confederates at Little Rock at the evacuation had between 11.000 and 12,000 men present-not the number for duty --- basing this upon the number of rations issued that day.

After the occupation of Little Rock the Federals dominated all that portion of the State north and east of the Arkansas River, and yet their actual occupied posts were the only grounds over which Confederate rangers were not frequently roving with impunity.

The Confederates exercised ruling power all south and west of the Ouachita River, and for quite a while the territory between the Arkansas and Ouachita Rivers was a kind of "No Man's Land" so far as the armies were concerned.

Steele early in 1864, having been re-enforced, began to move on Arkadelphia. Price retreated to Camden, where the Confederates had several fac- tories for the manufacture of war materials.

Price made a stand against Steele and fought the battle of Prairie D'Ann. but there was noth- ing decisive in this engagement. although it was a severe one. Price withdrew and fell back on Rondo, in the southwest corner of the State.

In the meantime Banks' expedition was as- cending Red River, the plan being to catch Price between Banks and Steele, and destroy the Con- federate army. Price and Gen. Dick Taylor did not wait for Banks, but met and overwhelmingly defeated him. Having defeated Bauks, they turned and gave Steele battle at Jenkins' Ferry, and de- feated him. This was the great and decisive bat- tle of the Trans-Mississippi distriet.

Steele retreated and fell back on Little Rock, his superior generalship being shown in extricat. ing his badly crippled army and saving it on the withdrawal.

The Federal expeditions were well planned for "bagging" the whole Confederate Trans- Mississippi army, but the vicissitudes of war ordained other- wise. Banks' expedition and its overwhelming mis. fortunes ruined him as a military man throughout

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

the North, while the brilliant successes of Price raised the hopes of the Confederacy. Some, how- ever, still criticise.

Price failed to follow up his advantage and either destroy or capture Steele's entire army. Had he fully known the condition of affairs at Richmond possibly he might have adopted that course. The Federals were confined within their fortified posts and Confederate bands were again scouring over the State.

Price, losing no time, then started on his raid back into Missouri to carry out his long cherished hope of re-possessing that State. The history of that raid and the dissolution and end of the Con- federacy are a familiar part of the country's history.

Other wars than that mentioned have occupied the attention of people of this section. though perhaps not to such an extent as the great civil strife. There were not people in Arkansas to go to the War of 1812, and the State becomes con- nected with that struggle chiefly because Archibald Yell, the brave young hero, was at the battle of New Orleans, and afterward became one of the most prominent citizens of Arkansas. He was born in North Carolina, in August, 1797, and consequently was but fifteen years of age when the second war with England began. But the lad then and there won the inalienable friendship of Gen. Jackson.

Arkansas acquired no little fame in the Mexican War, chiefly, however, through the gallantry and death of Gov. Yell, the leader of the Arkansas forces. When troops were called for in the year 1846, in the war with Mexico, Yell was a member of Congress. A regiment of cavalry was raised and he was asked to take the command, and obedi- ent to this request he promptly resigned his seat to assume leadership. Albert Pike was a captain in the regiment.

At the battle of Buena Vista, on February 22. 1847, Yell led his cavalry command in one of the most desperate charges in the annals of war. In his enthusiasm he spurred on his horse far in advance of his men. He was charging the enemy. which outnumbered his force more than five to one. He reached the ranks of the enemy almost

alone, and raising himself in the saddle commenced to slash right and left, totally unmindful that it was one against thousands. Just as the foremost of his men came up he was run through the body and killed. William A. L. Throckmorton. of Fayette- ville, it is agreed, was the first to reach the side and catch the falling form of his loved leader. Mr. Throckmorton says he saw the man who gave the fatal thrust and quickly killed him, thus avenging so far as the wretched greaser's life could go the life of as gallant and noble a knight as ever re- sponded to bugle call. He was the dashing cava- lier, great in peace, superb in war. Leading his trusty followers in any of the walks of life. death alone could check him, nothing could conquer him.

After the war was over the government brought his remains and delivered them to his friends in Fayetteville, his home, who lovingly deposited them beneath the cold white marble shaft which speaks his fame. The burial ceremony occurred August 3, 1847, and a vast concourse of people, the humblest and highest in the State, were the sincere and deep mourners on the occasion.

Arkansas won everlasting laurels through its gallant soldiers in the Mexican War.

Omitting all reference to the Revolutionary War, there are conclusions to be drawn from the wars our countrymen have been engaged in since the days when Gen. Jackson was the national hero. None of these were significant enough to be used by the philosophie historian from which to draw conclusions as to the character of modern or contemporary Americans as warriors, or their dis- tinguishing characteristics as a warlike nation The late Civil War, however, furnishes a wide and ample field for such investigation. An impartial view of the late struggle presents first of all this remarkable fact. In by far the longest and great- est war of modern times, neither side has given the age a great captain, as some call greatness, though one furnished Grant, the other, Lee, both men without a superior; whilst in the ranks and among the sub commands, no battles in history are at all comparable for excellence and superior soldiership to those of the great Civil War. On both sides there were any number of great field

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

commanders, as great as ever drew a sword. But they received orders, did not give them, and in the execution of orders never were excelled. Lee, Grant, Jackson, Sherman, Hancock, Johnston, Sheridan and hundreds of others on both sides, to the humblest in the ranks, were immortal types of the soldier in the field. These men were like Napoleon's marshals-given a command or order they would risk life itself to execute it. But on neither side was there the least exhibition of the qualities of a Napoleon or Von Moltke.

