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SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 13, 1864.-Expedition from Little Rock to Fort Smith, Ark., with skirmishes at Clarksville (September 28), at White Oak Creek (September 29), and at Clarksville (October 9).

Report of Major Thomas Derry, Third Wisconsin Cavalry.

LITTLE ROCK, ARK., October 14, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report that, in compliance with Special Orders, Numbers 2, paragraphs II and IV, headquarters Cavalry Division, Seventh Army Corps, I marched from Little Rock, September 25, with the following detachments under my command, to wit: Third Wisconsin Cavalry 141 men, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, and 1 surgeon, with ambulance and medical supplies; Third Arkansas Cavalry, 1 captain and 50 men; First Iowa Cavalry, 1 lieutenant and 63 men; Third Missouri Cavalry, 1 captain and 64 men; Third U. S. Cavalry, 1 lieutenant and 50 men, with 9 men from the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry; in all, 7 officers, 377 men, 1 surgeon, 2 ambulances, and 2 wagons, but no surgeon with supplies from Second Brigade, as ordered. Having crossed the Cadron with much difficulty, the ferry-boats being destroyed, the command obtained the first forage since starting, forty miles distant, at Colonel Howard's, on September 26. Proceeding thence through Lewisburg I ascertained that the various parties of the enemy, scattered along the route, had been informed of the numbers of the command and the object of the march. Encamped on Illinois Bayou, where we found plenty of wood and water but scarcely any forage. On the 27th we camped six miles this side of Piney, where I learned that the commands of Colonels Hill, Stirman, and Brooks were at various points along the route with headquarters at Clarksville, at which place they intended to oppose me. The next day, 28th, soon after crossing the river, which I was obliged to do by making a long circuit, the ferries being all destroyed, the advance, under Captain Herring, Third Arkansas Cavalry, began to fall in with parties of the enemy and pursued them with much spirit. Approaching Clarksville about 3 p. m., Captain H. fell upon their pickets, who, after some resistance, fell back upon the main force in the town. The advance followed on rapidly, deployed through town, the enemy taking refuge behind fences and houses, the main column closely supporting them. The enemy fled in every direction, leaving 7 dead. Independent companies and rebel conscripting officers are very numerous and active in this vicinity, having Clarksville for a rendezvous. So long had they been advised of our coming that the citizens had letters written for us to carry to Fort Smith and Little Rock. We were not expected so soon by a day; our rapid marching took them by surprise, so their resistance was not so vigorous as it might otherwise have been. Camped three miles beyond Clarksville. We had scarcely halted when we were bushwhacked on all sides. skirmishers being sent out drove them off until dark. Attempts were being made all night, under cover of a severe storm, upon the pickets, but their alertness frustrated every attempt, though at daylight 1 man from the Third Wisconsin Cavalry was killed on his post. On the 29th skirmishing began with the march upon the front, both flanks, and rear. Having thrown out skirmishers on flanks these attacks were checked. Still firing was continuous without doing us much damage, the enemy suffering somewhat in wounded. Camped on White Oak Creek. While the sergeants were posting their vedettes the enemy opposed them in a lively manner and during the whole night the command lay upon arms, being ignorant of how large a force surrounded them, for from every side was constant firing, during which 1 private of the Third Arkansas Cavalry was killed upon his post. During the past three days forage had been plentiful. On the evening of the 30th we reached Van Buren, finding no feed for horses, and with our ambulances and wagons loaded with sick. The next day I reported to General Thayer at Fort Smith and delivered him my dispatches. He was much pleased that the general commanding had sent a force sufficiently large to break through the enemy's lines, since he had not heard a word from department headquarters since the arrival of the last boat. He represented that the enemy were upon every side and were cutting off his forage and mail parties, and had either captured or driven back every party he had started for Little Rock.

We remained several days at Van Buren in order to receive dispatches, mail, and to shoe horses, it being necessary to shoe about 150 here, besides a number each night after reaching camp while on the march. We left on the 5th, acting as a portion of escort to forage train at the request of General Thayer, by which we were delayed two days. On the 8th we proceeded on our way toward Little Rock. Soon after separating from the train and passing through the Mulberry mountains, the advance, under Captain Herring, began skirmishing. This night camped within ten miles of Clarksville. Jus as we were halting for the night a rebel captain and squad were driven from a house. Next day the country people reported that the captain was wounded and died. We found on the 9th a small force at Clarksville, who fired a good many shots without inflicting damage, the advance pursuing them across the bridge. On the 10th we had continual skirmishing and a march of thirty-five miles to Illinois Bayou. Nothing occurred after this worthy of notice. It is reported that a command is at Dover numbering from 300 to 800 men. It is not likely that they are more than 300. We reached Little Rock on the 13th, having marched the distance, not calculating the circuits made at the fords, 180 miles, in six days, being nineteen days upon the round trip. From reports of the different detachment commanders I learn that we killed some 20 of the enemy and captured 4 prisoners, one an orderly sergeant in Stirman's battalion. I lost 2 killed, 2 missing, 1 died at Van Buren, and 31 left sick. I brought back sixty-three non-veterans of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry.

In conclusion I would respectfully represent that no detachment, except the Third Wisconsin Cavalry, was supplied with shoeing tools or shoes and nails. This neglect greatly impairs the efficiency of cavalry; besides this, men just from hospital and weak with recent sickness are not fit for such long, hard marches, neither is it proper to send men mounted upon poor and sore-backed horses, since men are thereby doubly endangered.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOMAS DERRY,
Major, Commanding Detachment.

Brigadier General J. R. WEST,
Commanding Cav. Div., Seventh Army Corps, Little Rock, Ark.

OR V 41, Ser. 83, pp. 819/20

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