At 6am Thursday, 4/27/65, Lt. McConnell, Henderson's scouts, at Prattville, reported that "the larger portion of Smith's forces is camped one mile above Jackson's Ferry, Alabama river. They have pontooned the river to the west side, and commit all manner of depredations... No gunboats or transports yet arrived. Smith's army short of provisions, and will subsist on the country if their boats do not get up".

Wednesday, 5/10/65, Gen. Smith would report that "I sent the 1st division of my corps, Brig. Gen. J. McArthur commanding, to Selma, Ala.". The 1st and 2nd brigades, 1st division, XVI corps, marched from Montgomery via Prattville and Autaugaville to Selma, a 50 mile march that would take 4 days. The 3rd brigade travelled aboard transports for Selma directly, to which point they arrived the next day.