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Chapter II: Preparing an Invasion (Part 2)
The question of who had to lead this army was answered in a very short time period. Price had offered Kirby Smith to take command of the combined forces, but it was clear to everyone involved that the offer was of purely rhetorical nature. The structure of the department was far too centralized and the lines of communication into Missouri were too limited to allow Kirby Smith to combine both tasks. Because of the goal of the campaign, there was only one real option left: Major-General Sterling Price himself.
Sterling Price, born in Prince Edward County, Virginia in 1809, was a lawyer, planter, politician, brigadier general of volunteers in the Mexican-American War and governor of Missouri from 1853 to 1857. He began the war opposed to secession but reversed himself after Federal militia seized Camp Jackson, where pro-Confederate militia had gathered. At the beginning of the war, Price commanded the Missouri State Guard and led his forces to two early victories at Wilson's Creek and Lexington. At Wilson's Creek he was largely responsible for the Confederate success as his troops bore the brunt of the heaviest fighting and at Lexington he developed the creative, ultimately battle-winning tactic. Both actions were widely reported across the south and made him a public hero. At Pea Ridge he drove the Union forces on his front back only to watch the rest of the army fail on the second day of the fighting. In the Battle of Corinth, Price and his men were the furthest on the field and were the only ones to seize the works in their front. At Helena, Price again was the only southern commander to temporarily achieve his objectives until his forces were cut down by flanking fire because the rest of the army did not advance as expected. His military decisions during the Little Rock campaign as well as at Prairie de Ann and Jenkins Ferry were well considered and personally inspiring. After his appointment, Price wasted little time and called for a series of meetings with several high-ranking officers to structure his army. Concerning the condition of the troops, 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 the nominally four 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: Fagan's and Marmaduke's divisions were to dismount and enter the campaign as infantry, while only Shelby's and Major's men 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 troops into two corps of infantry and one cavalry corps.
Command of the First Corps was given to Mosby Monroe Parsons simultaneously with a promotion to Major-General. Parsons was born at Charlottesville, Virginia, May 21, 1822. He moved as a young man to Cole County, Missouri, where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar. During the war with Mexico he commanded a company of mounted volunteers. From 1853 to 1857 he was attorney general of Missouri, and subsequently was elected to the state senate. Parsons was actively allied with Governor Claiborne Jackson in an effort to hold Missouri to the Confederate cause. He commanded the 6th Division of the Missouri State Guard from the outbreak of war until he was commissioned brigadier in the Confederate service on November 5, 1862. He fought at Carthage, Springfield, and Pea Ridge, and in the Arkansas campaigns of 1862 and 1863. The following year he was sent to reinforce Richard Taylor during the Red River campaign. Although he was in command of a division only since March 24, 1864, when Brigadier-General Thomas Drayton was relieved of command, and his brigade together with Parsons' formed an all Missouri division, he had subsequently shown solid leadership qualities and the ability to extraordinarily motivate his troops. Price cited that 'by his tact, good sense, skill, and military ability he has always kept his men in the highest state of discipline and efficiency'. At Pleasant Hill, Parsons' division formed the extreme right of the Confederate battle line. Facing the Vicksburg veterans of Major-General Andrew J. Smith's XVI. Corps, Parsons ordered the whole line to charge throwing his two brigades with impetuosity and the wildest enthusiasm down a slope into a giant killing field. They overran a brigade of New Yorkers and took a battery of six pieces, but were forced back later due to a counterattack against their right flank. The division only retreated after vicious hand-to-hand fighting. At Jenkins Ferry Parsons and his men charged through a swamp and repeatedly routed Frederick Steele's left flank, causing the Federal position to falter.
Parsons' first division was given to Brigadier-General William Lewis Cabell. He was born at Danville, Virginia, January 1, 1827, and was graduated from West Point in 1850. His United States service was principally in the quartermaster's department. Upon his resignation in 1861, he was promptly assigned by the Confederate War Department as major and chief quartermaster to General Beauregard at Manassas. He later served on the staff of General Joseph E. Johnston, at which time he assisted these two officers in designing the Confederate battle flag. Transferred to the Trans-Mississippi under General Van Dorn, Cabell was of great service after the Battle of Pea Ridge, when he ferried the latter's entire command to the eastern bank of the Mississippi River. Later, he was appointed brigadier-general to rank from January 20, 1863. He was to command Fagan's former cavalry division, now dismounted, together about 6,200 men.
Cabell's first brigade was commanded by Colonel Anderson Gordon. He had been born on February 13, 1820 in Maury County, Tennessee and moved to Arkansas in 1839 with his family. He worked as a store clrek, grocer and farmer and became the postmaster of Lewisburg in 1846. Gordon served two terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives and became a wealthy landowner. He did not enlist in the Confederate army at the beginning of the war but raised a cavalry company in 1862. Promoted to colonel in December 15, 1863, he took command of the 4th Arkansas Cavalry and led it during the Camden expedition until Cabell rose to division command and Gordon was given his old unit. The brigade of 2,700 men included his own regiment as well as Monroe's and Morgan's Arkansas Cavalry Regiments and Gunter's. Harrell's. Hill's and Witherspoon's Arkansas Cavalry Battalions.
