The main reason for the Fort Smith situation was difficulty in keeping the post supplied. The Arkansas river was an unreliable supply route, being broad & shallow for most of the year. A large wagon train had been sent from Little Rock to Smith in October of 1864, but a wagon train could only deliver a drop in the bucket of what they actually needed. A boat could deliver tons of supplies, but it was very difficult to accomplish. In the winter of 1864 the area was full of starving refugees, the troops were on quarter rations, the Forts horses had starved or been shot for lack of feed. This is what brought this whole situation about.