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IV. The Battle of Ferguson Lake
Seeing the federals to their front across Clear Creek but being oblivious to their strength, Walker sent for three of Polignac's brigades. The frenchman's fourth brigade, under Brigadier General Thomas N. Waul, was to remain guarding the division's wagon train. Polignac led the brigades of Colonels Philip N. Luckett and Oran M. Roberts to report to Walker near the river bank while Looscan's brigade was already skirmishing with federal cavalry at a ford to the east. The men were deployed about three-quarters of a mile south of the Creek. Polignac directed Luckett to probe Steele's main line across the water, but the men were not making any headway. Roberts' soldiers were taking a stationary position and after a short while, one of Walker's aides rode up and told Luckett to fall back and deploy on Roberts' right. The Union presence was visibly growing and no Confederate reinforcements were at hand
At that critical moment, Frederick Steele had made up his mind. He saw clearly, that he was only facing an isolated portion of Price's force which was additionally being outnumbered by him. After having put both of his infantry divisions into line, the federals began their push on the lakeside and over the stream. Near the evening, Steele's men came up against Polignac's line.
The federal commander decided to have the infantry attack the french duke's position along the river bank while the majority of Eugene Carr's cavalry would attack the Confederate left and Clayton's independent brigade would cover his own left flank. Just before the Union attack, Walker and Polignac rode along the line shouting encouragement and exposing themselves to fire.
When the federals attacked, Steele's infantry first assaulted Luckett's advanced line. Luckett's brigade fell back and reformed on crest of a ridge in contact with Roberts' brigade. Steele's force made no immediate move to follow up their attack during Luckett's retirement. Luckett's force had time to throw up fence rail barricades before receiving another attack. When the Union infantry finally resumed the attack, Polignac's reorganized defensive line, using heavy, well directed volleys of musketry, twice drove them back. On the left, Eugene Carr's cavalry attacked the 28th Texas Cavalry guarding the extreme western flank of Roberts' brigade, who continued to hold out despite heavy losses, until they finally ran out of ammunition. By presenting a good front, without any cartridges left, the dismounted cavalrymen discouraged a further attack against them as they occupied a stronger position further south and pretended they had ammunition. As dark was coming on, Polignac led Looscan's men in a charge that drove the federals back, seeming to drain their remaining energy.
By this time, the night had become very dark and Steele ordered the Union attack ended in the face of Polignac's resistance. Colonel Clayton later criticized Steele for making this decision, stating the federals had lost "a golden opportunity" and that "daylight had nothing to do with it" Nonetheless, skirmishers and videttes of the opposing sides continued to fire at each other for hours after dark.
The two armies' battle lines were very close to each other at the end of the day's battle, in places only about 100 yards apart. Steele's infantry was across the main road towards Ironton with parts of Carr's cavalry on the right and Clayton's cavalry on the left. Polignac's two brigades were holding Walker's front and slept on their arms in anticipation of an early morning attack. After a lengthy discussion however, Steele decided to fall back to more defensible gound around Ironton despite the fact he had succeeded in driving the better part of a confederate division from the field.
Although only a partial victory which did not remove Walker from the field, the Battle near Ferguson Lake temporarily gave the initiative to the disadvantaged federals. Confederate infantrymen fought both Union cavalry and infantry and slowed the spirited Union progress throughout the day. Walker's delaying actions were effective at several points but the Confederate line had been pushed back several miles by the end of the day. Nonetheless, the federals had suffered and were not eager to hold their advanced position. While Steele lost about 750 men during his assault, Walker suffered nearly 350 losses. Most prominent casualty of the day was Texan Colonel Oran M. Roberts, whose right index finger was ripped off by a minie ball.
IV. The Battle of Ferguson Lake:
28th Texas Cavalry holds back Eugene A. Carr's Union division
Confederate commander Sterling Price had started his move towards Little Rock in the morning of June 29th, 1864. While Fagan's cavalry feigned moves against other Union strongholds at Fort Smith, Pine Bluff and Helena, the main army was directly marching in the direction of the state capital. Around midday of July 2nd, the leading columns of Walker's corps in the form of Polignac's division reached Ferguson Lake south of the hamlet and small road hub of Ironton, about 12 miles to the south of Little Rock. Union Major General Frederick Steele however had not been idle in the meantime and had decided to confront the van of Price's force in order to ascertain his opponent's strength. He formed his full command along a small river called Clear Creek, with his right flank resting on the shore of Ferguson Lake. There he patiently waited for Walker to make the first move.
