TAoA.
Army HQ.General Burbank Commanding.
30th April 1864.
To Maj Gen
Warner, commanding the Army Cavalry Corps.
At his
winter camp.
1/Cav will
move on the north bank west to Ozark, there to await further orders.
2/Cav will
move on the south bank via Dardanelle to Shoal Creek, there to await further
orders.
Sir, if
enemy cavalry is encountered in clearly inferior force, you may concentrate
your Corps and bring them to battle, and eliminate them.
Sir, I draw
to your attention to General Order #1, which Captain Terry will deliver with
this order.
Sir, please
give Captain Terry a reliable estimate of the time at which your Divisions will
be in place.
Please keep
this office informed of all developments.
Very
respectfully,
McCann.
Chief of
Staff.----------------------
HDQTRS, Cavalry Corps;
Little Rock – May 1st 1864 – 5:30
a.m.
Brig. Gen. G. R. McCann,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Arkansas,
Respectfully,
CMDR, Cavalry Corps
Army of the Arkansas
HDQTRS, Cavalry Corps;
Little Rock – May 3rd 1864 – 6:00
a.m.
Brig. Gen. G. R. McCann,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Arkansas,
GENERAL: The
Second Cavalry Division reached Shoal Creek at 4:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon
without opposition. The First Division is believed to be nearing Ozark.
My
intentions are to move my headquarters to Lewisburg today.
Respectfully,
Maj. Gen.
WILLIAM H. WARNER,
CMDR, Cavalry CorpsArmy of the Arkansas
-----------------------
HDQTRS, Cavalry Corps;
Lewisburg – May 4th – 6:00 a.m.
Brig. Gen.
Ewing reports that he has deployed his division just east of Ozark and has thrown
out skirmishers, but has not attempted to engage.
Respectfully,
Maj. Gen.
WILLIAM H. WARNER,
CMDR, Cavalry Corps
Army of the Arkansas
-----------
HDQTRS, Cavalry Corps;
Lewisburg – May 4th – 6:00 pm
Brig. Gen. G. R. McCann,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Arkansas,
GENERAL: Brig.
Gen. Ewing reports that his division controls the north bank of the river and
Ozark town. The enemy has withdrawn to the opposite bank and deployed at the
Johnson House.
Maj. Gen.
WILLIAM H. WARNER,
CMDR, Cavalry Corps
Army of the Arkansas
-------------
To Maj Gen Warner, commanding the
Army Cavalry Corps.
At his HQ at Lewisburg.
General Warner,
You are required on order of General
Burbank to move your command as follows:
1. The 1st Division at Ozark should
crowd the ford without engaging and should head across the minute the
opposite bank is vacated to support the 2nd Division at Castete or, attack
across in support of any thrust from the south by the 2nd Cavalry (see #2) BUT
ONLY IF THE ENEMY IS ENGAGED FROM THE SOUTH.
2. The 2nd Division should proceed west
with all deliberate speed from Shoal Creek and pile into the enemy
cavalry at Castete - providing they have no infantry support. Should no
enemy force be present at Castete they will leave a Brigade there and proceed
north to join forces with the 1st Cavalry. The Brigade left at Castete should
watch the roads from the south. Enemy infantry are expected on the march from
Booneville. The Brigade in question should fall back before them, but may
attack any targets of opportunity at their head of column, and may slow their
march by feigning attack and inducing them to deploy in line, repeatedly if
possible. Gradually falling back, that Brigade will intercept any enemy
retreating from Ozark, and will reunite with the rest of the cavalry Corps at
Ozark, avoiding any general engagement with enemy infantry.
General,
if we are able to trap the enemy cavalry at Ozark, it must be taken or
destroyed.
Please
acknowledge receipt, and act upon these orders immediately. We must do what
damage we can before their infantry support comes up.
Very
respectfully,
Gen
McCann, Chief of Staff.
----------------
HDQTRS, Cavalry Corps;
Lewisburg – May 5th – 6:00 pm
Brig. Gen. G. R. McCann,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Arkansas,
GENERAL: Orders
were sent to second division to move on Castete, but I have received no report
from either division. I expect second division to arrive in Castete no earlier
than this evening or tomorrow morning.
Respectfully,
Maj. Gen. WILLIAM
H. WARNER,
CMDR, Cavalry CorpsArmy of the Arkansas
HDQTRS, Cavalry Corps;
Lewisburg – May 6th – 11:00 pm
Brig. Gen. G. R. McCann,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Arkansas,
GENERAL: Brig.
Gen. Fisher reports that the first division engaged the third brigade of the
enemy’s first cavalry division at
Tackett Woods, east of Tackett Crossroads and Castete Creek. The enemy
brigade is composed of four Arkansas Regiments.
Brig. Gen. Kraft’s first brigade led the attack, supported by the third
brigade and the Eighth Iowa Battery. Second Brigade was held in reserve. He
reports a loss of approximately 60 men.
The attack
started late in the afternoon and the enemy put up strong resistance. By evening,
the enemy was still defending the Dardanelle Road, but was pushed back to west
Tackett Woods. Brig. Gen. Fisher will resume the attack at first light and
commit all three brigades. He expects to
occupy the crossroads by 8:00 a.m.
Respectfully,
Maj. Gen.
