If that is the case then Ernst was probably one of the 300 Confederates captured at Longview on the Saline River, in Bradley County, Arkansas on March 29th, 1864. Those soldiers were captured and a Pontoon Bridge destroyed at that location during a raid by the 5th Kansas Cavalry. The Prisoners were first taken to Pine Bluff, Arkansas before being shipped north. This was one of the side actions opening the Northern advance of the Red River Campaign.

It is interesting in that, What was Ernst doing there? His regiment was with The Army of Tennessee under Braxton Bragg in 1864. Was he on Furlough? You always wonder what was going on when you run across these "out-of-place" soldiers.