Skirmish at Elm Hill - Morning of May 9th

Colonel Kirk Marple's brigade departed Greenville early on the morning of May 9th with orders to engage Brigadier General Benjamin Martin's brigade, which had bivouacked at Elm Hill west of town.

Marple's men found Martin's Brigade deployed and ready on Elm Hill and a brief, but sharp skirimish erupted. Marple's men took heavier losses, but both sides were low on ammunition from the previous day's fighting. The 27th Arkansas was forced to give way first when its ammunition was depleted, allowing the 19th Indiana to advance on the flank of the 32nd Arkansas.

 

Within a short time, the 32nd Arkansas and 20th Missouri both ran out of ammunition and were forced to retreat. The 34th Arkansas covered the withdrawal of the 32nd and then also pulled back. Marple's Brigade held the hill, but neither side was sufficiently confident to continue the engagement.