AR-CIVIL-WAR-L Archives

From: Ed Sanders <>
Subject: [AR-CIVIL-WAR] Poison Spring-Key to Steele's Failure
Date: Thu, 06 Sep 2001 15:16:31 -0500

The Red River Campaign: A Complete Federal Failure
Along with the defeat of Major General Nathaniel P. Banks on the Red
River in Louisiana, Major General Frederick Steele lost three major
encounters in Arkansas. In addition to the losses at Poison Spring, at
Marks’ Mills General Steele lost a large number of ambulances, 300
wagons, four stands of colors, four rifled guns, hundreds of small arms,
and mail with valuable documents. Plus, Federal forces lost 1,300 of
1,600 men, mostly to capture. Confederate forces lost 500 of 2,500 men.
At Jenkins Ferry, the Federals lost at least 700 men, while the
Confederates had 800 to 1,000 killed and wounded.

In the Camden Expedition, Steele suffered 2,750 casualties, lost 635
wagons, 2,500 mules and a large number of sutler and refugee wagons.

The entire campaign produced 5,000 casualties and much hardship for the
men of both the North and South, but no strategic advantage was gained
by either side.Proceed to Panel 6—
Panel 6ORDER OF BATTLE

Confederate Units
Task Force -Brigadier General Samuel B. Maxey
Brigadier General William L. Cabell
1stArkansas CavalryCol. J. C. Monroe
2nd Arkansas CavalryCol. T. J. Morgan
4th Arkansas CavalryCol. A. Gordon
7th Arkansas CavalryCol. J. F. Hill
McMurtrey’s Arkansas
Cavalry BattalionMajor E. L. McMurtrey
Trader’s Regiment of
Arkansas State TroopsCol. W. H. Trader
Gunter’s Arkansas
Cavalry BattalionLt. Col. T. M. Gunter
Hughey’s Arkansas BatteryCapt. W. M. Hughey
Gano’s Brigade
29thTexas CavalryMajor J. A. Carroll
30thTexas CavalryLt. Col. N. W. Battle
31st Texas CavalryMajor M. Looscan
Welch’s Texas Cavalry
CompanyLt. F. M. Gano
Krumbhaar’s Texas BatteryCapt. W. B. Krumbhaar
2nd Indian BrigadeCol. Randy Walker
1st Choctaw RegimentLt. Col. J. Walker
2nd Choctaw RegimentCol. S. W. Folsom

Colonel William A. Crawford’s Brigade
2nd Arkansas CavalryCapt. O. B. Tebbs
Crawford’s Arkansas
Cavalry BrigadeCol. Crawford
Wright’s Arkansas Cavalry BrigadeCol. J. C. Wright
Poe’s Arkansas Cavalry BattalionMajor J. T. Poe

Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke’s Division
General Colton Green’s Brigade
3rd Missouri CavalryLt. Col. L. A. Campbell
4th Missouri CavalryLt. Col. W. J. Preston
8th Missouri Cavalry DetachmentCapt. J. H. Cobb
Harris’ Missouri BatteryCapt. S. S. Harris

Order of Battle continued on next page—



Order of Battle, Poison Springs, Arkansas, continued—

Federal Units

Colonel James M. Williams’ Command

1st Kansas Colored InfantryMajor R. G. Ward
18th Iowa InfantryCapt. W. M. Duncan
Mitchell’s Detachment
2nd Kansas CavalryLt. B. B. Mitchell
Ross’s Detachment
2nd Kansas CavalryLt. E. Ross
Phillips’ Detachment
6th Kansas CavalryLt. R. L. Phillips
Henderson’s Detachment
6th Kansas CavalryLt. R. Henderson
Walker’s Detachment
6th Kansas CavalryLt. A. J. Walker
Utt’s Detachment
14th Kansas CavalryLt. J. Utt
Smith’s Detachment
14th Kansas CavalryLt. W. C. Smith
Section, 2nd Battery,
Indiana Light ArtilleryLt. W. W. Haines

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• [AR-CIVIL-WAR] Poison Spring-Key to Steele's Failure by Ed Sanders <>