O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XVII/1 [S# 24]
JANUARY 4-17, 1863.--Expedition against Arkansas Post, or Fort Hindman, Ark., and operations in that vicinity.
NO. 40.--Report of Col. Robert R. Garland, Sixth Texas Infantry, with application for Court of Inquiry.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the First Brigade, Army of the Lower Arkansas and White Rivers, under my command in the action at Arkansas Post, on the 10th and 11th of January, 1863:
The following corps troops constituted the brigade, viz:
Commissioned officers. Enlistedmen. Aggregate.
6th Texas Infantry, Lieut. Col. T. S. Anderson commanding 27 515 542
24th Texas Cavalry (dismounted), Col. F. C. Wilkes, commanding. 41 546 587
25th Texas Cavalry (dismounted, Col. C.C.. Gillespie commanding. 33 519 552
Denson's battery (six guns), Capt. William Hart commanding 4 79 83
Denson's cavalry, Captain Denson commanding 2 31 33
Total present on Friday evening, the 9th 107 1,690 1,797
Late in the afternoon of the 9th I received orders to hold my command in readiness to meet the enemy at a moment's notice. Within an hour after, I received instructions to proceed with my command to the rifle-pits, about l miles below the fort. We arrived there a little after dark, and the following disposition was made of the brigade:
Five companies of infantry', under Lieutenant-Colonel Swearingen, Twenty-fourth Texas Cavalry (dismounted), and Major Phillips, Sixth Texas Infantry, were ordered to take position several hundred yards in front of the intrenchments as skirmishers. The rest of the infantry were held in reserve and posted some distance in rear of the first line, occupying the rifle-pits, the right flank resting near the river, the left; on the bayou. Hart's battery was posted on the right of the rifle-pits; Denson's cavalry were detached throughout the action. This position was maintained with slight exception during the night and the next day, until we were ordered to fall back to the fort.
Saturday morning, the 10th, about 8 o'clock, the enemy's gunboats commenced shelling our position and continued to do so until we retired, fortunately with but little execution; but one man of the brigade was wounded severely Between 1 and 2 o'clock in the afternoon I received orders to fall back to the fort. The command retired in good order, but was delayed some time in assisting to bring up the artillery and ammunition wagons, the route being exceedingly boggy. On arriving at the fort agreeably to instructions, the brigade look position on the left of Dawson's Nineteenth Arkansas Regiment, of Dunnington's brigade; Hart's battery on the right; Sixth Texas Infantry, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Texas Cavalry (dismounted) in succession from right to left. The line was on a prolongation with the north front of the fort., nearly at a right angle with the river, extending westward toward the bayou. The five companies of skirmishers under Lieutenant Colonel Swearingen having rejoined the command I directed a company from each regiment to be thrown well to the front as pickets and skirmishers, and that each regiment proceed immediately to throw up defenses by intrenching and collecting brush, timber, and such material as could be found.
About dusk the enemy's gunboats commenced bombarding the fort and shelled our position generally, continuing for about three hours, sweeping our position in front and rear with an enfilading fire from the right; fortunately doing us but little damage, save to artillery horses. The command, although unprotected, maintained its position during this trying ordeal with firmness. The work on the defenses was diligently prosecuted throughout the night and the next morning, until we had to resume arms to receive the attack of the enemy; but on account: of the scarcity of tools we made but little progress, and the works thus hastily and imperfectly constructed afforded but little protection to the troops and particularly from an enfilading fire.
Sunday, the 11th, about sunrise, Dawson's regiment with four pieces of Hart's battery were ordered from my right to the left of the line. I directed Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson to cover the interval thus made, by taking ground to the right with his regiment by extending intervals, which consequently rendered this part of the line rather scattering. About noon the gunboats again opened fire on the fort, gradually ap preaching. Within three-quarters of an hour after this the enemy's batteries and sharpshooters opened a brisk fire on our entire line. Lieutenant Mcintosh, in charge of a section of Hart's battery, commenced firing as soon as he could do so with effect, and on several occasions drove the enemy's sharpshooters from under cover of some buildings several hundred yards in front of his position, as well as otherwise generally annoying the enemy until all his ammunition was blown up by a shell from one of the enemy's batteries in front. The commanders of regiments were instructed to reserve their fire, with the exception of a few sharpshooters in each company, until the enemy should advance to within fair range.
