The actions March to May fit the Camden Poison Springs actions well. http://www.lincolnandthecivilwar.com/Activities/Arkansas/HubPages/04Articles/Poison01.htm
June 6th:
Old River Lake
Ditch Bayou, Lake Chicot
June 6, 1864
Major General A.J. Smith ordered Brigadier General Joseph A. Mower to demonstrate against Lake Village. Mower camped near Sunnyside Landing on the evening of June 5 and took up his line of march again the next morning.
The skirmishing Confederates fell back to Red Leaf where Colonel Colton Greene and his men were encamped.
As the Federals advanced, Greene's men, assisted by artillery, fought a delaying action at Ditch Bayou and then withdrew to Parker's landing on Bayou Mason.
The Union troops advanced to Lake Village, camped there overnight, and the next day rejoined the flotilla on the Mississippi River at Columbia.
The Rebels delayed the Union advance but, eventually, allowed them to continue to their objective: Lake Village.
Result(s): Union victory
Location: Chicot County
Campaign: Expedition to Lake Village (1864)
Date(s): June 6, 1864
Principal Commanders: Brigadier General Joseph A. Mower [US]; Colonel Colton Greene [CS]
Forces Engaged: Two brigades of XVI Army Corps [US]; Marmaduke's Division [CS]
Estimated Casualties: 280 total (US 180; CS 100)
See also http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1120 for a better description of movements around the "lake"/"bayou".
Crooked Bayou is just a tad over 12 miles WSW of Lake Village aka Old River Lake.
Red Fork (town) is on Red Fork Bayou and is nearly due north of Crooked Bayou (about 50 miles) and a bit southeast of Arkansas Post, about 7.5 miles.
South Bend is about 12 miles up the Arkansas River towards Pine Bluff from Arkansas Post.
I believe Arrows Bayou is actually Amos Bayou and is due south of Red Fork and runs into Red Fork Bayou.
Using these dates and locations to anchor the timeline and distances in the diary I believe the dates are correct and transcribed/published in order. There is a time gap for late July- early August as I believe the entry for "On 7th - Left camp near Arkansas Post. " is actually August 7th. Everything then fits for a move south from Arkansas Post to Old River Lake then WSW to Mt Elba and then a bit further west to Princeton. This movement would have taken the Unit south then west and then back north for Prices 1864 raid into Missouri, All to avoid Pine Bluff and Little Rock.
You can find all these locations by going to http://arkansas.hometownlocator.com/index.cfm Locate Arkansas Post and turn on the Topo map feature and zoom and pan.
As to the fighting on July 11th towrds Pine Bluff I would guess that this was part of the harrasment raids up and down the Arkansas River that was ordered at the time. Certainly would not have been hard to ride up the river from South Bend towards Pine Bluff and had a hot little skirmish.
From the OR: (OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 34, Part 4 (Red River Campaign)
Begining Page 292 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. Chapter XLVI. )
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF LITTLE ROCK,
Little Rock, Ark., June 10, 1864.
Colonel P. CLAYTON,
Pine Bluff:
What do you think of the report of Major French's scout about Marmaduke being north of the Arkansas River, near Arkansas Post?
By order of Brigadier General E. A. Carr:
C. H. DYER.
PINE BLUFF, [June 10, 1864.]
Captain C. H. DYER,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
I have not any confidence in the report of Marmaduke being on the north side of the Arkansas. The scout reported nothing of the kind to me or to my adjutant. About the same time that the scout reported here a party of 100 men of my command returned. They had been to Arkansas Post, examined the fortifications there, &c. Did not see or hear of any force of the enemy in that direction; therefore I do not think there is any foundation for the report.
POWELL CLAYTON,
Colonel, Commanding.
PINE BLUFF, June 11, 1864.
Captain C. H. DYER, Assistant Adjutant-General:
General Orders, Numbers 14, received to-day. A scout of the cavalry returned yesterday; had been abut 40 miles below, on the south side of the Arkansas. No enemy seen. All the roads around this post are patrolled some 12 or 14 miles out daily. Patrolling done by the advance pickets before they are relieved. All quiet on the roads this morning. A party of 50 men of the Merrill Horse, under the command of Lieutenant Bradshaw, escort telegraph repairer. They left early this morning for Little Rock.
POWELL CLAYTON,
Colonel, Commanding.
PINE BLUFF, June 12, 1864.
Captain C. H. DYER,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
CAPTAIN: A scout came in to-day who reported that General Fagan is at Monticello, and that Marmaduke is on the Mississippi, with about 2,000 men, near Gaines' Landing. No departures or arrivals of troops to-day.
POWELL CLAYTON,
Colonel, Commanding.
From the OR it appears that our diary writer's description of being up the Arkansas River 10-12 miles from South Bend would have put them into contact with the roving pickets and patrols 12-14 miles out of Pine Bluff. So it fits from a geographic perspective.
John R.