The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 34, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports. Page: 675
xvi, 1186 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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TIHE CAMDEN EXPEDITION.
through from Little Rock joined us to-day and reported General
Thayer at Rockport when he passed. It was decided by General
Steele to wait for him at this place, known as the Widow Cornelius',
and 3z miles to the ferry. On the 7th. working parties were sent
back to repair the roads so as to pass General Thayer's train. At
nightfall it commenced to rain, and lasted for several hours.
Daylight the next morning showed that all the work of the day
before was undone; corduroying and bridges were all afloat, the
whole bottom nearly was under water, and the Little Missouri was no
longer fordable, having risen 3 feet. The bridge train was ordered
to the ferry, and working details placed on the road to repair the
worst places. It was after dark before the bridge train reached the
river. The head of General Thayer's column was on the high ground
on the other side, and had nearly 3 miles of bottom to cross. At
daylight, under my personal supervision, the bridge was laid. The
stream was very rapid, but with a strong cable stretched across and
fastened to two large trees and the pontoons doubled, a firm bridge
of 140 feet in length was finished. It was ready before the head of
his column reached the bank, and passed his whole command and
train without any delay or hinderance. His whole train was across,
but all of it (lid not get out of the bottom that night.
The whole command moved on the 10th for Prairie D'Ane. You
will perceive by the map that we were on the direct road to Spring
Hill, which was on the road and the nearest way to Shreveport-a
road traveled by the rebels more than the one by Washington and
Fulton. The road leading from Camden to Washington intersects
this road nearly at right angles on the prairie. The enemy occupied
the ground in front of the junction of these roads, under command
of General Price, who had here concentrated all his forces that were
available. Their position was a good one and well chosen, on a gentle
swelling ridge, with their flanks resting in the timbered land. We
had to advance our front over thlle (open ground in easy range, while
our skirmlishlers drove in their flankers. The skirmish was brisk,
and the enemy used their artillery freely, but we easily drove them
from their position and held it. After nightfall they gallantly
charged one of our batteries, but were repulsed. They fell back on
the right-land road, which leads to Washington. General Steele
moved against them the next dlay as soon as lie got his troops in line
of battle, )but niight came on before we had crossed the prairie.
The men laid under arms and resumed the movement at daylight
of the 12th. ttr niing the left of the enemy's position, causing him to
evacuate nearly a mile o(f rifle-pits, with positions for artillery, and
nearly a mile (of felled timber thrown up as breast-works. Cavalry
were thrown forward on this road as if it was the intention to follow
on, while the main column with train took the road to Camden.
The head of the column encamlped on the Terre Rouge Creek that
night. The bottom for 1 mile was so bad that the command was
delayed very much the next day in crossing. All that I have said
about the Little Missouri bottom applies even more forcibly to this
stream. The next obstacle was Cypress Bayou, as it is on the maps,
but called by the country people Caney. Here two bridges had to
be repaired, ani( some corduroying to be done. From .this point until
we reached Camden the road was good. While the advance was
crossing the Terre Rouge Creek the rear was attacked by the enemy.
General Thaver ba(d command of the rear and drove them back,
scattering them with ease.675
Cx. XLVI.
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The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 1, Volume 34. (Pamphlet)
Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 1, Volume 34.
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 34, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports., book, 1892; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146033/m1/704/?q=African: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.