Colonel Archibald Stephenson Dobbins commanded the second brigade in the division. Dobbins was born in 1827 in Maury County, Tennessee and moved to Arkansas in the early 1850s to establish himself as a planter. He did not serve in the military during the first year of the war but rather continued his occupation. In 1862, Dobbins crossed the Mississippi River and joined the Confederate army near Corinth, Mississippi, as a staff officer. He raised a unit to serve under his command in 1863 and led his regiment at the Battle of Helena. During the Little Rock Campaign later that year he was promoted to command a brigade. During the Camden Expedition Dobbins served in eastern Arkansas but returned to the main force soon thereafter. His brigade fielded 800 men in his old unit, McGhee's, Witt's and Lyle's Arkansas Cavalry Regiments and Anderson's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion.
The third brigade was led by Colonel William Ferguson Slemons. He was born on March 15, 1830 near Dresden, Tennessee to a family with scottish origins. Slemons attended Bethel College in McKenzie and moved to Arkansas in 1852, worked briefly as a teacher and studied law. Admitted to the state bar in 1855, Slemons served as a supportive delegate at the Arkansas Secession Convention in 1861 and soon thereafter joined the Confederate army. As a leader of the original 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, his service included being under the command of General Nathan B. Forrest while serving in the western theater. In addition to his old regiment, the brigade included Carlton's, Crawford's, Rogan's and Wright's Arkansas Cavalry Regiments, 1,000 men all in all.
Cabell's last brigade followed the orders of Colonel Thomas Hamilton McCray. He was born in 1828 near Jonesborough, Tennessee and farmed there until he moved to Arkansas and later to Texas to operate mills. Just before the beginning of the war, he returned to Arkansas, settling in Wittsburg, Cross County. In late 1861 he raised troops and was elected major, then colonel of the 31st Arkansas Infantry Regiment. During the 1862 Kentucky Campaign he led a brigade of Texas and Arkansas infantry and distinguished himself at the Battle of Richmond. Dissatisfied at not being promoted to brigadier-general, McCray requested transfer to the Trans-Mississippi Department where he helped raising several regiments of Arkansas cavalry and was again put in brigade command. His 1,700 men strong brigade incorporated the 15th Missouri Cavalry Regiment as well as the 45th and 47th Arkansas Mounted Infantry Regiments.
Rounding up the division were two batteries of six guns each under Captains William D. Blocher and William M. Hughey.
Chapter II: Preparing an Invasion (Part 2)
The question of who had to lead this army was answered in a very short time period. Price had offered Kirby Smith to take command of the combined forces, but it was clear to everyone involved that the offer was of purely rhetorical nature. The structure of the department was far too centralized and the lines of communication into Missouri were too limited to allow Kirby Smith to combine both tasks. Because of the goal of the campaign, there was only one real option left: Major-General Sterling Price himself.
Sterling Price, born in Prince Edward County, Virginia in 1809, was a lawyer, planter, politician, brigadier general of volunteers in the Mexican-American War and governor of Missouri from 1853 to 1857. He began the war opposed to secession but reversed himself after Federal militia seized Camp Jackson, where pro-Confederate militia had gathered. At the beginning of the war, Price commanded the Missouri State Guard and led his forces to two early victories at Wilson's Creek and Lexington. At Wilson's Creek he was largely responsible for the Confederate success as his troops bore the brunt of the heaviest fighting and at Lexington he developed the creative, ultimately battle-winning tactic. Both actions were widely reported across the south and made him a public hero. At Pea Ridge he drove the Union forces on his front back only to watch the rest of the army fail on the second day of the fighting. In the Battle of Corinth, Price and his men were the furthest on the field and were the only ones to seize the works in their front. At Helena, Price again was the only southern commander to temporarily achieve his objectives until his forces were cut down by flanking fire because the rest of the army did not advance as expected. His military decisions during the Little Rock campaign as well as at Prairie de Ann and Jenkins Ferry were well considered and personally inspiring. After his appointment, Price wasted little time and called for a series of meetings with several high-ranking officers to structure his army. Concerning the condition of the troops, 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 the nominally four 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: Fagan's and Marmaduke's divisions were to dismount and enter the campaign as infantry, while only Shelby's and Major's men 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 troops into two corps of infantry and one cavalry corps.
