Here's the report of Col. Powell Clayton, covering the Longview raid and the action at Mount Elba:

Headquarters, Pine Bluff, Ark., April 1, 1864.

Major: On the 24th of March, 1864, I received instructions from General Steele, through his chief of staff, to observe the enemy in the direction of Monticello and Camden, and if I found them retreating to press them with all of my available force, making the safety of this post the primary object. In obedience to said instructions I sent out Lieutenants Greathouse and Young, with 40 picked and well-mounted men, each with orders to penetrate the enemy's outer lines and hang upon the flanks of his camps until they could obtain definite information of his movements. On the evening of the 26th, Lieutenants Greathouse and Young returned, and expressed the opinion that the enemy was preparing to leave Monticello. I at once concluded to act upon this information. After some deliberation I concluded that to march directly against the enemy at Monticello would probably result in his retreating before me, crossing the Saline at Long View, destroying his pontoon bridge in his rear, and thus making good his escape. I therefore abandoned this plan and adopted the one of making a demonstration in the direction of Monticello, as if the whole force was advancing, at the same time advancing rapidly to Mount Elba, bridging the Saline, leaving infantry and artillery to hold the bridge, crossing with the cavalry, making demonstrations in the direction of Camden and Princeton, and at the same time moving rapidly with a small command to Long View, a distance from Mount Elba of 42 miles, destroying their bridge, and thus prevent their retreat, then recrossing the Saline and attacking the enemy with my whole command on the north side of the river. I accordingly organized an expedition consisting of the following troops: detachment of the Eighteenth Illinois Infantry, 7 commissioned officers and 230 enlisted men; detachment of the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry, 5 commissioned officers and 260 enlisted men; detachments of the First Indiana, Fifth Kansas, and Seventh Missouri Cavalry, amounting to 600 men, four mountain howitzers and two steel rifled guns, the infantry under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Marks, the cavalry under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins. I had also a small subsistence train and eight pontoons made for the occasion, mounted on wagon wheels. The infantry and train moved out about sunset of the 27th; also 100 cavalry, under the command of Lieutenants Greathouse and Young, in the direction of Monticello. The balance of the cavalry started at daylight the next morning. The whole command, with the exception of the cavalry sent in the direction of Monticello, arrived at Mount Elba about 4 p.m. of the 28th, drove in the enemy's picket, killing 1 and capturing 4; proceeded at once to the construction of the bridge, which was reported completed and in good order before midnight. Lieutenants Greathouse and Young came in during the night, and reported having driven in the enemy's pickets the night previous at Branchville; advanced to within sight of his camp-fires, built up large camp-fires of their own, sounded trumpets, &c. They gave the opinion that the enemy was completely misled as to our movements.

At daylight on the morning of the 29th, I left the infantry, three pieces of artillery, one squadron of cavalry, and the train at Mount Elba, Lieutenant-Colonel Marks commanding, with instructions to hold the bridge and observe the enemy closely in the direction of Monticello. I moved with the balance of my command across the Saline, in the direction of Camden, 8 miles, to the vicinity of Marks' Mills. In this neighborhood the roads from Camden, Princeton, Long View, and up the Saline converge. I made this the base of my cavalry operations, and sent Lieutenants Greathouse and Young, with 50 picked and well-mounted men, each with instructions to move with the utmost rapidity by the way of Warren to Long View, to destroy the pontoon bridge, the enemy's trains, &c. In the mean time, to cover the movement of Lieutenants Greathouse and Young, I sent a squadron of cavalry on the Camden road, the two Princeton roads, and up each side of the Saline River, with instructions to convey the idea that the whole command was advancing on each of these roads. These parties went out from 10 to 20 miles and returned the same day. Captain Pierce captured 6 prisoners on the road up the south bank of the Saline. Captain Young skirmished with a squadron of rebel cavalry on the Princeton road and captured 10 prisoners; he reported Shelby at Princeton. About 2 o'clock on the morning of the 30th, fearing that Lieutenant-Colonel Marks might not have sufficient cavalry to watch the enemy in the direction of Monticello, I sent Captain Barnes with a squadron of cavalry to report to him, with instructions to march at daylight in that direction. About 8.30 a.m. I received a report that Captain Barnes had met the enemy on the opposite side of the river, and had been driven in. I immediately sent Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins with the Fifth Kansas Cavalry to the assistance of Lieutenant-Colonel Marks. About 9.30 a.m. Lieutenants Greathouse and Young returned and reported the destruction of the bridge at Long View, the burning of a loaded train of 35 wagons, the capture of a large amount of arms and ammunition, about 260 prisoners, near 300 horses and mules, and a large number of contrabands. About this time artillery firing was heard in the direction of Mount Elba, and soon after a courier from Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins reported an engagement going on at that place. I immediately marched with my cavalry, with the utmost dispatch, to his assistance. Arriving at Mount Elba, I found that the enemy had been handsomely repulsed by Lieutenant-Colonels Jenkins and Marks, and had fallen back about a mile, followed by Majors Walker and Scudder with the Fifth Kansas Cavalry. I immediately joined the pursuit with all of my available cavalry. I found the enemy posted in thick timber, with an inclosed field, a peach orchard, betwixt his position and ours. I ordered my artillery in position, had the fence thrown down, and ordered the charge. The artillery opened at the same time; the men charged gallantly across the open field into the timber; the enemy broke in the wildest confusion, and from this out his retreat was a perfect rout. The road and timber were strewn with blankets, saddle-bags, hats, and guns, and prisoners were being constantly brought in and sent to the rear. The pursuit was vigorously kept up until we arrived at a point about 5 miles from Mount Elba, where the road crosses Big Creek. Here the enemy had succeeded in tearing up about 20 feet of the bridge, carrying off the plank. The creek could not be forded. We were consequently very suddenly and effectively checked. By the time we were ready to move again it was about 5 p.m., and by the time we arrived at Centreville, a point about 12 miles from Mount Elba, it was nightfall. The greater part of my cavalry was very much fatigued, and that portion which made the expedition to Long View was unable to move a step farther. The infantry with the prisoners and train was still behind. In view of the four hours' start the enemy had obtained by means of the obstruction at the bridge, and the incumbrance of our prisoners, who would be difficult to guard during a night march, I concluded to pursue any farther would be a useless tax upon the energy and endurance of my command. I accordingly went into camp and marched back to Pine Bluff, a distance of 28 miles, the next day.

The enemy's forces at Mount Elba consisted of Crawford's and Crockett's brigades, commanded by General Dockery in person. His defeat was thorough and complete, with a loss upon his part in killed, wounded, and missing, independent of the 260 captured at Long View, of over 160 men.

The Long View raid reflects the highest credit to Lieutenants Greathouse and Young, and for brilliancy and success is almost without a parallel. One hundred men (50 from the First Indiana and 50 from the Fifth Kansas Cavalry) marched 40 miles into the enemy's country, captured and destroyed a train of 35 wagons loaded with stores of great value to the enemy (their paymaster's safe containing over $60,000), destroyed their pontoon bridge over the Saline River, captured and brought to Mount Elba 260 prisoners, nearly 300 horses and mules, and a large number of contrabands, all, including the march of 80 miles to Long View and back, in the surprising short space of twenty-four hours. Our loss throughout the expedition was but 2 killed and 8 missing. The conduct of the officers and men throughout was most gallant and energetic, and deserves the highest commendation. I will take occasion in a special report to make mention of individual cases of meritorious and gallant conduct.

I am, very respectfully,
POWELL CLAYTON,
Colonel, Commanding.