Good Morning...ever wonder how "Drake University" got its name?

[Okla-homey]

April 25, 1864 Battle of Mark's Mills, Arkansas

On this day 142 years ago, for the second time in a week, a Confederate force captures a Union wagon train trying to supply the Federal force at Camden, Arkansas. This time, the loss forced Union General Frederick Steele to withdraw back to Little Rock.

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Major General Frederick Steele

Steele captured Camden on April 15 as he moved southwest towards Shreveport, Louisiana. This was part of a larger Union operation in the region. General Nathaniel Banks moved up the Red River into northwest Louisiana on a planned invasion of Texas, but he was turned back at the Battle of Mansfield on April 8.

Steele's goal was to pinch Confederate forces around Shreveport with a move from central Arkansas. After taking Camden, Steele sent 1,100 men west to capture a store of corn. That force was badly defeated by a Confederate detachment at the Battle of Poison Springs on April 18. Now, with provisions dwindling, Steele sent another wagon train northeast from Camden towards Pine Bluff to fetch supplies.

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Lieutenant Colonel Francis Drake and 1,700 troops accompanied the 240 wagons that left Camden on April 22. Three hundred runaway slaves traveled along as well. Three days later, Confederate troops under General James Fagan pounced on Drake's command near Mark's Mills.

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Lt Col. Francis Marion Drake

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Marks' Mill Historic Battlefield Site, junction of SH-8 and SH-97, 8 miles east of Fordyce, Arkansas

Fagan's Confederates attacked the Union supply column from two sides, and Drake was wounded and captured early in the battle along with 1,400 of his troops. The Confederates lost 41 killed and 108 wounded, and captured the entire supply train.

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Tragically, the Rebels followed up their victory much as they had at Poison Springs on April 18, where they massacred captured black soldiers. At Mark's Mills, at least half of the runaways were killed in cold blood. Even one of the Confederate officers admitted in his report that "No orders, threat, or commands could restrain the men from vengeance on the Negroes..."

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These men composed one of the three US regiments which accompanied Drake's column. They were mostly former Arkansas slaves formed into a Kansas regiment of "US Colored Troops." These men were not taken prisoner in defeat. Instead they were shot down like dogs as an example to any Arkansas slave who felt compelled to fight for Lincoln.

Steele's army was now in dangerous territory. With Confederate forces lurking all around Camden and with supplies running low, Steele retreated to Little Rock, leaving southern Arkansas under Rebel control. Drake survived his wounds and after the war returned to Iowa where he practiced law and got involved in the railroad business. Drake also helped found the univerisity in Des Moines which bears his name. Drake later became governor of Iowa.

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Governor Francis Marion Drake of Iowa

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Begun in 1909, the "Drake Relays" are perhaps one of the most historic and important track and field events in the world. The 97th annual Drake Relays are this week.

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[12]

Excellent.

[Harry Beanbag]

Didn't Jefferson Davis issue a proclamation that Union black troops and their white officers were subject to execution if captured? I know it was portrayed in Glory, just not sure how historically accurate it was.

[Okla-homey]

Didn't Jefferson Davis issue a proclamation that Union black troops and their white officers were subject to execution if captured? I know it was portrayed in Glory, just not sure how historically accurate it was.

There were various proclamations issued by both sides. That said, it was pretty well settled among CS forces that blacks taken in arms against the Confederacy would legally "revert to their natural condition of servitude." IOW, they'd become slaves whether or not they were freedmen or born free up North.

Their white officers could be charged with "inciting servile insurrection" -- a capital offense under the laws of the various CS states.

That said, its also pretty well understood that a black man taken in arms by CS forces often didn't live to see sundown. In any case, they certainly never occupied CS POW camps in any numbers.

[Vaevictis]

Stupid. I wonder how many extra Confederate soldiers died due to that policy, and how many of the battle results were influenced by that.

The best way to ensure that a man fights to the death is to offer no quarter.

[Harry Beanbag]

Stupid. I wonder how many extra Confederate soldiers died due to that policy, and how many of the battle results were influenced by that.

The best way to ensure that a man fights to the death is to offer no quarter.


WW2 Pacific Theater was a lot like that the last few years. Both sides were afraid what would happen to them if they were to surrender so you ended up with vicious fighting to the death. It wasn't really due to any policy, on the Allied side at least, but the results were the same.

[Cam]

I think my name's in that more than Drake's.

[afs]

man it's freaky when you see your name on a message board where no one knows your name

[sanantoniosooner]

Homework for Homey.

Whatcha got on the Carlisle Indian School?