Okla-homey
4/25/2007, 06:42 AM
April 25, 1864: Battle of Mark's Mills, Arkansas
On this day 143 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.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8107/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz28.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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. Banks' expedition was ill-timed and the river's height and navigability, as much as anything, made for very slow going and doomed the campaign.
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.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8908/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz10.th.gif (http://img162.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz10.gif)
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.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5254/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz31.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Lt Col. Francis Marion Drake
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/8339/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz15.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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.
http://aycu40.webshots.com/image/13639/2000831357895540431_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000831357895540431)
General Jim Fagan, also a Mexican War vet survived the war. Fagan was not paroled by the U.S. government until June 20, 1865. After his parole, he returned to his Arkansas farm to make a living. He was appointed United States Marshal by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1875. He served as a receiver for the United States Land Office in 1877. In 1890, he ran for Arkansas Railroad Commissioner, but was defeated. James Fleming Fagan died in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is buried at the historic Mount Holly Cemetery in that city.
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8055/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz27.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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..."
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. This is not surprising, given the fact that the South fought, more than any other single factor, to maintain the institution of slavery.
Their white officers could be charged with "inciting servile insurrection" -- a capital offense under the laws of the various CS states. Your correspondent believes this was mostly an idle threat because there isn't much evidence that such executions of white officers ever took place.
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.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8924/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz9.gif (http://imageshack.us)
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.
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/8107/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz28.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2443/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Governor Francis Marion Drake of Iowa
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5664/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz30.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Begun in 1909, the "Drake Relays" are perhaps one of the most historic and important track and field events in the world. The 98th annual Drake Relays are this week.
http://drakerelays.com/
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9528/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz29.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/5678/insane7zo5ne.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
On this day 143 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.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8107/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz28.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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. Banks' expedition was ill-timed and the river's height and navigability, as much as anything, made for very slow going and doomed the campaign.
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.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8908/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz10.th.gif (http://img162.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz10.gif)
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.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5254/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz31.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Lt Col. Francis Marion Drake
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/8339/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz15.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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.
http://aycu40.webshots.com/image/13639/2000831357895540431_rs.jpg (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2000831357895540431)
General Jim Fagan, also a Mexican War vet survived the war. Fagan was not paroled by the U.S. government until June 20, 1865. After his parole, he returned to his Arkansas farm to make a living. He was appointed United States Marshal by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1875. He served as a receiver for the United States Land Office in 1877. In 1890, he ran for Arkansas Railroad Commissioner, but was defeated. James Fleming Fagan died in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is buried at the historic Mount Holly Cemetery in that city.
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8055/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz27.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
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..."
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. This is not surprising, given the fact that the South fought, more than any other single factor, to maintain the institution of slavery.
Their white officers could be charged with "inciting servile insurrection" -- a capital offense under the laws of the various CS states. Your correspondent believes this was mostly an idle threat because there isn't much evidence that such executions of white officers ever took place.
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.
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/8924/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz9.gif (http://imageshack.us)
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.
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/8107/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz28.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2443/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Governor Francis Marion Drake of Iowa
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/5664/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz30.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Begun in 1909, the "Drake Relays" are perhaps one of the most historic and important track and field events in the world. The 98th annual Drake Relays are this week.
http://drakerelays.com/
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9528/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz29.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/5678/insane7zo5ne.jpg (http://imageshack.us)