Anthony, great information.

While it is clear that the Pontoon Bridge at Longview was the main objective of Powell Clayton expedition, to disrupt the confederates movement because of Steele's Camden Expedition. He clearly was not expecting to find the large number of confederate troops and supplies there that he did.

I called the action a "lighting raid" because Clayton left majority of his forces guarding the Mt. Elba crossing and actually captured the Longview bridge with only 100 men, 50 men each from the 5th Kansas and 1st Indiana Cavalry. after riding a circular route of some 80 miles in 24 hours to reach Longview, by way of Marks Mill.

Col. Crawford's confederates had actually passed Clayton forces on the 28/29th. Crawford had left his baggage train at the Longview bridge while he and his command travel north on the Monticello to Pine Bluff rd. to harrass Powell Clayton at Pine Bluff, at the same time that Clayton was travelling south on the Pine Bluff to Warren Rd, to Mt. Elba.

Clayton wasn't expecting that many confederates at Longview and the only reason he got away with the plan was because so many confederate were wearing Union Uniforms that the confederates of the supply train thought the Yankee's were returning confederate troops.

The Union forces were clearly overextending in their capability at Longview, because they failed to capture the confederate steamer "Morgan Nelson" that was unloading corn at the landing at the time. Clearly a primary target had they expected it to be there.

Crawford upon hearing about Union troops being at Mt. Elba reversed his line of march and approached Mt. Elba from the East in the direction of Centerville. The Union 6 pieces of artillery (4-12# Mountain Howitzers and 2-1.5 inch Ellsworth Guns) proved to be more than Crawfords dismounted cavalry could handle.