As promised, here is the first “installment” of information I have from the “Fry Diary.”
It is well to remember that the following was written years after the actual events took place.
Retreat South from Prairie Grove
“Hindman withdrew his forces that night falling back in the direction of Van Buren. Hungry, sleepy and thoroughly exhausted from the fatigue of the march and the fight, the men trudged along slowly almost dead upon their feet. They had had nothing scarcely to eat for two days and had slept none for two nights. When we reached Van Buren a halt was made for a few days. That gave to the men a little rest which they were greatly in need of.”
Retreat from Ft. Smith to Little Rock has been posted.
Arrival in Little Rock
“On reaching Little Rock, we were marched through to the southern portion of the city and quartered for the time being in vacant houses as we could find them. After remaining thus quartered for a day or two, as many companies as it would hold were quartered in the state arsenal building. Although the weather was desperately rough, we were not permitted to remain here but a few days. Moving out still further to the southern suburbs of the town, we once more stretched our tents on the frozen ground having to rake away the snow to do so.”
After the fall of Little Rock on September 10, 1863
“September 16, 1863, reached Arkadelphia from Little Rock.”
“October 2, 1862, reached Camp Mitchell – remained till October 18 when moved to Camp Bragg reaching there on the 21st.”
February 1, 1863, Reached Camp Sumpter from Camp Bragg – four days march.”
Red River Campaign
“March 25, 1864, reached Shreveport where we camped until April 4.”
“April 4, 1864, left Shreveport area heading south toward Mansfield. Stopped at Keachie.”
April 8, Left Keatchi in the morning and reached Mansfield about sundown. Arrived to late to assist General Taylor in the fight, which took place that afternoon in the vicinity of that place. We struck up camps, drew 3 days rations, cooked them, and about 2:00 in the morning started in pursuit of the enemy who was falling back on Pleasant Hill. As we passed through the battleground on either side of the road could be seen the mangled bodies of mules and horses and the wreckage of disabled wagons. Passing on we beheld now and then the sad sight of a newly made grave where had been hastily deposited by their comrades the remains of a hero from the north who had found a last resting place among the magnolias and moss grown oaks of the sunny South. About 3:00 p.m. we struck the enemy at Pleasant Hill, a small village about 20 or 25 miles from Mansfield. They had hastily constructed some temporary breastworks, which was of some service to them in the approaching fight.”
Battle of Pleasant Hill
“Their first line was formed about 150 yards in advance of the breastworks. There was an old turned out field which had served in ante-bellum days as a cotton farm through which had been cut a ditch for drainage and which was fringed in places with saplings and undergrowth making it a strong natural position. Along this ditch their troops were compactly formed awaiting the on-set of the southern forces. Our battle line was formed along the skirt of timber fronting the ditch. When all was in readiness the order “forward march” was given. The troops moved off promptly until met by a volley from the enemy when a halt was made and a few rounds fired. Then the familiar Rebel yell rising upon the serene air of that April afternoon was wafted to listening ears of the soldiers in the ditch. Onward rushed the resistless tide of humanity accompanied by the thunderous roar of cannon and the ceaseless tread of man and beast. The on-set was such as no line of men however well disciplined cared to confront. Consequently they fell back to their works near the village. The Confederates leaped the ditch and pressed after them, but when near to the breast works of the enemy, was met by a cross fire so deadly as to cause a halt. The commander ordered us to fall back to a new position. The order was misunderstood by the men and a precipitate retreat ensued. Not so, however, on our left. There the troops stubbornly held their ground when about 2:00 that night the enemy retreated in the direction of Grand Ecore and Alexandria.
The fighting ceased between sundown and dark. When the Missouri troops retired from the field we fell back some miles that night, struck up camps and rested for a day or two. But we had not long to rest however for General Steele was marching down from Little Rock to cooperate with General Banks in an effort to take Shreveport.
To be continued…..