Gen. McClernand's Attack definantely wasn't condoned by the Higher Commands of the Union Army. In fact I believe McClernand had proposed an Attack earlier upon the Post, and either Grant or Sheridan one or the other had Nixed the idea as unproductive and as an unnecessary use of forces. So, I am sure that Gen. McClernand wasn't interested in his commanding generals finding out his plans. Hence, the quickness of his expedition.

Now, the question is did the Confederates find out about his preparations beforehand and make preparation to meet it?

The thing that makes me think so is the fact that on Dec 26th, 1862 preparatory orders were issued for Walker's Texans to move from Winter Quarters (unusual in winter) at Camp Nelson to Pine Bluff? The men griped bitterly about this. This was about two weeks before the Post Battle.

Did the Capture of the Union Steamboat mentioned earlier cause a stir of Union activity that Gen. Holmes or Churchill found out about? OR, was this Dec. 26th, order to Walker's Division part of a normal planned "housekeeping" movement to support Arkansas Post?

Since prior to Dec 26th Gen. Holmes had appearently been somewhat engrossed with activities in other parts of the State, such as Northwest Arkansas. He seemed to have left things at The Post in the hands of Gen. Churchill. Basically Walker's Texans had been left near Little Rock for it's defence. So why the sudden change of "plans" and movement of this division south. It seems that Churchill or Holmes was wanting to mass his command a little more closely for some reason.

But the general rule during the WBTS was that you didn't move troops in bad winter weather unless there was a very good reason. It was just hard to do because of bad roads. The Union forces had the advantage of river transports and so weren't so restricted. Yet the Confederates were almost in position to support Arkansas Post. This all seems kind of coincidental if Churchill didn't have any knowledge of the possibility of a pending attack.

Just my thinking. But, I believe that there was more of a possibility that Gen Churchill knew more about the coming events than previously thought.