CIVIL WAR MISSOURI, MAY 1863, SCOUT INTO NEWTON & JASPER COUNTIES

CIVIL WAR MISSOURI, MAY 1863, SCOUT INTO NEWTON & JASPER COUNTIES MAY 21-30, 1863
SCOUT FROM CASSVILLE, THROUGH NORTHWEST ARKANSAS, INTO NEWTON AND JASPER COUNTIES, INCLUDING SKIRMISHES AT BENTONVILLE (22ND) AND CARTHAGE (26TH)

Report of Col. William F. Cloud, Second Kansas Cavalry (Union), Commanding District of Southwestern Missouri, to Major General John Schofield, Commanding Department of the Missouri

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., May 30, 1863.

GENERAL: I have the honor to inform you that I have just returned from a movement to the south and west of this place.

I left Cassville on the 21st, and on the morning of the 22d surprised the rebel force at Bentonville, taking 2 commissioned officers, 1 first sergeant, and 11 privates prisoners, and killing 1. I also recaptured 3 prisoners in the hands of the enemy.

Learning that Coffee and Hunter were at Pineville, I immediately moved in that direction, and, taking their trail, followed them from Pineville, via Rutledge; then west of Neosho to Diamond Grove, and west of Carthage about 10 miles, where I overtook a part of their force, under Coffee, about 100 strong, and attacked them with about equal force at daylight of Tuesday, May 26, and as they would not stand and fight, but took to the woods and brush, I was obliged to be content with scouring the same, and dispersing them. Hunter had gone north to Cedar County with about 100 men, and Livingston was not to be found. After disposing of my command so as to annoy and capture as many of those roving bands as possible, I returned to my headquarters.

Lieutenant-Colonel Crittenden, Seventh Missouri State Militia, has been quite successful lately in damaging a part of Livingston�s band, and a party of 16 men, under command of a so-called Colonel Harrison, were attacked and killed by Indians upon the Verdigris River, west of Missouri, while on their way to the west to plunder upon the road to Pike�s Peak. These bands are quite numerous and active in running about through the country, but are not doing much active harm.

I have a post at Cassville, at Newtonia, and at Neosho upon my south line, and with the force now at this place will endeavor to maintain the peace and quiet of the district.

From a flag of truce just in from Fayetteville, where they had gone after the sick and wounded left there upon the retreat of Colonel Harrison, I learn that the enemy have only about 400 or 500 men in all Northern Arkansas, who are scattered about through several counties.

Cabell is at Fort Smith, and, as far as I can learn from my scouts and travelers, I do not think that there are other forces this side the Arkansas, except those who may be with Price in the eastern part of the State.

The forces in the district are not sufficient in numbers, or well enough supplied with horses, to enable me to patrol to any great extent in Arkansas, nor east of Forsyth. If it is expected of me to scout down the White River, I wish to be informed of the same; also of the fact if Price is threatening Missouri.

The enemy here are basing their hopes upon Price�s coming, which, in turn, depends upon the abandonment of the siege of Vicksburg by our forces.

Permit me, after congratulating you upon your appointment to the command of the department, to state that I shall take great pleasure in the performance of any duty to which I may be ordered.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. F. CLOUD,
Colonel, Commanding

SOURCE: OR, Series I, Volume 22 (Part I), Pages 338-339.

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