The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

McRae vs. McCray

As if there wasn't enough confusion between Dandridge McRae and Thomas McCray in NE Arkansas, I read some accounts today that McCray said that he didn't get promoted to general because of a screw up that gave the promotion to Dandridge McRae instead. E. Kirby Smith recommended McCray.

Was McRae not recommended or nominated on his own merit or was this in fact a screw up.

Also, in 1895 or so McRae wrote an account of the fight at Fitzhugh's Woods. He said that McCray with about 200 well armed men were within a mile of the fight and at the time unknown to Union or Confederate participants. A few days later McRae gave command to McCray and McRae went south to have the hearing on the charges Holmes leveled against him at Helena.

If McCray was within a mile of the fighting, why did he not pitch in? Could it be a grudge from not getting his promotion?