AOA Engineer Reports

HDQTRS

May 1st 1865 - 5:30 a.m.

 

Maj. Gen. SIDNEY BURBANK,

CMDR, Army of the Arkansas:

 

GENERAL: I have issued orders to Captains Thompson and Moore to proceed to Dardanelle via Lewisburg and construct a pontoon bridge at Dardanelle town. Captains Evans and Ortlip will proceed with their companies to Pine Bluff via Henry and construct a bridge linking Pine Bluff to the opposite bank. Captains Filman and Hennis will advance with their pontoon trains behind the infantry in the direction of Rockport.

 

The pontoon trains are expected to depart from HQTRS by 6:00 a.m. I will inform you when the bridges have been completed.

 

As per your queries, I have attached a map of Rockport. It appears to be a heavily wooded area with a large clearing running southwest from the Rockport Inn. The clearing has a knoll in the middle of it that may offer a position for artillery, but the knoll could be threatened by infantry advancing through the woods to its east or west. There is also a small clearing north of the Rockport Inn at the Hopkins Farm on the Hot Springs Road.  The Washita River is southwest of the Rockport Inn at the far end of the large clearing, where it is crossed by the Greenville Road that goes to both Greenville and Arkadelphia via Midway. From the records available, our troops should be able to ford the river without difficulty at that point. Artillery on the knoll to the northeast of the crossing should be able to fire on the crossing with shrapnel.

 

I remain, your obedient servant,

 

Col. MORRIS J. ROBERTS,

Chief of Engineers.

 

 

 

HDQTRS, Army of the Arkansas

Little Rock – May 2nd 1864 – 4:00  p.m.

 

Brig. Gen. G. R. McCann,

Chief of Staff, Army of the Arkansas,

 

GENERAL: Our signal station in Benton reports that the pontoon trains Companies E and F of the engineers are passing through Benton.

 

Respectfully,

 

Maj. HENRY THAYER,

Chief Signal Officer

 

HDQTRS

May 4^th 1864 – 6 pm.

 

Maj. Gen. SIDNEY BURBANK,

CMDR, Army of the Arkansas:

 

GENERAL:  Pontoon Trains from Cos. C & D have reached Pine Bluff and will start the construction of the bridge in the morning.  Cos. E & F are approaching Rockport. No reports from Cos. A & B, but they have already passed through Lewisport.

 

I remain, your obedient servant,

 

Col. MORRIS J. ROBERTS,

Chief of Engineers.

 

 

HDQTRS

May 6^th 1864 – 6 pm.

 

Maj. Gen. SIDNEY BURBANK,

CMDR, Army of the Arkansas:

 

GENERAL:  The river can be crossed at Ozark between Reed’s Landing and the Johnson House. The distance is about 500 yards. The crossing is reported to be difficult and slow and is not advised in the presence of the enemy on the opposite bank.  Any crossing against an enemy presence will likely result in heavy losses.  

 

I remain, your obedient servant,

 

Col. MORRIS J. ROBERTS,

Chief of Engineers.