are all crowded, while soldiers and citizens of every class, dress and color, throng the avenues.

On the 14th, the people elect their officers for the new State government, under a free
constitution, and everything bids fair to see another bright star decorate the altar of the Union.
God grant it may be so, and that all the States now in rebellion, with the assistance of Uncle Sam's
soldiers, return to their true allegiance.

Several officers of our regiment have resigned, among whom is Capt. Marschner. We
miss him very much, for he was always good natured and full of fun. Lieut. Witte will succeed
him, and no doubt will fill his place like a true soldier as he 1s. John Verdier is now Capt.of Co. H.
The Hospital Steward, Charley Mooth, still retains his rosy cheeks and continues to deal out
quinine, and occasionally a little spirits. The Colonel, Quartermaster and Adjutant are well.

Hoping we may all some day return to our homes and friends, I subscribe myself

Yours as ever,
S.M."

As part of the Red River Campaign Steele was supposed to move against Confederate forces in
southwest Arkansas to prevent their opposing Bank's advance on Shreveport. Steele planned to
mass the infantry divisions of Frederick Solomon and E. M. Thayer (Dept. of the Frontier) and the
cavalry division of E. A. Carr (12,000 total) at Arkadelphia and draw toward him the two infantry
divisions of Sterling Price (under Churchill and Parsons) that were at Spring Hill. Confederate
cavalry divisions (under Fagan, Marmaduke, and Maxey) in the vicinity of Camden and Princeton
could then be driven off and these places occupied.

Although Sherman had asked Steele to begin his movement on 1 March, it did not get
started until the 23rd. This was three days after the divisions of Churchill and Parsons had left to
reinforce Taylor in Louisiana. Steele's delay was a major factor, if not the decisive one, in
preventing the Federal capture of Shreveport.

On 29 March Steele's column from Little Rock reached Arkadelphia, having skirmished
heavily with Confederate cavalry the entire way. A few days later Thayer's Frontier Division
joined him from Fort Smith. Confederate cavalry continued to be aggressive, and there were
skirmishes at Mt. Elba, 30 March; Spoonville (Terre Noire Creek) and Antoine, 2 April; Okolona,
3 April; and Elkin's Ford (Little Missouri River), 4 - 6 April.

Steele had no word from Thayer's column until the evening of the 6th. He waited in the
vicinity of Elkin's Ford, where Thayer joined him the night of 9-10 April. (At this time Banks had
decided to abandon his operation against Shreveport.) Steele now moved with his combined
force in the direction of Spring Hill to draw the Confederate cavalry in that direction and permit
his capture of Camden. He was engaged at Prairie d' Ann 10 - 13 April. (This place is about
halfway on a direct line between Arkadelphia and Spring Hill.) Steele then turned eastward and
occupied Camden 15 April; here he learned of Bank's failure.

Kirby Smith knew of Bank's withdrawl on 10 April, the day after Pleasant Hill, and
decided to move with his main infantry force against Steele in Arkansas. He reached Camden
20 April with the divisions of Churchill and Parsons and with J. G. Walker's division from
Louisiana. To turn Steele's position he sent a force across the Washita below the city to cut his

 

'” Evergreen City Times, Sheboygan, March 26, 1864, p. 1/3.

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