O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLI/1 [S# 83]
AUGUST 15-24, 1864.--Ops. in SW Missouri and NW Arkansas ...
No. 1.--Report of Brig. Gen. John B. Sanborn, U.S. Army, commanding District of Southwest Missouri.
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SPRINGFIELD, MO., August 30, 1864.
Lieutenant Halsey and eighteen men of Capt. G. W. Edy's company of Arkansas militia attacked Captain Wilson's company of guerrillas, fifty strong, at Carrollton, Ark., on the 15th instant, and killed Captain Wilson and 3 of his men. Our loss, 1 man mortally wounded. The subsistence and ordnance trains for Fayetteville were attacked at Mud Town on the 24th instant by a force of ninety-five guerrillas. Our loss, 2 men mortally wounded, Second Arkansas Cavalry; enemy's loss unknown. Captain Hughes, Sixth Missouri State Militia Cavalry, with a portion of First Arkansas Cavalry, attacked Lieutenant Smith, in command of guerrillas, 125 strong, on Richland Creek, in Arkansas, on the 16th instant. The enemy's loss was 4 killed and 9 wounded and about 50 horses and horse equipments left at Fayetteville. Our loss, 1 man wounded. I hear of no armed rebels now in the district.
JOHN B. SANBORN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Maj. O. D. GREENE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

AUGUST 15-24, 1864.--Ops. in SW Missouri and NW Arkansas ...
No. 2.--Report of Lieut. Col. Albert W. Bishop, First Arkansas Cavalry (Union).
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK., August 17, 1864.
COLONEL: In accordance with your order of the 15th instant I proceeded at 1 a.m. of the 16th in search of a band of bushwhackers, known as Tuck. Smith's company. My command moved out promptly, intending to enter the haunts of this gang eastward of Fayetteville as soon as it would be possible to track them. At daybreak we were on the disputed ground, thirteen miles from this place, and very soon thereafter discovering their signs our march was quickened. The advance guard in particular, under Lieutenant Clark, First Arkansas Cavalry, was on the alert, and at 7 a.m. dashed up to the house of Royal Williams, on Richland Creek, in front of which from ten to fifteen saddled horses were tied. Their riders were eating breakfast at the time and were so completely surprised that they abandoned their horses and took immediately to the woods in rear of the house, passing through an adjacent corn-field that partially concealed their movements. But pursuit was active by both the advance guard and the main body of our forces, and before an escape could be effected two were killed and the party was scattered in every direction. All their horses and equipments were taken, and our men returning to the house finished the breakfast intended for the stampeders. From Williams' the command moved up Richland Creek and a mile distant encountered another squad, supposed to be commanded by Smith in person. Here a short fight took place with a portion of our main force, gallantly led by Major Galloway and Captain Worthington, First Arkansas Cavalry. For some minutes the bushwhackers stood firmly, partly concealed on a thickly wooded bluff, but a charge being ordered by the major they broke and fled over the hill. A mile farther on, near Phillips' Mill, another portion of the column, led by Lieutenant Riggs, Sixth Cavalry Missouri State Militia, met a party of seven, which were quickly dispersed with a loss of one killed. We now proceeded up the creek in the direction of Huntsville in search of a convenient place for foraging, looking well meantime to our flanks and rear. Near Green Gibson's, four miles from Phillips' Mill, our rear was fired upon by what was afterward ascertained to be the advance guard of a force following us, when I ordered a pursuit, which was promptly undertaken by the rear guard, commanded by Captain Hughes, Sixth Cavalry Missouri State Militia, and so vigorously prosecuted that after an exciting chase of a mile or more nothing could be developed but rising bushwhackers. Farther pursuit was useless in the condition of our horses and I ordered a recall. It was now 11 a.m. and neither men nor animals had eaten but little since the night before. I halted at Gibson's, rested, fed, and foraged until p.m., when the column moved eastward, the main body of the bushwhackers being known to be in that direction. Between 2 and 3 p.m., when near Phillips' Mill, we met the train of the First Arkansas Cavalry and learned that it had been fired on near one Andy Smith's, and a horse killed. As this occurred on our route, I pushed forward rapidly, when about 4 p.m. our advance was again fired upon by a party reported to be advantageously posted on a bluff that commanded the highway. It now seemed that more serious fighting was to be done than any that had yet occurred, and I made dispositions accordingly, detaching a strong party under Major Galloway to attack in rear. But these pests of the hills would not stand, and when the brow of the hill was reached they were nowhere to be seen. In this affair Lieutenant Riggs was cut off, and for an hour our apprehensions for his safety were serious. We had no more fighting. The bushwhackers had evidently been surprised, and our movements were such as to prevent a concentration of their forces. At times the bullets rattled like hail through the woods, and if no harm was done our men shot less accurately than usual. Several of the bushwhackers are in fact reported killed, and at one place a wagon is known to have been used to carry off the wounded. We captured 25 horses and mules. From the best information that I could gather, I do not think Smith can rally exceeding 125 men, and generally I believe his command to be much smaller than this. He changes his camping-ground frequently. His men are fed in small squads at different houses, and his horses forage off the country. As a leader he is active and dangerous, and must be proceeded against with great caution, and though his command has been dispersed, and he has acknowledged himself whipped, his final defeat I am convinced is yet to come. I camped at McGuire's Store and returned this morning. Our loss is 2 wounded--1 accidentally, and neither seriously.
I am much indebted for the success of the scout to Major Galloway, Captain Worthington, and Lieutenant Clark, First Arkansas Cavalry, and Captain Bivins, Independent Rangers. I desire also to make especial mention of Captain Hughes and Lieutenant Riggs, Sixth Cavalry Missouri State Militia, both of them officers admirably qualified for the dangerous and difficult warfare of the woods. The men throughout behaved bravely and well.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, yours,
A. W. BISHOP,
Lieutenant-Colonel First Arkansas Cavalry, Commanding.
Col. M. LA RUE HARRISON,
First Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers.