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II. Preparations
Before Price could make his return into Missouri, there were still several things to be done, especially concerning the organisation of his troops. He needed to piece together an army not only for the purpose of raiding the countryside but to liberate an entire state. He had to make a long march from south of the Arkansas River through rugged and punishing terrain, but most importantly, he had to destroy the sizable Union force in Arkansas under the command of Frederick Steele, who was now located in the direct vecinity of Little Rock.
Price began his final planning for the expedition directly after the assembly with Reynolds and Kirby Smith on June 20. He wasted little time and called for a series of meetings with several high-ranking officers to structure his army. Present were at that time in and around Camden the infantry divisions of John G. Walker, Thomas J. Churchill and Mosby Parsons as well as the cavalry divisions of John S. Marmaduke, Joseph Shelby and James F. Fagan.
Especially the cavaly was in a deplorable state, because there was a severe shortage of horses and mules. Despite a windfall of captured animals from the Red River campaign, hundreds of men in those three divisions had no horses, and thousands more rode mules. Just as problematical, the overall quality of many animals could only be described as marginal. Active campaigning and hard riding lay behind them and scores of animals were worn down and needed rest.
This led Price to a fateful decision: Marmaduke's and Shelby's divisions were to dismount and enter the campaign as infantry, while only Fagan would form the army's mounted wing. This not only freed up thousands of animals for the wagon train, but provided the infantry with a larger mass of experienced troops to deliver a real punch in battle. Based on this decision, Price formed his units into two corps of infantry and one cavalry division.
Command of the I. Corps was given to Major General Mosby Parsons and the force was nearly exclusively comprised of Missourians. His own division would now serve under Brigadier General John B. Clark and consisted of two brigades under Colonels Charles S. Mitchell and Simon P. Burns. The next division, Brigadier General Joseph Shelby's, incorporated his own Iron Brigade under Colonel David Shanks as well as a brigade under Colonel Sidney D. Jackman, who had been a bushwhacker once before. The third division served under Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke and consisted of another two brigades under Colonels Colton Greene and Thomas R. Freeman. Rounding up the corps were four full batteries of artillery. Therefore the command fielded about 9,200 men and 24 guns.
Command of the II. Corps was given to Major General John G. Walker and was comprised of Texas and Arkansas troops. Walker's former division was now commanded by the illustrous Major General Camille A. J. M. Prince de Polignac and consisted of the division's original three Texas brigades under Brigadier General Thomas N. Waul and Colonels Philip N. Luckett and Oran M. Roberts as well as an additional brigade of dismounted Texas cavalry under Colonel Michael Looscan, which had been provided by Kirby Smith. The second division, Brigadier General Thomas J. Churchill's, incorporated four Arkansas brigades under Brigadier Generals James C. Tappan, Alexander T. Hawthorn, Thomas P. Dockerty and Colonel Lucien C. Gause. Dockerty's brigade was reassigned by Kirby Smith as well. With three additional batteries of artillery, the corps fielded about 10,500 men and 18 guns.
As mentioned before, the cavalry was commanded by Major General James F. Fagan with brigades under Brigadier General William L. Cabell and Colonels Archibald S. Dobbins, William F. Slemons and Thomas H. McCray, all in all nearly 6,200 troopers.
The assignments were not only based on seniority, but served practical purposes as well. Price had, for example, feuded with Marmaduke for years. Therefore it was not unwise to not put him under his direct authority but to interpose a corps commander to mitigate conflicts.
Therefore Sterling Price's forces were organized in the following order of battle:
Army of the West, Major-General Sterling Price, 25.900 men:
I. Corps, Major-General Mosby Parsons, 9.200 men
Clark's Division, Brigadier-General John B. Clark jr., 2.200 men
Mitchell's Brigade, Colonel Charles S. Mitchell, 800 men
8th, 9th Missouri Infantry, Ruffner's Missouri Infantry Battalion
Burns' Brigade, Colonel Simon P. Burns, 1.400 men
10th, 11th, 12th, 16th Missouri Infantry, 9th Missouri Infantry Battalion
Shelby's Division (dismounted), Brigadier-General Joseph Shelby, 3.100 men
Iron Brigade, Colonel David Shanks, 1.400 men
5th, 11th, 12th Missouri Cavalry, Elliott's Missouri Cavalry, Crisp's Missouri Cavalry Battalion
Jackman's Brigade, Colonel Sidney D. Jackman, 1.700 men
Hunter's, Jackman's Missouri Cavalry, Schnable's, Williams' Missouri Cavalry Battalion, 46th Arkansas Infantry
Marmaduke's Division (dismounted), Brigadier-General John S. Marmaduke, 3.900 men