Command of the First Corps was given to Mosby Monroe Parsons simultaneously with a promotion to Major-General. Parsons was born at Charlottesville, Virginia, May 21, 1822. He moved as a young man to Cole County, Missouri, where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar. During the war with Mexico he commanded a company of mounted volunteers. From 1853 to 1857 he was attorney general of Missouri, and subsequently was elected to the state senate. Parsons was actively allied with Governor Claiborne Jackson in an effort to hold Missouri to the Confederate cause. He commanded the 6th Division of the Missouri State Guard from the outbreak of war until he was commissioned brigadier in the Confederate service on November 5, 1862. He fought at Carthage, Springfield, and Pea Ridge, and in the Arkansas campaigns of 1862 and 1863. The following year he was sent to reinforce Richard Taylor during the Red River campaign. Although he was in command of a division only since March 24, 1864, when Brigadier-General Thomas Drayton was relieved of command, and his brigade together with Parsons' formed an all Missouri division, he had subsequently shown solid leadership qualities and the ability to extraordinarily motivate his troops. Price cited that 'by his tact, good sense, skill, and military ability he has always kept his men in the highest state of discipline and efficiency'. At Pleasant Hill, Parsons' division formed the extreme right of the Confederate battle line. Facing the Vicksburg veterans of Major-General Andrew J. Smith's XVI. Corps, Parsons ordered the whole line to charge throwing his two brigades with impetuosity and the wildest enthusiasm down a slope into a giant killing field. They overran a brigade of New Yorkers and took a battery of six pieces, but were forced back later due to a counterattack against their right flank. The division only retreated after vicious hand-to-hand fighting. At Jenkins Ferry Parsons and his men charged through a swamp and repeatedly routed Frederick Steele's left flank, causing the Federal position to falter.
Parsons' first division was given to Brigadier-General William Lewis Cabell. He was born at Danville, Virginia, January 1, 1827, and was graduated from West Point in 1850. His United States service was principally in the quartermaster's department. Upon his resignation in 1861, he was promptly assigned by the Confederate War Department as major and chief quartermaster to General Beauregard at Manassas. He later served on the staff of General Joseph E. Johnston, at which time he assisted these two officers in designing the Confederate battle flag. Transferred to the Trans-Mississippi under General Van Dorn, Cabell was of great service after the Battle of Pea Ridge, when he ferried the latter's entire command to the eastern bank of the Mississippi River. Later, he was appointed brigadier-general to rank from January 20, 1863. He was to command Fagan's former cavalry division, now dismounted, together about 6,200 men.
Cabell's first brigade was commanded by Colonel Anderson Gordon. He had been born on February 13, 1820 in Maury County, Tennessee and moved to Arkansas in 1839 with his family. He worked as a store clrek, grocer and farmer and became the postmaster of Lewisburg in 1846. Gordon served two terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives and became a wealthy landowner. He did not enlist in the Confederate army at the beginning of the war but raised a cavalry company in 1862. Promoted to colonel in December 15, 1863, he took command of the 4th Arkansas Cavalry and led it during the Camden expedition until Cabell rose to division command and Gordon was given his old unit. The brigade of 2,700 men included his own regiment as well as Monroe's and Morgan's Arkansas Cavalry Regiments and Gunter's. Harrell's. Hill's and Witherspoon's Arkansas Cavalry Battalions.
Colonel Archibald Stephenson Dobbins commanded the second brigade in the division. Dobbins was born in 1827 in Maury County, Tennessee and moved to Arkansas in the early 1850s to establish himself as a planter. He did not serve in the military during the first year of the war but rather continued his occupation. In 1862, Dobbins crossed the Mississippi River and joined the Confederate army near Corinth, Mississippi, as a staff officer. He raised a unit to serve under his command in 1863 and led his regiment at the Battle of Helena. During the Little Rock Campaign later that year he was promoted to command a brigade. During the Camden Expedition Dobbins served in eastern Arkansas but returned to the main force soon thereafter. His brigade fielded 800 men in his old unit, McGhee's, Witt's and Lyle's Arkansas Cavalry Regiments and Anderson's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion.
The third brigade was led by Colonel William Ferguson Slemons. He was born on March 15, 1830 near Dresden, Tennessee to a family with scottish origins. Slemons attended Bethel College in McKenzie and moved to Arkansas in 1852, worked briefly as a teacher and studied law. Admitted to the state bar in 1855, Slemons served as a supportive delegate at the Arkansas Secession Convention in 1861 and soon thereafter joined the Confederate army. As a leader of the original 2nd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, his service included being under the command of General Nathan B. Forrest while serving in the western theater. In addition to his old regiment, the brigade included Carlton's, Crawford's, Rogan's and Wright's Arkansas Cavalry Regiments, 1,000 men all in all.
Cabell's last brigade followed the orders of Colonel Thomas Hamilton McCray. He was born in 1828 near Jonesborough, Tennessee and farmed there until he moved to Arkansas and later to Texas to operate mills. Just before the beginning of the war, he returned to Arkansas, settling in Wittsburg, Cross County. In late 1861 he raised troops and was elected major, then colonel of the 31st Arkansas Infantry Regiment. During the 1862 Kentucky Campaign he led a brigade of Texas and Arkansas infantry and distinguished himself at the Battle of Richmond. Dissatisfied at not being promoted to brigadier-general, McCray requested transfer to the Trans-Mississippi Department where he helped raising several regiments of Arkansas cavalry and was again put in brigade command. His 1,700 men strong brigade incorporated the 15th Missouri Cavalry Regiment as well as the 45th and 47th Arkansas Mounted Infantry Regiments.
Rounding up the division were two batteries of six guns each under Captains William D. Blocher and William M. Hughey.
- Lothar
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