The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas
Battle of Van Buren - Confederate Reports
Confederate Soldier
This grave at Fairview Cemetery
contains the remains of a soldier
from Crump's regiment. Several
of Crump's men were killed at
Dripping Springs and Van Buren.
This grave at Fairview Cemetery
contains the remains of a soldier
from Crump's regiment. Several
of Crump's men were killed at
Dripping Springs and Van Buren.
The Arkansas River
This view looks down the
Arkansas River from Log Town
Hill at Van Buren. The scene of
the artillery battle at Strain's
Landing can be seen in the
distance of this photograph.
This view looks down the
Arkansas River from Log Town
Hill at Van Buren. The scene of
the artillery battle at Strain's
Landing can be seen in the
distance of this photograph.
(The following is excerpted from the Official Records, Series 1, Volume XXII.)
Headquarters, Hindman’s Division
Little Rock, Ark.
February 15, 1863
Report of Maj. Gen. T.C. Hindman, C.S. Army.
Colonel: After the battle of Prairie Grove, having returned south of the mountains, I
found it impossible to forage Marmaduke’s cavalry in Northwest Arkansas, and
accordingly ordered him to Lewisburg, 100 miles below Van Buren. My force being
thus reduced and continuing to diminish in strength daily by desertions and a
frightful increase of sickness, the latter caused by unprecedented hardships to which
the men had been exposed, the former resulting principally, in my opinion, from the
non-payment of the troops and the consequent sufferings of their families, I decided
that it was unadvisable to keep my main body on the north side of the river, and,
therefore, crossed it to the south side, and went into camp in the vicinity of Fort Smith.
One of Fagan’s infantry regiments, with a section of artillery, remained at Van Buren,
and one regiment of cavalry, under Lieut. Col. R.P. Crump, was posted at Dripping
Springs, 9 miles north of that place, instructed to picket at Oliver’s 19 miles north,
and at corresponding points on all other roads leading toward the enemy, scouting
actively on each road, and keeping up constant patrols by day and night between the
several picket stations….
…On December 28, at 10 a.m., Lieutenant-Colonel Crump reported to me by courier
that the enemy was advancing on the Cove Creek road in heavy force of cavalry,
infantry and artillery. A few minutes afterward, Brigadier General Cooper, who was at
Scullyville, in the Choctaw Nation, 15 miles from Fort Smith, reported to me by courier
that a Federal cavalry force of three or four regiments, with artillery, under Colonel
Phillips, had crossed to the south side of the river, at Fort Gibson, the preceding day.
Immediately after, I received information by telegraph from a detachment of cavalry
posted at Borland’s, 35 miles below Van Buren, on the north side of the river,
covering the roads from Fayetteville to Ozark and Clarksville, that a regiment of
Federal cavalry was within 20 miles of that position, moving south.
Fagan’s division was on the march 25 miles below; Frost’s was 10 miles below;
Shaver’s brigade, less than 1,000 strong, with one battery, was 2 miles below, in
camp.
General Cooper was ordered to retire southward upon his depots of supplies, the
nearest of which was Johnson’s Station, on the Canadian, about 90 miles from Fort
Smith. Shaver’s brigade was put under arms, and moved forward to the river
opposite Van Buren. Frost was ordered back to Shaver’s position, detaching enough
artillery and infantry to hold the crossing at Strain’s, 6 miles below Van Buren; and
orders were given to remove by boat and wagon, as rapidly as possible, the public
property at Van Buren and Fort Smith. At the same time I telegraphed General
Marmaduke, at Lewisburg, to move northward and strike the enemy in flank and rear.
At 11.05 o’clock, being one hour and five minutes after the first notice of the enemy’s
advance, the Federal cavalry and light artillery were in Van Buren. As they
approached the landing, West’s battery, of Shaver’s brigade, drove them back, killing
and wounding several. Skirmishing continued there till nearly sunset, when the
Federal infantry appeared, and two batteries of heavy rifled pieces opened from the
commanding heights in and above the town. Meanwhile a cavalry force pursued and
captured Colonel Crump’s train and part of a train laden with supplies for my
wounded at Cane Hill, and also captured three steamboats, the Notre, which had
grounded on a bar 1 mile below Van Buren, and the Key West and Rose Douglass,
which had been ordered down, but had stopped for some cause unknown on the
south side of the river, opposite Strain’s Landing. This was before there was time for
Frost’s detachment to reach that point. The steamers Eva and Arkansas, being still
above Van Buren, were burned by my orders, after transferring to wagons all their
freight for which I had transportation.
About dark, artillery firing commenced at Strain’s Landing, between Frost’s
detachment, posted there, and a Federal force on the opposite side, having field
pieces of large caliber. It continued during two hours, when the enemy retired. I had
now removed all the public stores for which I had transportation. My whole force did
not exceed 4,000. That of the enemy in and near Van Buren was not less than 7,000.
His cavalry moving on both my flanks, might soon get entirely in my rear. I therefore
determined to retire all my command southward, and cross the river near Clarksville,
unite with Fagan, and there take position. This intention was carried out without any
occurrence that need be reported.
I forward herewith the reports of my staff officers [Note: Not included in Official
Records], showing the losses of public property at Van Buren and Fort Smith. All is
reported as lost which was not actually brought away by them, although a
considerable quantity of these stores has since been recovered.
The report of Lieutenant-Colonel Crump and his officers commanding pickets,
scouts, &c., is forwarded also [Note: Not found for the Official Records].
