1862 references to arrival at Memphis by organizations of the Army of the West
"JOHN M. WEIDEMEYER MEMOIRS OF A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER - 1860-1865" [of Rosser’s Bn]
Pearce Civil War Collection, Navarro College, Corsicana, Texas
Sat 12th April 1862 Marched about 7 miles - road still very bad - 13th - Reached Des Arc after wading water all day Grandfather McClain & Jno T. Crenshaw here Gen Price issues proclamation saying he had received appointment of Maj Gen CS army - He could no longer command state guards, but asked them to go into the CS service with him - Mon 14th - Cooked three days rations & just before sundown embarked on the steamer Vicksburg - Left Jno Sims James Oldham & Wm Moffat to take care Stock & Wagons - Parted with father, McClain & Button who bought wagon & team to go to Texas - Tues 15th - Started down river at day light - Our boat runs very fast. entered the Ms river at 8 P.M. Wed 16th Reach Helena at daylight - Wooded - Thurs 17th - Reached Memphis about 12 o'clock last night disembarked & camped near Fort. No tents so we bivouacked – Raining........
“Guide to Missouri CS Units 1861-1865” Jim McGhee
Rosser’s Bn (Also known as 1st or 7th Bn)”
At Des Arc the Bn boarded the steamer Vicksburg & landed at Memphis on April 17.
“Memoirs: historical & personal: including the campaigns of the 1st Missouri CS Bgde” By Ephraim McDowell Anderson
4/10 we [Little’s 1st Mo Bgde] reached Des Arc. Two boats were lying at the landing, the Sharp & Meyors, & others were on the way to transport troops, one coming in from Memphis the evening we got there. It brought news of the first day's fighting at Shiloh: there was rejoicing throughout the command, & 13 guns were fired by the Btrys.
On the evening of the 10th, having prepared rations sufficient to last us on the way, our Regt took passage on the Meyors. Gen Price & Jeff Thompson were on board, & the fine brass band from the Gen’ls Hqs.
NARA & others
4/7 Capt J Adams post Cdr Memphis-reports arrival of 2 Regts Ark Vols of Van Dorn’s command.
-Col Smead cdg [Dockery's 19th Ark] 762 agg of which 560 are fit for duty-armed w/dble barrel shotguns & Inferior rifles.
-Col Carroll's Regt [18th Ark] 817 agg armed with Enfields.
-They are in camp here awaiting arrival of remainder of Van Dorn's command.
4/8 EVD/DHM Hqs TMD Des Arc, Gen Price 1st Div-Proceed to Memphis & assume command of troops there, emphasizing regulations on instruction & camp discipline
4/8 Des Arc-Capt Good’s [Tex Btry] left the Arty Bgde near Peach Orchard Gap, 40 miles west of here. Little’s Bgde is the only part of our army to have arrived, & one Regt started down river this evening. 3 other boats are at the wharf to transport the others.
I found Gov Jackson & Van Dorn here, & Gen Price had left a few moments before my arrival. Indications are we may be going to the Miss River, not sure.
4/10 The Missourians who had left Des Arc on the evening of 4/7 arrived Memphis on the evening of 4/10. They slept on the cars & the next evening arrived at Corinth 4/11. The Missouri troops were sent out to Rienzi, a station on the M&O 10 miles in rear of Corinth & went into camp.
4/10 we [1st Mo Bgde] reached Des Arc about 4/10, en route for Beauregard's army, then at Corinth.
4/10 Memphis- Maj Anderson QM to Van Dorn at Des Arc-20 boats are ordered up White River to report to you for duty. There are some of the largest class boats lying at & above the mouth of the river, which I understand could go to Des Arc if they would. They were ordered to go as far up the river as possible. I am doing all in my power to provide forage.
4/11 on the 11th that is to say, four days after the battle of Shiloh, Gen Van Dorn's forces began to enter Memphis, Gen Price's Div arriving first. Gen Rust's Bgde was immediately sent to Fort Pillow, as already explained, & Gen Little's command ordered to Rienzi, some twelve miles from Corinth, on the Mobile & Ohio RR, for the purpose of making a reconnaissance & securing a good encampment & suitable defensive position, in case of a retrograde movement in that direction.
4/11 McCown’s Bn arrived at Memphis & left for Corinth almost at once
4/12 Memphis, Price to Van Dorn: I have forwarded Col Little’s Bgde to Corinth & Gen Rust’s command to Fort Pillow, by order of Gen Beauregard. I think it extremely desirable that the remainder of the command should arrive here as soon as possible
4/13 During the transfer of the army from Ark to Ms, Van Dorn ordered units including Col Locke's 10th Tex Cav to report to Gen Price at Memphis [after dismtg], & as soon as it could cross the Miss River. In the days previous, other Regts & Bgdes of the army had already crossed the river arriving at Memphis from Des Arc.
4/13 [Union correspondence] Hqs Dept of the Ms, St Louis, Gen Halleck, Savannah from Steele: I have reliable Information from Pocahontas that all the rebel forces in Ark are moving to Memphis. Van Dorn is already there-Price was at Des Arc, 75 miles below Jacksonport by water, about to embark. I think it certain that the whole rebel force in Ark has gone to reinforce Beauregard.
4/13 [1st Mo Bgde] about daylight, we entered the waters of the Ms, &, putting on a full head of steam, commenced running up at the rate of about 12 miles an hour: passing Helena & other towns upon the river, we came in sight of Memphis about four o'clock in the evening. The soldiers crowded on the front decks; the band came out, & we ran up to the wharf to the music of "Dixie."
Our approach had been observed—several hundred citizens had gathered upon the levee, & a throng of cabmen stood ready with their vehicles to convey passengers up. As the boat touched the landing, voices from the crowd asked what Regt was aboard. Receiving a prompt answer, they next inquired if Van Dorn was on the boat. "No," was replied, but that Price was, "Price! Price! Price!" loud & yet louder, came from the shore. In a moment, the Gen appeared, dressed in a handsome uniform of CS grey, with the insignia of a Maj-Gen upon it, wearing his sword-belt & sash around him. He was greeted with shout after shout from the assembled crowd, which was joined in by the soldiers & prolonged into a continuous huzza, the Gen making his acknowledgments by bowing & standing, with his head uncovered, on the hurricane deck, his fine face in full view, & his white locks fluttering in the breeze.
In a few minutes, several gentlemen came on board & escorted him ashore, when all the drivers rushed up, each offering his services & claiming the honor of conveying the distinguished chief, while the citizens also crowded around with greetings & salutations. Our Gen, however, was equally at home in a civic assemblage as on the battlefield, & soon extricated himself, by entering one of the carriages in company with two gentlemen. They were rapidly driven off, &, at the same time, by a simultaneous movement, the whole concourse of people followed.