The Military Telegraph during the Civil War in the United States,
by William R. Plum,
Chicago, Jansen, McClurg & Company, Publishers. 1882, Page 335,
“September 2nd, (1863), Steele reported from Brownsville that he had pushed a party to fifteen miles of Little Rock: that he would either turn the works at Bayou Metoe on the north and west, or move rapidly across to Pine Bluff, on the Arkansas, crossing the river and advancing on Little Rock from the south side, which was wholly undefended, making Napoleon his base of supplies. The latter plan was substantially adopted, the army striking the river at Ashley’s Mills, where Davidson had a brush with the enemy.” About this time, General Grant started John E Smith’s division (four thousands strong, with two batteries) from Vicksburg, to reinforce Steele: not only did they not arrive in time, but Steele was forced to leave one brigade of infantry and a regiment of cavalry behind to guard the sick and trains. It was well that Kirby Smiths troops had not yet arrived. Nothing Daunted, Steele and Davidson pressed forward, fighting at the crossing of Bayou Fourche, on the tenth, and that evening entered Little Rock….”
Was the skirmish at Fourche Bayou and the fall of Little Rock an accident?
Was Steele actually in the process of changing his base to Pine Bluff to link up with General Smith's division coming from Vicksburg, to renew his attack once reinforced by Smith from the South? Or to possible move on Benton from Pine Bluff as Henry Merrill suggested in his autobiography?