Napoleon was his own secretary of war, gov- ernment, cabinet, and commander in the field, and for this very reason, he was Von Moltke's inferior as a great commander, whose genius saw the weak point, the point of victory on the map of the enemy's country, and struck it with a quick and decisive blow.

Our Civil War and the Franco-German War were closely together in time. War was hardly over in America when it commenced in Europe. Any student of German history who has studied the German-Prussian war, can not but know that Von Moltke was the pre-eminent captain in all the his- tories of wars. Had Washington or Richmond had his peer at the commencement of our struggle, the high probabilities are that the war would have been over before the first twelve months had ex- pired.

In war, it is a fact, that it is the strategy be- fore the armies meet in battle array which decides the struggle. It is only thus that one man can

become more powerful than a million with guns in their hands. It is in this sense-this application of the science of modern warfare, that a com- mander wins battles and decides victories. He conquers enemies, not by drawing his sword, but, studying his maps in his quiet den when others sleep, he directs the movements of his armies and leaves the details of the actual fight to others. He is indifferent to the actual fighting part of it, be- cause he has settled all that long beforehand by his orders.

In all actual battles, as was testified by the Federal commanders before Congress about the battle of Gettysburg, if victory is not organized beforehand, all is chance, uncertainty, and both armies are little else than headless nobs-ignorant of whether they are whipping or being whipped. The field commander may save the day and turn the tide and gain a victory, but what is it after all. -so many men killed and captured on either side. and then recruited up, and rested a little, only to repeat the bloody carnage again and again.

Let it be assumed that the absence of great mil- itary genius on both sides is the highest compli- ment that can be paid to American civilization. War is barbarism. The higher civilization will eradi- cate all practical knowledge of the brutality of warfare from men's minds. Then there will be no wars, save that of truth upon the false-intelli- gence upon ignorance How grandly divine will be, not only the great leaders in this holy struggle for victory, but the humblest of all privates!

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CHAPTER X.

PUBLIC ENTERPRISES -- THE REAL ESTATE BANK OF ARKANSAS -- STATE ROADS AND OTHER HIGHWAYS -- THE MILITARY ROADS -- NAVIGATION WITHIN THE STATE FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE PRESENT-DECADENCE OF STATE NAVIGATION-STEAMBOAT RACING-ACCIDENTS TO BOATS-THE RISE AND GROWTH OF THE RAILROAD SYSTEMS-A SKETCH OF THE DIFFERENT LINES-OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS.

From the blessings they bestow Our times are dated, and our eras move .- Prior.

HE first session of the new State legislature, among other acts, incorporated the State Bank, and as if fur- ther determined to show that the legislature was at least in the front in those days of wild-cat bank enterprises, proceeded to make money cheap and all rich by incorporating the celebrated Real Estate Bank of Arkansas. Already John Law's Mississippi bubble had been for- gotten-the old continental money and the many other distressing instances of those cruel but fas- cinating fictions of attempts to make credits wealth. No statesman in the world's history has ever yet made an approach to the accomplishment of such an impossibility, and still nearly all financial legislation is founded upon this basic idea. State and national banks have been the alluring will-o'-the-wisps in this per- sistent folly. All experience teaches that the government that becomes a money-changer soon becomes the powerful robber, and the places of just rulers are filled with tax bandits-there the

lordly rulers are banditti, and the people the most wretched of slaves.

The State Bank was, as were all such institu- tions of that day in any of the States, demoraliz- ing in the financial affairs of the people, encourag- ing extravagance and debt, and deceiving men with the appearances of wealth to their ultimate ruin.

The Real Estate Bank, as its name indicates, was for the purpose of loaning money on real estate security. Up to that time the American farmer had not learned to base his efforts upon any- thing except his labor. To produce something and sell it was the whole horizon of his financial educa- tion. If, while his crop was maturing, he needed subsistence he went to his merchant and bought the fewest possible necessities on credit. It was an evil hour when he was tempted to become a speculator. Yet there were some instances in which the loans on real estate resulted in enabling men to make finely improved cotton plantations. But the rule was to get people in debt and at the same time exhaust the cash in the bank. The bank could collect no money, and the real estate owner was struggling under mortgages he could not pay. Both lender and borrower were sufferers. and the double infliction was upon them of a public and individual indebtedness. The Real Estate

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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS.

Bank made an assignment in 1842, and for years was the source of much litigation. It practically ceased to do business years before it had its doors closed and was wound up, and the titles to such lands as it had become the possessor of passed to the State.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of northeast Arkansas : comprising a condensed history of the state biographies of distinguished citizens a brief descriptive history of the counties, and numerous biographical sketches of the prominent citizens of such counties. V. 1, Part 13

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis : The Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1026