In Camp Shelby’s Division
Price’s Army near Pocahontes, Arkansas
September Twelfth, 1864
To the First Lady of our Regiment,
Mrs. Upton Hays
Westport (Jackson) Mo.
Dear Madam:
Since the boys are all happy at prospects of getting back home, we thought you might like to know how the members of your husband’s old regiment have been acquitting themselves. In the last of August we were camped between Tulip and Princeton along the railroad, when news came that Price would march into Missouri again with an army that would sweep everything. He means to go through and stick this time. Our Brigade under our old Colonel Shanks, was the first on the move. By detour we were sent north of the Arkansas River to make a diversion and attract the attention of the Federal Army at ittle Rock and Devall Bluff, so that Price could cross the Arkansas River in safety at Dardanelle. In the first part of September we reached White River. Early one morning we drew ammunition, thirty rounds apiece. By next day break we had turned, and were now moving rapidly south to the Little Rock and Devall Bluff Railroad. Sometime before noon we reached a Federal Fort on the prairie with one hundred and thrity-seven Federal soldiers in it.
General Shelby Sent a messenger demanding their surrender. The officer in command rplied: “If you want this fort come and take it!” The upton Hays regiment, now commanded by Colonel Erwin, was ordered to take it by storm. We dashed forward in a sweeping gallop until within thirty paces of their breastworks; halted and dismounted, and made the charge on foot. There was a deep ditch about eight feet wide at the edge of the fort. We jumped the ditch and started for the top. They surrendered. On my right was a young soldier by the name of Bledsoe, pistol in hand, aiming to shoot a Federal soldier. I knocked the pistol up, pushed pu, pushed him down the bank and stopped him. The young Federal stood trembling like a leaf, the tears rolling down his cheeks.
While we were taking this fort, the Gordon, Smith and Elliot Regiments moved eastward and surrounded a fort with three hundred and fifty men of the Fifth-sixth Illinois Infantry. When we arrived our artillery was shelling the fort, General Shelby complimented us for our gallantry. He said: “Now boys, you form here and act as spectators. While the three regiments were closing in on the fort, from our position we could see a strong column of Federal Cavalry coming to surround us in a fan-line swoop. The men in the fort saw their friends coming to their rescue. They jumped out of the fort and started to meet them. The old Upton Hays Regiment was ordered to take them before they joined their friends. We leaned forward in our saddles, and with cheers and yells on our lips, made the dash and caught up as they were crossing the railroad. The writer was riding a mule, and when we came to the track the mule refused to cross it. I thrust my spurs so deep into his side he jumped clean over the track, and ran away with me right into the Federals. They opened the way to let me pass through. I could not account for my escape without it was their admiration for the bravery of that mule, to whom I give all credit as I was doing my best to hold him. I believe he did it in the spirit of revenge for me spurring him.
The infantry surrendered to us, and in the confusion of hurrying the prisoners to the rear, the Sixth Federal Missouri Cavalry formed for battle in our front, and before we could get into line their bugle blew a charge. We fell in to receive them. General Shelby dashed along our front shouting, “Don’t give an inch, boys, or we will be cut to pieces; don’t shoot until you can see their eyes.” The Upton Hays Regiment, a living wall of courage, formed to receive the shock. The Federal Cavalrymen slung their Sharps rifles over their shoulders, drew their sabers, and with a cheer they charged us with naked swords. To hear their shouts, the roar of their horses’ feet, and see the glitter of their sabers in the sunlight, would have struck terror to any but seasoned veterans. We allowed them to come within fifty paces of our line when we opened fire. In all my soldier experience, I never saw so many saddles emptied in one fire. It paralyzed them; they checked to a dead standstill. Seeing their confusion we gave a yell and charged them. They fell back in complete rout. I am satisfied they outnumbered us two to one. Before they could reform with their reinforcements coming up, the Gordon, Smith and Elliott regiments were lining up on our left, and there ensued a hot conflict. Lieutenant Warren D. Stone from Liberty was killed by my side. I helped to lift him in front of Luther Overbeek (Overbeck) of Platt, so he could be carried to the rear. It would be hard to say which was the most gallant Captain comman(d)ing a company, but will say that none could surpass Robert Adams, leader of the “A”. He is brave to a fault, and is as gallant a Knight as ever vaulted into the saddle.
Bubbling is every heart is the hope of home regained, and a victorious South.
With assurance of highest regard,
From every member of-
The Old Hays Regimenr
By George A. Campbell
This letter forward by a trusted messenger.
Notes:
Pocahontas. Randolph Co., Arkansas is on the south east border of Missouri near Cape Giradeau.
A typescript of this letter is in the archives of the Missouri Historical Society, Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri.
The Missouri History Museum was formerly known as the Missouri
Historical Society. Our Civil War manuscripts guide --
http://www.mohistory.org/files/archives_guides/CivilWarManuscriptsGuide.pdf
-- includes the following description:
B257 Hays family.
Papers, 1860 Aug-1865 June. 1 item (18 pages)
A notation in the above folder states, "Presented by the Upton Hays
Chapter, No. 1434, U.D.C., Kansas City, Mo., 1919."
Missouri Digitial Heritage, Civil War, Confederate
George A. Campbell, Private, (1) Shelby’s Regiment Private, Company I. UDC see Records at State Historical Society.
(2) Co. 11th under Col. Upton Hays Date enlisted: 1861 Kansas City
Obituary Confederate Veterans Magazine, March 1914, page 123
(3) Commander: Shelby command, Date enlisted Aug 1862
Was in Battles of Columbus, Prairie Grove, Gaines’ Landing, Osage, Mine Creek,
And Newtonia where he was wounded and captured, 1864. Discharged at close of war.
W. W. Stone, Lt. /Pvt. 2nd MO Cav, MSG (Couldn't find records for Warren D. Stone)
Luther Overbeck, Pvt. Shank's Reg, Shelby's Brigade, Co., D