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Re: Battles of Helena and Jenkins Ferry

Tomas, here is the description of the battery that fought at Big Creek, from Dyer's Compendium:

BATTERY "E," 2nd REGIMENT LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Organized from 3rd Battery Louisiana Artillery, African Descent. Designated Battery "C" March 11, 1864, and Battery "E" April 26, 1864. Attached to District of Eastern Arkansas, 7th Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to September, 1865.
SERVICE.--Post and garrison duty at Helena, Ark., till muster out. Operations in Arkansas July 1-31, 1864. Action at Wallace's Ferry, Big Creek, July 26. Operations in Eastern Arkansas August 1-5, 1864. Lamb's Plantation, near Helena, August 1. Expedition from Helena to Kent's Landing August 11-14 (Detachment). Expedition up White River August 29-September 2, 1864. Mustered out September 26, 1865.

And here is how Gen. N.B. Buford, commander of the district of eastern Arkansas, described Lembke in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion following Lembke's death at Big Creek:

And how shall we mourn the gallant Capt. James F. Lembke? He was a youthful foreigner, but he became a true American citizen. He enlisted as a private at the breaking out of the rebellion in Taylor's (Chicago) battery. He fought at Belmont, Donelson, Shiloh, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, and Vicksburg. He was so brave and intelligent that he was made captain of Battery E, Second U.S. Colored Artillery (light), and came here with orders to enlist and organize his battery. We have witnessed his success and faithfulness. Early in the action of the 26th instant, at the post of duty, he fell mortally wounded. The Swedes in America have given us no better soldier. They and we shall cherish his fame.

Finally, here is the official report of that battle.

ULY 1-31, 1864.--Operations in Arkansas.
No. 9.--Report of Lieut Harmon T. Chappel, Battery E, Second. U. Colored light Artillery.

HDQRS. BATTY. E, SECOND U.S. COL. ARTY. (LIGHT),
Helena, Ark., July 29, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report that on the evening of July 25, at 4.30 p.m., in company with Colonel Brooks, of the Fifty-sixth U.S. Colored Infantry, in command of detachments from the Fifty-sixth and Sixtieth U.S. Colored Infantry, with one section of Battery E, Second U.S. Colored Artillery (light), commanded by Capt. J. F. Lembke, we moved out on the Little Rock road with orders to guard the crossing at Big Creek, eighteen miles from this place.
We proceeded without delay as ordered until 9 p.m., when we halted one hour to rest and get supper, and again moved forward until 3 a.m. 26th instant, within half a mile of Big Creek, where we halted till daylight. At daylight, leaving the transportation, two caissons and the rifled gun, with parts of two companies of infantry, we moved ahead and took position at the crossing of Big Creek, while Colonel Brooks with part of the infantry crossed over to make a reconnaissance. In less than an hour he returned, reporting no enemy in that vicinity, and at once ordering the force left in the rear forward, and that breakfast be got and the teams watered and fed. Before the teams were all un-hitched it was rumored that the enemy was advancing upon our rear. I at once got the rifled gun into position about 200 yards from the creek and facing our left, and awaited their approach. The enemy were concealed in the thick timber and were within 150 yards of us before I opened on them, when they charged with a yell, but being well supported by Captain Brown, of the Sixtieth, with sixteen men, and Captain Patten, of the Fifty-sixth, with twenty-five men, and using canister rapidly and carefully, we repulsed them. They next took position behind the work forming the bridge over the low ground, which compelled the infantry on my right to fall back, being thus left without support on my right or left I fell back and joined the main force, at once reporting to Captain Lembke, who was on the right with the howitzer. Before he had given me any instructions he was shot dead, this about half an hour after the first gun was fired. I at once ordered the rifled gun to support the left under Sergeant Graham, and went to assist my men on the right. From this time until 11 a.m., we kept up a brisk fire, when we were joined by Major Carmichael, of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, with about 100 men of his command. After holding a consultation the officers concluded to fall back, as the enemy would soon be re-enforced by troops from General Shelby's command. Having six horses killed and seven badly wounded it was impossible to bring off my caissons, and just at starting two other horses were shot, which forced me to leave all but my two guns and one limber.
The casualties were as follows: Killed, Capt. J. F. Lembke; mortally wounded, Corpl. William Smizer, and left on the field, mortally wounded, Private Robert Jenkins, since dead; slightly wounded, Privates Thomas Thomas and Jacob Early; missing, Private Thomas Jeff. Green.
During the whole fight the colored men stood up to their duty like veterans, and it was owing to their strong arms and cool heads, backed by fearless daring, alone that I was able to get away either of my guns. They marched eighteen miles at once, fought five hours, against three to one, and were as eager at the end as at the beginning for the fight. Never did men, under such circumstances, show greater pluck or daring.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. T. CHAPPEL,
First Lieutenant.
Capt. T. C. MEATYARD,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Dist. of Eastern Arkansas.

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