WILLIAM H. WARNER,
CMDR, Cavalry Corps
Army of the Arkansas
HDQTRS, Cavalry Corps;
Lewisburg – May 7th – 4:00 pm
Brig. Gen. G. R. McCann,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Arkansas,
GENERAL: It
is my honor to report that Brig. Gen. Fisher’s division took Tackett Crossroads
this morning at 10:00 a.m. and controls the area around Castete Creek. He has
deployed one brigade to defend the approaches from the direction of Winfield
and another brigade to defend the approach from Mt. Gilead, with his battery
and a reserve brigade at the crossroads.
Brig. Gen.
Fisher reports a small number of prisoners from the Twenty-Sixth,
Twenty-Eighth, Thirty-Second and Thirty-Third Arkansas Cavalry, which have already
been sent back to headquarters. They all belong to Brig. Gen. Smith’s Third
Brigade, Burroughs First Cavalry Division.
The brigade gave stiff resistance and retreated towards Mt. Gilead, but
prisoners report that it ran out of ammunition.
Respectfully,
Maj. Gen.
WILLIAM H. WARNER,
CMDR, Cavalry Corps
Army of the Arkansas
HDQTRS, Cavalry Corps;
Lewisburg – May 7th – 7:00 pm
Brig. Gen. G. R. McCann,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Arkansas,
GENERAL: Brig.
Gen. Ewing reports no change in the status at Ozark. The second infantry
division that arrived yesterday afternoon is composed of three infantry
brigades, one of which is believed to be flying Texas flags. The division has
three batteries: six-gun rifled battery and two batteries of napoleons. This
gives the enemy a total of six batteries on the opposite bank, but it has not
attempted to shell our position.
Respectfully,
Maj. Gen.
WILLIAM H. WARNER,
CMDR, Cavalry Corps
Army of the Arkansas
HDQTRS, Cavalry Corps;
Lewisburg – May 8th – 6:00 pm
Brig. Gen. G. R. McCann,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Arkansas,
GENERAL: I
have receive a report from Brig. Gen. Fisher concerning the engagement at
Castete yesterday. His total losses were 125 men. I am forwarding to you his
full report by courier.
Respectfully,
Maj. Gen.
WILLIAM H. WARNER,
CMDR, Cavalry Corps
Army of the Arkansas
HDQTRS, Cavalry Corps;
Lewisburg – May 8th – 6:00 pm
Brig. Gen. G. R. McCann,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Arkansas,
GENERAL: Attached
please find an engagement report from the second cavalry division covering the
action at Tackett Crossroads (Castete Creek) on May 6th and 7th.
Respectfully,
Maj. Gen.
WILLIAM H. WARNER,
CMDR, Cavalry Corps
Army of the Arkansas
Tackett’s
Crossroads, Castete Creek,
May 8th
1864
Maj. Gen.
WILLIAM H. WARNER,
CMDR,
Cavalry Corps,
GENERAL: The second division, cavalry corps was
encamped at Point Remove when it received orders to advance on Shoal Creek on
May 1st. The division crossed the Arkansas River the same day and
bivouacked approximately seven miles short of Stinnett Creek. On the morning of
May 2d , the division passed through Stinnett Creek and arrived at
Shoal Creek without encountering the enemy. Pickets were thrown out and the
division remained at Shoal Creek with division headquarters at the Black Bear
Tavern from May 3d to May 5th.
On the
evening of May 5th, orders were received to advance on Castete. The
second and third brigades were foraging for their horses, so departure from
Shoal Creek was delayed until late the following morning. The division reached
Tackett Woods east of Tackett Crossroads shortly before 4:00 p.m. and
encountered an enemy brigade of four Arkansas Cavalry regiments, which was
later identified as Smith’s Brigade, Burroughs’ Division. I deployed Stamm’s
Battery across the Dardanelle Road and began to shell the enemy, who fled into
nearby woods.
As the enemy
took cover at the edge of the woods, I advanced the first brigade under Brig.
Gen. Kraft, supported by the third brigade, Col. Ludwig. The first brigade
engaged the enemy, who gave stiff resistance but slowly fell back through
Tackett Woods along the Dardanelle Road. The third brigade began to move on the
enemy’s flank when it was necessary to disengage due to darkness.
On the morning
of May 7th, the attack was immediately commenced at 6:00 a.m. The
division was formed in battle line formation, with a center guide on Dardanelle
Road. Brig. Gen. Kraft led the assault on the center, with the enemy again
offering stiff resistance. As second and third brigades began to threaten the
enemy flank, it slowly fell back firing towards the crossroads. At about 7:00
a.m., one of the enemy regiments retired, presumably out of ammunition. As the
enemy’s remaining three regiments fell back towards the crossroads, Col.
Marple’s second brigade pressed the enemy’s right in a pasture, forcing the
enemy back to a position near the Tackett House.
At 8:00
a.m., the second and third brigades assaulted the enemy line at the crossroads.
The enemy fought briefly, but prisoners report that all regiments had exhausted
their ammunition. The enemy broke, fled, and was seen heading north in the
direction of Mt. Gilead. Enemy losses are estimated at about 150 men. 52 Sharps Carbines and a dozen Hall Carbines
were recovered from the field. Please find division returns appended.
I remain,
your obedient servant,
Brig. Gen.
WILLIAM FISHER
CMDR, Second
Division, Cavalry Corps
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