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148 Series I Volume XXXIV-I Serial 61 - Red River Campaign Part I

Page 148 Chapter XLVI. LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI.

FEBRUARY 20-26, 1864.-Expedition from Helena up White River, Ark.

REPORTS.


Numbers 1.-Major Eagleton Camichael, Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, commanding expedition.


Numbers 2.-Captain Ezra King. Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry.


Numbers 1. Report of Major Eagleton Carmichael, Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, commanding expedition.

HELENA, ARK., February 26, 1864.

CAPTAIN: On the 20th, after leaving orders with the officers who were to act in conjunction with me, I embarked on the Chreek and left Helena at 5 p. m. I arrived at the mouth of White River at 2 o'clock. I had the stock taken ashore there and fed. Re-embarked and started up White at daylight, 21st instant, arriving at the Bay Landing at 8 p. m. We then disembarked and went into camp. I sent out 20 men under Lieutenant Fisher for the purpose of visiting some houses where there was likely to be some soldiers. They returned without learning or effecting anything. We marched at daylight on the 22nd, passed Murrell's, taking a westerly direction up the bay as far as the Widow Jackson's. I learned that a company of rebels camped near Captain Mayo's. One arriving there I found there was no enemy in the country in arms.

From thence I went to Pointer's, and from thence to Plamerton's. Found a blacksmith shop our in the woods and destroyed it. I them proceeded to Colonel Boyce's; dividing the force, sending them on different roads with orders to meet me at Boyce's. I there captured J. A. McMannis, alias Anderson Plamerton, private, Davis' company; had 1 horse and saddle; no arms. I ordered Colonel Boyce to report to headquarters at Helena. I brought from there 1 mule to mount one of my lieutenants whose horse had become lame. I then went to Widow Mayo's, learning that I could get some information there, but on arriving I learned nothing of importance. I then proceeded to Dr. Hendricks'. I there found a wounded soldier belonging to the One hundred and twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry, borrowed a mule of the doctor to mount him, and proceeded to Mr. Light foot's, and camped for the night. After leaving Boyce's captured Lieutenant B. F. Thomason, Davis' company; had a horse and saddle, 2 horse-pistols. William A. Ward, private, Davis' company, had a horse and saddle. Henry F. Cook, private, Davis' company, had nothing.

Left Lightfoot's at sunrise on the 23rd, dividing the command, and proceeded by different roads to Buck's Point; from thence by Higginbotham's, string the lower Little Rock road at Brown's. I captured Higginbotham at his house. He is a private of Casteel's company; had a horse, saddle, and carbine; also captured J. A. Brewer, private Company I, Twenty-fourth Texas Infantry, and Joseph E. Terry, private Company K, Twenty-fourth Texas Infantry. They had nothing. From Brown's I sent detachment to the rogers and Bonner Settlement. They captured J. H. Rogers, private, Davis' company. They brought in 3 mules belonging to a rebel, one Willis Macon. I proceeded thence to Simms' plantation in the Skafe Settlement, fed there, and thence by Humphrey's to Trenton. I then detached Lieutenant Chase with 20 men and the prison-


Page 148 Chapter XLVI. LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI.