DEF Provost Reports

Panther, 4^th May 1864 – 6:00 p.m.

Brig. Gen. RICHARD D. WHEELER,

Provost Marshall, Dept. of the Eastern Frontier,

 

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that the Seventy-First Regiment North Carolina Troops arrived in Panther. I have established my headquarters at Blue Moon Tavern, across from the St. Paul Church. I am sending Company A to Bethesda and Company B to Potter and will keep the rest of the regiment in town. Recruitment will begin as early as tomorrow morning.

The area appears to have Union sentiments.  Maj. Gen.  Conklin, whose headquarters is nearby, believes that we shall be able to recruit some men, but that we are unlikely to complete a regiment here.

The Thirty-Ninth South Carolina has already passed through Panther and Lieut. Col. Sowell expects that he will reach Winfield sometime tomorrow.

I remain, your obedient servant,

 

Col. CHARLES CLIFTON,

CMDR, Seventy-First Regiment North Carolina Troops

Provost Brigade, Dept. of the Eastern Frontier

Winfield, May 5^th  1864 – 6:00 p.m.

 

Brig. Gen. RICHARD D. WHEELER,

Provost Marshall, Dept. of the Eastern Frontier,

 

GENERAL: The Thirty-Ninth South Carolina has arrived in Winfield and established its headquarters at the Adcock House. I shall commence recruitment tomorrow morning, although the  population seems loyal to the Unionists cause.

 I am uncertain if we shall be able to complete a regiment in this town, or any other major town in the Ouchita Mountains. General Canning’s Headquarters is nearby and he believes that recruitment would be more successful in the Coastal Plain areas, such as Arkadelphia, Camden and the towns in that area.

I remain, your obedient servant,

Lieut. Col. ROBERT SOWELL

CMDR, Thirty-Ninth South Carolina Volunteer Infantry

Provost Brigade, Dept. of the Eastern Frontier

 

 

 

Winfield,  5^th May 1864 – 6 p.m.

Brig. Gen. RICHARD D. WHEELER,

Provost Marshall, Dept. of the Eastern Frontier,

 

GENERAL: At Mt. Gilead on May 4^th, with Second Brigade, 1^st Cavalry Division and Glenn’s Battery at Johnson House. Entire enemy 1^st Cavalry Division at Ozark and guarding crossings. 

 

I will proceed towards Danville tomorrow in search of enemy infantry of the enemy’s XXXI Corps, which was headquartered at Perryville for the winter.

 

Your obedient servant,

 

Lieut. AMOS N. PRICE

 

 

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Panther, 7^th May 1864 – 6:00 p.m.

Brig. Gen. RICHARD D. WHEELER,

Provost Marshall, Dept. of the Eastern Frontier,

 

GENERAL: I am pleased to report that we have begun recruitment and recruited nearly 50 men. I shall continue to recruit up to about the 14^th of May and then move to Danville.

I remain, your obedient servant,

 

Col. CHARLES CLIFTON,

CMDR, Seventy-First Regiment North Carolina Troops

Provost Brigade, Dept. of the Eastern Frontier

Winfield, May 7^th  1864 – 6:00 p.m.

Brig. Gen. RICHARD D. WHEELER,

Provost Marshall, Dept. of the Eastern Frontier,

 

GENERAL: We have begun recruiting, but only recruited 10 men so far.  The prospects look poor here. I propose to move to Fort Smith with immediate effect.

I remain, your obedient servant,

Lieut. Col. ROBERT SOWELL

CMDR, Thirty-Ninth South Carolina Volunteer Infantry

Provost Brigade, Dept. of the Eastern Frontier

 

 

Winfield, May 9^th 1864 – 8:00 a.m.

 

Brig. Gen. RICHARD D. WHEELER,

Provost Marshall, Dept. of the Eastern Frontier,

 

GENERAL: Reached Danville on May 7^th just before noon.   Position of XXXI Corps on May 7^th as follows:

 

Third Brigade, Third Division at Danville. Balance of division at Chickataw.

 

First Division  at Aikens Store and Petite Jean. Fifty-Seventh Wisconsin reported to be recruiting at Corps Headquarters at Perryville.

 

Third Division at Grave Creek.

 

Second Cavalry Division advanced against Castete on May 6^th after some delays. Army Headquarters reportedly unhappy with Brig. Gen. Fisher, CMDG.

 

Unable to confirm orders of battle obtained in April, but determined that Sixty-Eighth Kentucky, One Hundred and Ninetieth Illinois and Two Hundred and Forty-Sixth Ohio all assigned to first brigade, first division, XXXI Corps. Brigade is reported to be of low quality, but over 3,500 men.

 

Your obedient servant,

 

Lieut. AMOS N. PRICE