The Skirmish at Talbot’s Ferry (also known as Talbert’s Ferry) in Marion County was one of many skirmishes associated with General Samuel Curtis’s campaign in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas in 1862. The fighting was concentrated around a Confederate saltpeter manufactory located along the White River at Talbot’s Ferry near Yellville (Marion County).
On April 19, 1862, a detachment under the command of Captain James T. Drummond of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry crossed the White River near Yellville with intentions of locating and destroying the Confederate saltpeter manufactory located eight miles south of Little North Fork—now part of Bull Shoals Lake—on the south side of the river. During his patrol, Captain Drummond captured three men thought to be Confederate pickets placed along the river. He ordered these prisoners to ferry eight of his men across the river in canoes to destroy the manufactory. The Union soldiers were successful in destroying the manufactory and setting fire to the surrounding buildings.
In the taking of Talbot’s Ferry, the Confederate guard—consisting of around fifty men—that was protecting the manufactory began firing on Company I, Fourth Iowa, from log cabins located along the opposite side of the river. The two forces exchanged fire across the river for some time until a Union howitzer began firing on the Confederate position, dispersing the guard.
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Here is another version of the event researched by Vincent Anderson. It is found The Baxter Bulletin from the Baxter County Historical Society:
On April 16, 1862, Union General Samuel Ryan Curtis met the 4th Iowa Cavalry at Forsyth, Mo., where he immediately ordered a review of his new regiment. According to the biographer, Lt. William Force Scott, “the men aligned themselves along the very muddy road in a prolonged and pouring rain. The companies were drawn up in parade line. The general and his large staff went splashing by at a gallop, both reviewers and reviewed being hidden in rubber ponchos and hardly able to see each other through the storm. That was the detachment’s introduction to General Curtis, and the work of the regiment was laid out at once.”
Detachments were sent east and south toward the White River with orders to destroy any saltpeter works operated by the Rebels at different places along the river. Capt. James T. Drummond’s command of the 4th Iowa Cavalry was temporarily placed under the command of Col. Lafayette McCrillis of the 3rd Illinois.
Union forces place target on Bean Cave
After a day’s march in the heavy rain, it was learned that work was going on at a nitrate cave on the White River near the mouth of Little North Fork, 18 miles farther south. This particular cave was known as Bean Cave, three miles above Talbot’s Ferry.
The ferry was named for the pioneer family of three brothers — Fed, Sim and Wat Talbert — and was one of the first, fairly well-known ferries in the Ozarks on the White River. It was a strategic point of access for the Union.
The Union detachments ordered in the attack of Talbot’s Ferry were commanded by Capt. Thomas C. Tullis, Lt. William A. Heacock, Lt. Jacob Hart and Lt. Orson N. Perkins. The decision was made by McCrillis to send Drummond with Companies Q and K of the 4th Iowa Cavalry to destroy the property.
The forced march was mired in a series of thunderstorms and the darkness of the night. Their destination was achieved soon after dawn. The trek took them from their station in Ozark, Mo., to current day Lutie, Mo. They discovered their assumed ferry crossing at Dubuque on the White River was hindered because the river was engorged from the recent rains.
While in Ozark County, they journeyed through Locust, Mo., then onward through Three Brothers on the old Salt Road, or Highway 5 North today.
After reaching the old Military Road at its junction with Tucker Cemetery Road in Whiteville, the detachments turned west and headed toward the Denton Ferry Road along the White River.
Meeting the 'Butternuts'
By the next morning, the Confederate saltpeter cave and powder works came into view on the hill rising from the present day Marion County bank of the White River. About 50 Rebel “Butternuts” guarding the place showed themselves boldly and indulged in very “saucy remarks” to “come over” and secure their nitrate.
According to Lt. William F. Scott of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, the term “Butternuts” was a good-natured attempt applied by Union soldiers to the countrymen of the Southwest. Almost without exception these southern soldiers wore clothes made of coarse homespun cloth dyed by the women from the bark of the butternut tree. The color was a dirty yellow or faded brown, often an amusing complement to “the sallow complexion and yellowish hair of the wearers.”
The Union companies did not find the Butternuts’ action and comments amusing. Neither did they find a ford across the swollen river and, therefore, supposed themselves to be safe on the Baxter County side of the White River. Orders were given by Drummond to temporarily commandeer some boats a few miles up the river. Forays of soldiers were set along the river to give a cover for the men in retrieval.
Next target is Talbot's Ferry
As three canoes were retrieved, successive fire from eight of the best riflemen along the river bank gave their comrades temporary safety. Once the canoes were brought down, the cover of fire was once again initiated as the command was given to cross the river to destroy the property.
The Confederate guard pulled away after a slight skirmish. The Federal soldiers attacked the property and burned some of the buildings. No one was hurt among Drummond’s men and he returned to the main column on Denton Ferry Road on April 19.
The same day, McCrillis ordered Heacock with his own company to march rapidly upon Talbot’s Ferry and seize it. Heacock marched his men three miles down the river from the Bean Cave and reached the ferry. Heacock discovered a company of armed Rebel Butternuts stationed on the opposite bank guarding the ferryboat anchored there.
The ferry was owned and operated by Capt. Jesse Mooney, C.S.A. Mooney’s ownership would prove a point of contention for the Union, and it placed a large target squarely on the back of Mooney for the duration of the Civil War.
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Screenshots from THE WAR IN ARKANSAS map of Talbot's Ferry:
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