Doyle, if your conjecture about Churchill having some intelligence about McClernand's impending attack is correct, that might explain Secretary of War Seddon's apparent "gut feeling" about Churchill in his note to President Davis in a whole new light --

"The strange circumstances causing the capture of the Arkansas Post demand investigation. I recommend a court of inquiry, and that meanwhile Colonels Garland and Wilkes, and I incline to think General Churchill likewise, should be relieved from their present commands over the men surrendered."

Interesting possibility.