Quotes from the Official Record of the Union and Confederate Armies:
Report of Lieut. Col. George E. Currie, Mississippi Marine Brigade
On Board Steamer B. J. Adams.
Napoleon, Ark., November 19, 1863.
Brig. Gen. ALFRED W. ELLET,
Commanding Marine Brigade
GENERAL: Agreeably to your written instructions of the 23d ultimo, I left Goodrich's Landing, La, on the 24th ultimo, after being relieved from duty at that place by General Hawkins, and proceeded up the Mississippi River with four steamers, viz, Adams, Fairchild, Baltic, and Horner. A detachment of 125 cavalry, 160 infantry, and one section of Captain Walling's light battery arrived at Griffin's Landing, in Washington County, Miss., on the 26th ultimo.
I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant,
On the 27th, I ordered Captain Brown with 100 cavalry to make a reconnaissance in the Deer Creek country, lying about 23 miles east of Griffin's Landing. The expedition left the boats at 6 a. m. and returned at 10 p.m., having marched over 45 miles in one day. They arrested and brought in 1 captain, G. C. Price, an agent of the Commissary Department for the purchase of stock in that country, with about $12,000 in Confederate money; also 1 sergeant and 6 enlisted men belonging to the Sixth Texas Cavalry, detailed to drive stock.
From the prisoners I learned that a brigade of Jackson's cavalry was en route for that country to protect the stock drivers. Having but a small command mounted, I immediately impressed mules and horses to mount my infantry for the purpose of meeting the revel brigade, and accordingly on the 1st day of November I landed all my available force, numbering almost 200 cavalry and infantry mounted, one piece of artillery, and two days' rations, and started at an early hour. About the time of starting the rain began to fall, which rendered the roads through the swamps almost impassable. At 3 p. m. however, I reached the plantation of Mrs. buckner, on Deer Creek, where I was compelled to go into camp on account of the impassable condition of the roads for artillery, and having made a march of 23 miles, I posted my pickets and put the artillery into position, and made inquiry of the citizens concerning the rebel force, but was assured by them that there was none in that country.
Relying somewhat upon their information, and finding it out of my power to go farther with the artillery, I resolved at once to send it back, guarded by the mounted infantry, leaving me a command of only 125 cavalry.
On the following morning, at 5.30 o'clock, I divided my force, one half returning, by way of Greenville, to Griffin's Landing, and with the cavalry I proceeded down the creek, intending to reach the river at Carolina Landing, a distance of 60 miles, where I had previously ordered the ram Horner to meet me on the 4th. We had gone but about 1 mile beyond my picket post, when the advance guard began skirmishing with rebel pickets. Here ensued a running fight for some miles until we came upon a portion of the enemy, supposed to be about 120 or 140 men, drawn up in line on the opposite side of the creek to prevent my command crossing on a bridge at that point, the only means of crossing in that vicinity. I instructed the advance to press them closely, intending to hold the enemy in position until the arrival of the artillery, which I ordered up immediately after encountering their pickets, but finding the enemy intended to fall back before the artillery could reach me, I directed a portion of the dismounted men to deploy and charge across the bridge at a double-quick, in order to clear the way for cavalry. The revels gave way almost without resistance, and fled in great confusion, my cavalry close upon them. We followed them some 2 miles at a rapid rate, and, finding no other alternative, they took to the woods and canebrakes. By this time the artillery came up, and, after shelling the woods thoroughly, I started my return to the boats, which I reached at 11 p.m., having marched over 40 miles in the afternoon, on my return to the boats.
I found 25 fat hogs at the plantation of Dr. L. L. Taylor, on Deer Creek, that had been purchased by Captain Price, for which he paid $1,250, but was arrested before getting them out of the pen. I also found a negro man with a large cotton wagon, drawn by six oxen, at this plantation, who had just returned from Catfish Point, having hauled a load of goods to that place for a rebel captain, for the purpose of having them taken across the river into Arkansas that night. I immediately took possession of the team and hogs, and brought them with me to the boats. At the same time sent a messenger to Captain Conner, of the ram Monarch, lying off Greenville, to run up the river as far as Catfish Point to look after the goods and ferry.
On the following day he reported the capture of a large quantity of salt and the destruction of two large ferry flats of sufficient capacity to cross artillery. These flats were entirely new, and were ingeniously hid from view by being sunk in about 4 feet water by means of barrels of sand, and never could have been discovered but for information received from a deserter from Price's army, who gave himself up.