28th Texas Cavalry holds back Eugene A. Carr's Union division
Seeing the federals to their front across Clear Creek but being oblivious to their strength, Walker sent for three of Polignac's brigades. The frenchman's fourth brigade, under Brigadier General Thomas N. Waul, was to remain guarding the division's wagon train. Polignac led the brigades of Colonels Philip N. Luckett and Oran M. Roberts to report to Walker near the river bank while Looscan's brigade was already skirmishing with federal cavalry at a ford to the east. The men were deployed about three-quarters of a mile south of the Creek. Polignac directed Luckett to probe Steele's main line across the water, but the men were not making any headway. Roberts' soldiers were taking a stationary position and after a short while, one of Walker's aides rode up and told Luckett to fall back and deploy on Roberts' right. The Union presence was visibly growing and no Confederate reinforcements were at hand
At that critical moment, Frederick Steele had made up his mind. He saw clearly, that he was only facing an isolated portion of Price's force which was additionally being outnumbered by him. After having put both of his infantry divisions into line, the federals began their push on the lakeside and over the stream. Near the evening, Steele's men came up against Polignac's line.
The federal commander decided to have the infantry attack the french duke's position along the river bank while the majority of Eugene Carr's cavalry would attack the Confederate left and Clayton's independent brigade would cover his own left flank. Just before the Union attack, Walker and Polignac rode along the line shouting encouragement and exposing themselves to fire.
When the federals attacked, Steele's infantry first assaulted Luckett's advanced line. Luckett's brigade fell back and reformed on crest of a ridge in contact with Roberts' brigade. Steele's force made no immediate move to follow up their attack during Luckett's retirement. Luckett's force had time to throw up fence rail barricades before receiving another attack. When the Union infantry finally resumed the attack, Polignac's reorganized defensive line, using heavy, well directed volleys of musketry, twice drove them back. On the left, Eugene Carr's cavalry attacked the 28th Texas Cavalry guarding the extreme western flank of Roberts' brigade, who continued to hold out despite heavy losses, until they finally ran out of ammunition. By presenting a good front, without any cartridges left, the dismounted cavalrymen discouraged a further attack against them as they occupied a stronger position further south and pretended they had ammunition. As dark was coming on, Polignac led Looscan's men in a charge that drove the federals back, seeming to drain their remaining energy.
By this time, the night had become very dark and Steele ordered the Union attack ended in the face of Polignac's resistance. Colonel Clayton later criticized Steele for making this decision, stating the federals had lost "a golden opportunity" and that "daylight had nothing to do with it" Nonetheless, skirmishers and videttes of the opposing sides continued to fire at each other for hours after dark.
The two armies' battle lines were very close to each other at the end of the day's battle, in places only about 100 yards apart. Steele's infantry was across the main road towards Ironton with parts of Carr's cavalry on the right and Clayton's cavalry on the left. Polignac's two brigades were holding Walker's front and slept on their arms in anticipation of an early morning attack. After a lengthy discussion however, Steele decided to fall back to more defensible gound around Ironton despite the fact he had succeeded in driving the better part of a confederate division from the field.
Although only a partial victory which did not remove Walker from the field, the Battle near Ferguson Lake temporarily gave the initiative to the disadvantaged federals. Confederate infantrymen fought both Union cavalry and infantry and slowed the spirited Union progress throughout the day. Walker's delaying actions were effective at several points but the Confederate line had been pushed back several miles by the end of the day. Nonetheless, the federals had suffered and were not eager to hold their advanced position. While Steele lost about 750 men during his assault, Walker suffered nearly 350 losses. Most prominent casualty of the day was Texan Colonel Oran M. Roberts, whose right index finger was ripped off by a minie ball.
- Lothar
- Word Count: 890