About half an hour after the enemy's batteries opened on our front there was heavy and rapid firing on the left, which induced me to believe that the enemy was attempting to turn our left flank. Just at this time I received a message from Colonel Deshler calling on me for re-enforcements? and having been previously instructed by Brigadier-General Churchill, commanding, to furnish re-enforcements----when called upon by Colonels Deshler and Dunnington--if practicable, the enemy up to this time having made no serious demonstration of an immediate advance on this part of the line, I ordered the alternate companies of the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Texas Cavalry (dismounted), together with two companies of the Sixth Texas Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonels Swearingen and Neyland and Major Phillips respectively, to repair to the left and report to Colonel Deshler. While this move merit was being executed and the remainder of the brigade were at tempting to fill up the intervals made by the detached companies ordered to the left, the enemy's infantry advanced in force toward our line, and notwithstanding our line was very much weakened they were promptly and handsomely repulsed. Soon after this the enemy again attempted to charge our intrenchments and were again promptly re pulsed. During the whole of this time their gunboats and batteries were playing upon our position. About 4 o'clock p.m. Colonel Dunnington, commanding the fort, called on me for a re-enforcement of 100 men, and although one-half of my command was already detached, deeming the holding of the fort of vital importance to us, I directed Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson to throw the two right companies of his regiment into the fort. While this was being executed two gunboats passed the fort, delivering their fire immediately opposite. The fort and the two guns on this part of the line being silenced, the enemy's batteries and gunboats had complete command of the position, taking it in front, flank, and rear at the same time, literally raking our entire position. It was during this terrific cross-fire, about 4.30 o'clock p.m., that my attention was attracted by the cry of "Raise the white flag, by order of General Churchill; pass the order up the line," and on looking to the left, to my great astonishment, I saw quite a number of white flags displayed in Wilkes' regiment (Twenty-fourth Texas Cavalry, dismounted), from the right company extending as far as I could see toward the left. At this time I was near the left company of the Sixth Texas Infantry. This regiment refused to raise the white flag or to pass the word up the line; but being deceived by the sudden and simultaneous display of white flags (for I could not conceive it possible that a white flag could be thus treacherously displayed in any part of our line with impunity), as well as by the cessation of firing on the left and the repeated and emphatic manner in which the words came coupled with the name of the commanding officer, I was convinced at the time that the order had originated from the proper source though not conveyed through the ordinary channel--as at this time the enemy's fire of artillery and small-arms was so intensely hot that no one could have passed from the general's position to mine without being struck--and directed the words to be passed to the fort as they had come to me. As the order did not reach me through the ordinary channel I did not feel authorized to give any order on the subject, and particularly as no order could have been of any avail, the act having already been consummated before it came to my knowledge. As the white flags were not displayed on the line from the right of Wilkes' regiment to the fort the enemy's batteries kept up fire on this part of the line for some minutes after the firing had ceased on the left and until they had taken possession of the fort. From all the information I can obtain on this subject the white flag which thus treacherously deceived the rest of the command was raised in Wilkes' Twenty-fourth Regiment Texas Cavalry (dismounted), and the interest of the service, as well as justice to the rest of the brigade, demands a thorough and immediate investigation.
Throughout the engagement, with but few exceptions, both officers and men of the brigade exhibited commendable coolness and unflinching courage. Much credit is due to Lieutenant-Colonels Swearingen and Neyland and Major Phillips for the prompt and gallant manner in which they led the re-enforcements from their respective regiments, ordered from the right to re-enforce the extreme left of the line, under a most galling fire.
My staff generally did effective service in their respective departments. Lieutenant Marsh, Sixth Texas Infantry, acting assistant adjutant-general, and Lieutenant Hunter, Twenty-fourth Texas Cavalry (dismounted), acting aide-de-camp, afforded me much assistance in the prompt transmission of orders to different parts of the line under the hottest fire.
CASUALTIES.
Killed. Wounded. Missing.
6th Texas Infantry 8 24 21
24th Texas Cavalry (dismounted). 12 17 25
25th Texas Cavalry (dismounted) 2 8 ....
Hart's battery 3 13 22
Denson's cavalry .... 2 ....
Total 25 64 68
First Lieut. James D. Reed, commanding Company D, Twenty-fifth Texas Cavalry (dismounted), lost his right arm.
All the horses pertaining to Hart's battery were either killed or wounded.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
R. R. GARLAND,
Col., Comdg. First Brig, Army Lower Ark. and White Rivers.
Capt. B. S. JOHNSON,
Assistant Adjutant-General
OR Ser. 1, V17, Pt. 1, pp. 783-785
FOX’S REGIMENTAL LOSSES
REMARKABLE PERCENTAGES OF LOSS IN CONFEDERATE REGIMENTS AT PARTICULAR ENGAGEMENTS.
Regiment. Brigade. Division. K W M T
ARKANSAS POST, ARK.
Jan. 11, 1863.
24th Texas 12 17 25 54