On the 5th, landed the mounted infantry, Maj. D. S. Tallerday commanding at Sunny Side, Ark., and directed him to proceed to Lake Village, county seat of Chicot County, where he arrested one Captain Gaines, Company G, Twenty-third Arkansas Infantry, and 5 enlisted men belonging to the same regiment, who were evidently engaged in burning cotton and enforcing the conscription. He also captured some valuable stock and met the fleet at Luna Landing the same night. I left the Monarch and Horner at Greenville to protect navigation.
On the 6th, landed the cavalry, Capt. O. F. Brown commanding, at Gaines' Landing, and he proceeded out in the direction of Monticello, Ark., about 15 miles, and thence up the river and met the fleet at Campbell's plantation at 5 p.m., having captured some mules. At 8 o'clock the same night I learned that a party of soldiers were in camp about 5 miles back from the river, waiting for an opportunity to cross over into Mississippi. I immediately sent out a party in charge of Lieutenant Markle, Company E, First Infantry, and about 10 o' clock they returned with Lieutenant Brailsford (with a rebel mail) and 1 enlisted man belonging to Whitfield's Texas Legion.
On the 7th, landed the mounted infantry at the same place, with instructions to operate isolated (as companies) and effectually scout the country as far back from the river as possible. The parties returned soon after dark, bringing in several prisoners, among whom was a rebel mail-carrier making his way to the river to cross that night. They also brought in some stock.
On the 8th, landed the cavalry, Capt. O. F. Brown, commanding, at Glencoe, Miss., and put off the mounted infantry, Major Tallerday commanding, on the Arkansas shore just opposite. The cavalry came in at Bolivar Landing late in the afternoon, having accomplished but little. The infantry, however, continued on up the river to Napoleon, where I met them with the fleet on the following day. They captured many prisoners and a rebel mail-carrier with over 200 pounds of mail, among which were a large quantity of official documents from Richmond, directed to some of the most prominent generals in the Trans-Mississippi Department. They also captured and brought in 2 men, Barker and Keefe, cotton card manufacturers, with a cotton machine complete, which they had recently bought at Macon and Savannah, Ga., which cost them $8,000. They crossed the river but a short time prior to their capture, and were en route to Camden, Ark., where the machine was to be used in making cloth for the army.
On the 9th, learning that the guerillas had burned the steamer Allen Collier that had landed opposite Laconia, Ark., a day or two previous, I immediately left Napoleon for that place, intending to ferret out the marauding party, landing at the mouth of White River for wood. I found a portion of the Allen Collier's crew that had been arrested and were subsequently released, who informed me the boat was burned by Montgomery's guerilla band, and knowing that Montgomery and a portion of his company, numbering about 40 or 50 men, lived on Bayou Phalia, in Bolivar County, Miss., and owned plantations, I resolved to return at once with my command to Beulah Landing and break up the party. On the following morning, November 10, I left the boats at 7 o'clock with a small cavalry force and proceeded to the bayou, a distance of some 10 miles, when I arrested one of the party and learned from him that the company was still some distance from there in the canebrakes, and knowing the impossibility of overtaking them I went to Montgomery's plantation, where I found the family of General Charles Clark, C. S. Army, also the family of Montgomery, and after removing the furniture from the house, I set it on fire. I also burned the cotton gin and out-houses; in fact, everything but the negro quarters. I informed Mrs. Montgomery it was done by way of retaliation for her husband burning the steamer Collier a few days previous. She replied, "This is no more than I expected when I heard what my husband had done." I also obtained the names of some of his company who own plantations in that vicinity and notified them, through the present occupants of the plantations, that if another overt act should be committed by that company I would serve them as I had Montgomery, their captain.
We destroyed several yawls and flat-boats along the road that were being hauled to the river every night in a wagon and used in ferrying, then taken back in the woods, and came to their former hiding place before daylight in the morning.
We also arrested and brought in several prisoners, among whom were three citizens, mail-carriers, with each a small package of mail destined for Arkansas. We reached Bolivar Landing, Miss., about dark, where we met the fleet, having marched about 35 miles.
I also have the honor to inform you that large quantities of corn in cribs, of last year's growth, and hundreds of acres grown this year, and now standing in the field, can be procured within 5 miles of the river and in some places immediately on its banks. I also learn that parties with trading boats along the river are dealing in cotton and furnishing the citizens with supplies and other necessities.
GEO. E. CURRIE
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.