The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duvallâ

I am looking for additional information on Shelby's Operations between Little Rock and Duvall’s Bluff in late summer of 1864.

HEADQUARTERS DIST. ARK’S. }
CAMDEN, 16th September, 1864. }
GENERAL ORDERS No. 49.
The Major General commanding this District announces with pride to the troops one of the most gallant exploits and successful expeditions of the war. The capture of five forts by the heroic Shelby and his brave officers and men in the face of superior numbers, and the destruction of a large portion of the rail-road between Little Rock and Duvall’s Bluff. The eloquent report of Shelby will best inform his comrades how this was done. The following is his language:
My forlorn hope of our advance under the brave and intrepid Williams immediately charged the retreating enemy, and a wave of steel overlapped and swallowed up the flying blue coats. The fort was surrounded, the artillery opened at point-blank range, and high over the white bursts of the powder cloud, that drifted and floated away before the battle breeze, a white flag waved out as a token of surrender. The results of this capture were 150 prisoners, 200 small arms, besides large quantities of supplies.
Station No. 2 was next attacked, captured and destroyed, and 100 more prisoners added to the first.
Station No. 3 shared the same fate, while 50 more prisoners swelled the (______).
Station No.’s 4 and 5 were stubborn and defiant, and held on for awhile (______) cannon and artillery fire. Veteran Illinois and Indiana in- (________) in these (_____) and had a hatred of surrendering, although we had never asked them to do so. Time pressed. Five hours had been spent in these operations, and I could not wait. Col. Shanks commanding my old Brigade, than whom a braver nor a better man never set a squadron in the field, was ordered to dismount his command. Col. Jackman also dismounted a portion of his Brigade, and these forming as infantry with Col. Shanks, dashed forward under their intrepid leader as the pas de charge, while a strong body of cavalry were held well in hand for any emergency. The garrison grew uneasy, but over the sea of dark green prairie, over the white puffs of the bursting bombs, and the rippling shots of the skirmishers, a long blue line of Federal cavalry and infantry cam looming up, and as they grew nearer and nearer, out from the doomed forts the garrison rushed with frantic speed for help and hope. Too late! As the dismounted men gained the ditches and the palisades, the reserved cavalry, whose steeds had all the long forenoon been champing impatient bits, dashed away after them in a long fierce gallop. Sharp and brief the chase. When within five hundred yards of their friends, the Federals were overtaken, surrounded, ridden over, and Col. Mitchell and four hundred and fifty of his officers and men surrendered unconditionally. They were immediately countermarched and double-quicked to the rear, the bullets of their friends all the while ringing a fierce discordant metre.
The immediate and tangible fruits of my expedition are 577 prisoners, including one field officer and eleven line officers, over 250 Federals killed and wounded, ten miles of railroad track completely destroyed, bridges and trestle-work ruined, 3000 bales of hay consumed by fire, 20 hay machines chopped to pieces, five forts razed to the ground, 500 stand of small arms distributed to my unarmed men, many fine horses captured, 12 barrels of salt bought off and given to a command suffering for it, besides supply my needy soldiers with blankets, shoes, boots, hats and clothing.
(_________________________________________) Duvall’s Bluff, and my detail (_____________________________________________________) fired at the cover (___________) were throwing the splinters from the (__________) my face (______) thanks are due to Cols. Shank, Gordon, (____________________________) McDaniel, Captains Williams, Langhorn, (___________________________) Lieut. Col. Blackwell for their eminent and devoted service (____________________).
In fact, every officer of my command and the men as a body deserves great praise for the (___________) which they stormed fortifications and met and defeated (_______) numbers of the enemy.
My loss in the entire fighting is 173 killed and wounded. Among this number there fell mortally wounded, Lieut. Stone of Shanks’ Regiment, and Lieut. Dickey of Smith’s Regiment, two as gallant spirits as ever laid down their lives a willing sacrifice for their country beneath the banner of the bars.
Col. A.S. Dobbins, left at Austin to cover my rear on account of Big Cypress being swimming, performed his duty ably and perfectly.
The Maj-Gen. commanding returns his warmest thanks to Gen. Shelby and his officers and men for the eminent services they have rendered their country in their late operations, and particularly in the signal victory which they gained on the 30th of August.
This bright example cannot but stimulate their victorious comrades of other fields to still greater exertions, and proves how much can be gained by enterprise and unhesitating devotion, even under circumstances the most unfavorable.
This order will be read at parade to each Regiment, Battalion, &c., in this District.
By command
(___________________)
(___________) TURNER

Messages In This Thread

Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duvallâ
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv
Re: Shelbys Operations between Little Rock and Duv