They did not intend to capture and hold Pine Bluff. That was not the military purpose of "Cavalry". The Union Cavalry at Pine Bluff (5th Kansas and 1st Indiana) were there as a Guard outpost for Little Rock, and therefore a target of oppertunity for Gen Maraduke. The Horses, equipment and weapons which were inside the Cotton Bale fort were the only things of value, to the Confederates, which were not either captured or destroyed. However there was a plan in December of 1863 from Pres. Jefferson Davis and Gen'l Kirby Smith for Gen'l T.H. Holmes to occupy and hold Pine Bluff to draw Gen'l Steele out of Little Rock to gain and advantage over Steele. But that did not happen because of Gen'l Holmes reluctance.
Recently there has been discovered a 10 page account of the Battle written by a Union Officer who interviewed the Union soldier immediately after the Battle that has come to our knowledge which adds much more detail to the Battle and changes some of the previously assumed "facts" of the conduct as given in the "Official" reports, Including the hanging of citizens who aided the Confederates during the attack.
Another different account of Sgt Augustus Bondi of Co. "K" of the 5th Kansas Cav. tells of the Union Sargeants use of the negro Contraband to fight the fires in a dangerous situations that got most of them shot and killed when the Union Officers refused to do so with the white soldiers for that reason. Can you say "Cannon Fodder". Sgt Bondi had been a Kansas border raider with the infamous John Brown and took part in the Raid and Murders in Osawatomie, Kansas.
There is a much different tale to be told about the Battle of Pine Bluff than has been popular since the first very basic account was written By Mr. Ed Bearss in 1964 and following accounts being rewrittern from that.
The Battle of Pine Bluff is unique in that it is one of the few battles anywhere during the War that was fought on the main streets of an Occupied town. Gettysburg is the only other Town that I can think of off hand, but by the time that the Confederates got into Gettysburg itself the fighting was pretty much over and the Union Army in full retreat.