I likewise forward herewith Brigadier-General Marmaduke’s report of his expedition
into Missouri, under the ordered telegraphed him by me on December 28.
Respectfully,
(Major General T.C. Hindman to Col. S.S. Anderson, Assistant Adjutant-General)
Headquarters, Hindman’s Division
Little Rock, Ark.
February 15, 1863
Report of Maj. Gen. T.C. Hindman, C.S. Army.
Colonel: After the battle of Prairie Grove, having returned south of the mountains, I
found it impossible to forage Marmaduke’s cavalry in Northwest Arkansas, and
accordingly ordered him to Lewisburg, 100 miles below Van Buren. My force being
thus reduced and continuing to diminish in strength daily by desertions and a
frightful increase of sickness, the latter caused by unprecedented hardships to which
the men had been exposed, the former resulting principally, in my opinion, from the
non-payment of the troops and the consequent sufferings of their families, I decided
that it was unadvisable to keep my main body on the north side of the river, and,
therefore, crossed it to the south side, and went into camp in the vicinity of Fort Smith.
One of Fagan’s infantry regiments, with a section of artillery, remained at Van Buren,
and one regiment of cavalry, under Lieut. Col. R.P. Crump, was posted at Dripping
Springs, 9 miles north of that place, instructed to picket at Oliver’s 19 miles north,
and at corresponding points on all other roads leading toward the enemy, scouting
actively on each road, and keeping up constant patrols by day and night between the
several picket stations….
…On December 28, at 10 a.m., Lieutenant-Colonel Crump reported to me by courier
that the enemy was advancing on the Cove Creek road in heavy force of cavalry,
infantry and artillery. A few minutes afterward, Brigadier General Cooper, who was at
Scullyville, in the Choctaw Nation, 15 miles from Fort Smith, reported to me by courier
that a Federal cavalry force of three or four regiments, with artillery, under Colonel
Phillips, had crossed to the south side of the river, at Fort Gibson, the preceding day.
Immediately after, I received information by telegraph from a detachment of cavalry
posted at Borland’s, 35 miles below Van Buren, on the north side of the river,
covering the roads from Fayetteville to Ozark and Clarksville, that a regiment of
Federal cavalry was within 20 miles of that position, moving south.
Fagan’s division was on the march 25 miles below; Frost’s was 10 miles below;
Shaver’s brigade, less than 1,000 strong, with one battery, was 2 miles below, in
camp.
General Cooper was ordered to retire southward upon his depots of supplies, the
nearest of which was Johnson’s Station, on the Canadian, about 90 miles from Fort
Smith. Shaver’s brigade was put under arms, and moved forward to the river
opposite Van Buren. Frost was ordered back to Shaver’s position, detaching enough
artillery and infantry to hold the crossing at Strain’s, 6 miles below Van Buren; and
orders were given to remove by boat and wagon, as rapidly as possible, the public
property at Van Buren and Fort Smith. At the same time I telegraphed General
Marmaduke, at Lewisburg, to move northward and strike the enemy in flank and rear.
At 11.05 o’clock, being one hour and five minutes after the first notice of the enemy’s
advance, the Federal cavalry and light artillery were in Van Buren. As they
approached the landing, West’s battery, of Shaver’s brigade, drove them back, killing
and wounding several. Skirmishing continued there till nearly sunset, when the
Federal infantry appeared, and two batteries of heavy rifled pieces opened from the
commanding heights in and above the town. Meanwhile a cavalry force pursued and
captured Colonel Crump’s train and part of a train laden with supplies for my
wounded at Cane Hill, and also captured three steamboats, the Notre, which had
grounded on a bar 1 mile below Van Buren, and the Key West and Rose Douglass,
which had been ordered down, but had stopped for some cause unknown on the
south side of the river, opposite Strain’s Landing. This was before there was time for
Frost’s detachment to reach that point. The steamers Eva and Arkansas, being still
above Van Buren, were burned by my orders, after transferring to wagons all their
freight for which I had transportation.
About dark, artillery firing commenced at Strain’s Landing, between Frost’s
detachment, posted there, and a Federal force on the opposite side, having field
pieces of large caliber. It continued during two hours, when the enemy retired. I had
now removed all the public stores for which I had transportation. My whole force did
not exceed 4,000. That of the enemy in and near Van Buren was not less than 7,000.
His cavalry moving on both my flanks, might soon get entirely in my rear. I therefore
determined to retire all my command southward, and cross the river near Clarksville,
unite with Fagan, and there take position. This intention was carried out without any
occurrence that need be reported.
I forward herewith the reports of my staff officers [Note: Not included in Official
Records], showing the losses of public property at Van Buren and Fort Smith. All is
reported as lost which was not actually brought away by them, although a
considerable quantity of these stores has since been recovered.
The report of Lieutenant-Colonel Crump and his officers commanding pickets,
scouts, &c., is forwarded also [Note: Not found for the Official Records].
I likewise forward herewith Brigadier-General Marmaduke’s report of his expedition
into Missouri, under the ordered telegraphed him by me on December 28.
Respectfully,
(Major General T.C. Hindman to Col. S.S. Anderson, Assistant Adjutant-General)
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The Battle of
Massard Prairie
Massard Prairie
by Dale Cox
The first full-length account of
the 1864 Confederate attack on
Fort Smith, Arkansas.
the 1864 Confederate attack on
Fort Smith, Arkansas.
$19.95
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