Greene's Brigade, Colonel Colton Greene, 1.200 men
3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 10th Missouri Cavalry, 14th Missouri Cavalry Battalion
Freeman's Brigade, Colonel Thomas R. Freeman, 2.700 men
Freeman's, Fristoe's Missouri Cavalry, Ford's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion
Artillery-Battalion
Harris' Missouri Battery
Collins' Missouri Battery
Connor's Missouri Battery
Lesueur's Missouri Battery
II. Corps, Major-General John G. Walker, 10.500 men
Polignac's Division, Major-General Camille A. J. M. Prince de Polignac, 5.600 men
Waul's Brigade, Brigadier-General Thomas N. Waul, 1.300 men
8th, 18th, 22nd Texas Infantry, 13th Texas Cavalry (dismounted)
Luckett's Brigade, Colonel Philip N. Luckett, 1.600 men
3rd, 16th, 17th, 19th Texas Infantry, 16th Texas Cavalry (dismounted)
Roberts' Brigade, Colonel Oran M. Roberts, 1.100 men
11th, 14th Texas Infantry, 28th Texas Cavalry (dismounted), Gould's Texas Infantry Battalion
Looscan's Brigade, Colonel Michael Looscan, 1.600 men
15th, 17th, 22nd, 31st, 34th Texas Cavalry (dismounted)
Churchill's Division, Brigadier-General Thomas J. Churchill, 4.900 men
Tappan's Brigade, Brigadier-General James C. Tappan, 1.600 men
24th, 27th, 33rd, 38th, Hardy's Arkansas Infantry
Gause's Brigade, Colonel Lucien C. Gause, 1.000 men
26th, 32nd, 36th Arkansas Infantry
Hawthorn's Brigade, Brigadier-General Alexander T. Hawthorn, 1.300 men
34th, 35th, 37th, Cocke's Arkansas Infantry
Dockerty's Brigade, Brigadier-General Thomas P. Dockerty, 1.000 men
18th, 19th, 20th Arkansas Infantry, 12th Arkansas Infantry Battalion
Artillery-Battalion
Hynson's Texas Battery
Hughey's Arkansas Battery
Blocher's Arkansas Battery
Cavalry Division, Major-General James F. Fagan, 6.200 men
Cabell's Brigade, Brigadier-General William L. Cabell, 2.700 men
Gordon's, Monroe's, Morgan's Arkansas Cavalry, Gunter's, Harrell's, Hill's Witherspoon's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion
Dobbins' Brig, Colonel Archibald S. Dobbins, 800 men
Dobbins', McGhee's, Witt's, Lyle's Arkansas Cavalry, Anderson's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion
Slemons' Brigade, Colonel William F. Slemons, 1.000 men
2nd, Calton's, Crawford's, Rogan's, Wright's Arkansas Cavalry
McCray's Brigade, Colonel Thomas H. McCray, 1.700 men
15th Missouri Cavalry, 45th, 47th Arkansas Mounted Infantry
II. Preparations:
Before Price could make his return into Missouri, there were still several things to be done, especially concerning the organisation of his troops. He needed to piece together an army not only for the purpose of raiding the countryside but to liberate an entire state. He had to make a long march from south of the Arkansas River through rugged and punishing terrain, but most importantly, he had to destroy the sizable Union force in Arkansas under the command of Frederick Steele, who was now located in the direct vecinity of Little Rock.
Price began his final planning for the expedition directly after the assembly with Reynolds and Kirby Smith on June 20. He wasted little time and called for a series of meetings with several high-ranking officers to structure his army. Present were at that time in and around Camden the infantry divisions of John G. Walker, Thomas J. Churchill and Mosby Parsons as well as the cavalry divisions of John S. Marmaduke, Joseph Shelby and James F. Fagan.
Especially the cavaly was in a deplorable state, because there was a severe shortage of horses and mules. Despite a windfall of captured animals from the Red River campaign, hundreds of men in those three divisions had no horses, and thousands more rode mules. Just as problematical, the overall quality of many animals could only be described as marginal. Active campaigning and hard riding lay behind them and scores of animals were worn down and needed rest.
This led Price to a fateful decision: Marmaduke's and Shelby's divisions were to dismount and enter the campaign as infantry, while only Fagan would form the army's mounted wing. This not only freed up thousands of animals for the wagon train, but provided the infantry with a larger mass of experienced troops to deliver a real punch in battle. Based on this decision, Price formed his units into two corps of infantry and one cavalry division.
Command of the I. Corps was given to Major General Mosby Parsons and the force was nearly exclusively comprised of Missourians. His own division would now serve under Brigadier General John B. Clark and consisted of two brigades under Colonels Charles S. Mitchell and Simon P. Burns. The next division, Brigadier General Joseph Shelby's, incorporated his own Iron Brigade under Colonel David Shanks as well as a brigade under Colonel Sidney D. Jackman, who had been a bushwhacker once before. The third division served under Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke and consisted of another two brigades under Colonels Colton Greene and Thomas R. Freeman. Rounding up the corps were four full batteries of artillery. Therefore the command fielded about 9,200 men and 24 guns.
Command of the II. Corps was given to Major General John G. Walker and was comprised of Texas and Arkansas troops. Walker's former division was now commanded by the illustrous Major General Camille A. J. M. Prince de Polignac and consisted of the division's original three Texas brigades under Brigadier General Thomas N. Waul and Colonels Philip N. Luckett and Oran M. Roberts as well as an additional brigade of dismounted Texas cavalry under Colonel Michael Looscan, which had been provided by Kirby Smith. The second division, Brigadier General Thomas J. Churchill's, incorporated four Arkansas brigades under Brigadier Generals James C. Tappan, Alexander T. Hawthorn, Thomas P. Dockerty and Colonel Lucien C. Gause. Dockerty's brigade was reassigned by Kirby Smith as well. With three additional batteries of artillery, the corps fielded about 10,500 men and 18 guns.
As mentioned before, the cavalry was commanded by Major General James F. Fagan with brigades under Brigadier General William L. Cabell and Colonels Archibald S. Dobbins, William F. Slemons and Thomas H. McCray, all in all nearly 6,200 troopers.
The assignments were not only based on seniority, but served practical purposes as well. Price had, for example, feuded with Marmaduke for years. Therefore it was not unwise to not put him under his direct authority but to interpose a corps commander to mitigate conflicts.
Therefore Sterling Price's forces were organized in the following order of battle:
Army of the West, Major-General Sterling Price, 25.900 men:
I. Corps, Major-General Mosby Parsons, 9.200 men
Clark's Division, Brigadier-General John B. Clark jr., 2.200 men
Mitchell's Brigade, Colonel Charles S. Mitchell, 800 men
8th, 9th Missouri Infantry, Ruffner's Missouri Infantry Battalion
Burns' Brigade, Colonel Simon P. Burns, 1.400 men
10th, 11th, 12th, 16th Missouri Infantry, 9th Missouri Infantry Battalion
Shelby's Division (dismounted), Brigadier-General Joseph Shelby, 3.100 men
Iron Brigade, Colonel David Shanks, 1.400 men
5th, 11th, 12th Missouri Cavalry, Elliott's Missouri Cavalry, Crisp's Missouri Cavalry Battalion
Jackman's Brigade, Colonel Sidney D. Jackman, 1.700 men
Hunter's, Jackman's Missouri Cavalry, Schnable's, Williams' Missouri Cavalry Battalion, 46th Arkansas Infantry
Marmaduke's Division (dismounted), Brigadier-General John S. Marmaduke, 3.900 men
Greene's Brigade, Colonel Colton Greene, 1.200 men
3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 10th Missouri Cavalry, 14th Missouri Cavalry Battalion
Freeman's Brigade, Colonel Thomas R. Freeman, 2.700 men
Freeman's, Fristoe's Missouri Cavalry, Ford's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion
Artillery-Battalion
Harris' Missouri Battery
Collins' Missouri Battery
Connor's Missouri Battery
Lesueur's Missouri Battery
II. Corps, Major-General John G. Walker, 10.500 men
Polignac's Division, Major-General Camille A. J. M. Prince de Polignac, 5.600 men
Waul's Brigade, Brigadier-General Thomas N. Waul, 1.300 men
8th, 18th, 22nd Texas Infantry, 13th Texas Cavalry (dismounted)
Luckett's Brigade, Colonel Philip N. Luckett, 1.600 men
3rd, 16th, 17th, 19th Texas Infantry, 16th Texas Cavalry (dismounted)
Roberts' Brigade, Colonel Oran M. Roberts, 1.100 men
11th, 14th Texas Infantry, 28th Texas Cavalry (dismounted), Gould's Texas Infantry Battalion
Looscan's Brigade, Colonel Michael Looscan, 1.600 men
15th, 17th, 22nd, 31st, 34th Texas Cavalry (dismounted)
Churchill's Division, Brigadier-General Thomas J. Churchill, 4.900 men
Tappan's Brigade, Brigadier-General James C. Tappan, 1.600 men
24th, 27th, 33rd, 38th, Hardy's Arkansas Infantry
Gause's Brigade, Colonel Lucien C. Gause, 1.000 men
26th, 32nd, 36th Arkansas Infantry
Hawthorn's Brigade, Brigadier-General Alexander T. Hawthorn, 1.300 men
34th, 35th, 37th, Cocke's Arkansas Infantry
Dockerty's Brigade, Brigadier-General Thomas P. Dockerty, 1.000 men
18th, 19th, 20th Arkansas Infantry, 12th Arkansas Infantry Battalion
Artillery-Battalion
Hynson's Texas Battery
Hughey's Arkansas Battery
Blocher's Arkansas Battery
Cavalry Division, Major-General James F. Fagan, 6.200 men
Cabell's Brigade, Brigadier-General William L. Cabell, 2.700 men
Gordon's, Monroe's, Morgan's Arkansas Cavalry, Gunter's, Harrell's, Hill's Witherspoon's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion
Dobbins' Brig, Colonel Archibald S. Dobbins, 800 men
Dobbins', McGhee's, Witt's, Lyle's Arkansas Cavalry, Anderson's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion
Slemons' Brigade, Colonel William F. Slemons, 1.000 men
2nd, Calton's, Crawford's, Rogan's, Wright's Arkansas Cavalry
McCray's Brigade, Colonel Thomas H. McCray, 1.700 men
15th Missouri Cavalry, 45th, 47th Arkansas Mounted Infantry
- Lothar
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