Battle of Marks' Mills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Marks' Mills |
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| Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War |
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 Marks' Mills Battlefield |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Confederate States |
 United States |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Brig. Gen. James F. Fagan |
 Lieut. Col. Francis M. Drake |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 8,000 | 1,800 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 293 | 1,500 | ||||||
The Battle of Marks' Mills happened on April 25, 1864, during the American Civil War. It took place in what is now Cleveland County, Arkansas. Confederate Brigadier-General James F. Fagan led a surprise attack. He targeted a long train of wagons carrying supplies. This train was heading from Camden to Pine Bluff.
The Union wagons were guarded by about 1,800 soldiers. They were led by Lieutenant-Colonel Francis M. Drake. Drake was known for his bravery. He had even fought against Native American warriors when he was young. He was also a veteran of many Civil War battles. His troops were experienced fighters.
Why the Battle Happened
The Need for Supplies
After a tough fight at the Battle of Poison Spring, Union Major-General Frederick Steele was in Camden, Arkansas. His army was running low on food and other important supplies. Confederate forces had surrounded Camden, making it hard to get new provisions.
General Steele decided to send a large group of wagons to Pine Bluff. Pine Bluff was another Union-held town. He hoped to get the much-needed supplies there.
Drake's Mission
Lieutenant-Colonel Drake was chosen to lead this important mission. He had over 1,400 infantry soldiers, plus cavalry and artillery. They also had 240 army wagons. On the morning of April 25, 1864, Drake's group grew even larger. About 350 more troops joined them. This brought his total force to about 1,800 fighters.
His command included soldiers from the 43rd Indiana, 36th Iowa, and the 77th Ohio. There were also about 75 civilian wagons. These belonged to people hoping to make money from cotton.
A Difficult Road and a Risky Stop
General Steele had given Drake a clear order. He was not to try crossing the Moro Bayou bottom after dark. This area, a few miles west of Marks' Mills, was very muddy. Recent heavy rains had made the road almost impassable.
Drake decided to stop his train and set up camp. This was around 2 PM or 4 PM on Sunday afternoon. He sent workers ahead to build a "corduroy road." This meant laying logs across the muddy ground. Some people believed the train could have crossed the muddy area that same day.
A Missed Warning
Union General Powell Clayton, in Pine Bluff, knew Steele needed supplies. He had sent some troops to Mount Elba to help escort any incoming trains. If Drake had kept moving, he might have met these escorts.
During the night, Major Wesley Norris tried to warn Drake. He thought he saw Confederate movement in the woods. But Drake didn't believe him. He told Norris, a veteran of the Mexican War, that he was "scared too easily."
The Battle of Marks' Mills
The Ambush
Early on April 25, 1864, Drake's troops continued their march. They had just crossed the difficult Moro Bayou. The 43rd Indiana was leading the way. They soon found abandoned Confederate campsites. But Drake again dismissed warnings about enemy soldiers nearby.
As the 43rd Indiana entered a small clearing called Marks' Mills, they were suddenly attacked. Confederate General Fagan's dismounted cavalry charged them. The Union soldiers fought back hard. But then more Confederates, led by Brigadier-General William Lewis Cabell, attacked their right side.
Surrounded and Outnumbered
The 43rd Indiana and 36th Iowa now faced several Confederate cavalry units. They were pushed back towards some log cabins in the clearing. Their artillery fired at the Confederates, but enemy cannons fired back.
Things got even worse. Confederate General Jo Shelby's cavalry attacked their left side. The Union forces were now fighting an overwhelming force. They were outnumbered two-to-one and attacked from three directions at once.
A Desperate Fight
The battle was incredibly fierce. In one Union company, 23 out of 33 soldiers were killed or wounded in the first 30 minutes. The 77th Ohio and 1st Iowa Cavalry tried to help. But the Union soldiers were soon completely surrounded.
The battle lasted for four long hours. One artillery battery was reportedly wiped out. Its wounded lieutenant kept firing his gun until he died. Finally, the Union soldiers were forced to surrender.
The Last Stand
Sergeant John Moss of the 43rd Indiana said his regiment didn't give up all at once. Confederates captured small groups of men repeatedly. Eventually, only about 50 men from the 43rd remained. Major Norris refused to surrender them. He and his comrades tried to escape into the woods. But Norris's horse was shot, and he was forced to give up. Many Union soldiers were taken prisoner. Others managed to escape and return to General Steele's main army.
Aftermath of the Battle
Heavy Losses and Captures
The Confederates won a major victory at Marks' Mills. They reported about 41 killed, 108 wounded, and 144 missing. The Union losses were much higher. Most of Drake's column was captured. Estimates range from 1,133 to 1,600 Union soldiers lost. Many African Americans who were with the wagon train were also captured.
The loss of so many men and wagons was a big blow to General Steele. It made his position in Camden very difficult. With more Confederate troops arriving, Steele decided to leave Camden on April 26, 1864. He marched his army north towards Little Rock.
Life as a Prisoner
Many Union soldiers captured at Marks' Mills were sent to a prison camp. This camp was called Camp Ford, located in Tyler, Texas. Life there was very hard. Many prisoners died from hunger and sickness over the next year. However, some managed to escape. Most of the surviving prisoners were finally released in 1865.
One story from the 43rd Indiana's history tells of a Union paymaster. He was captured with over $175,000 in Greenbacks. This money fell into Confederate hands. It was supposedly used to try and buy the freedom of Confederate prisoners held in Chicago.
A Costly Victory
Confederate General Cabell praised the Union soldiers' bravery. He wrote that they "never fought better." He said they fought against "old Veterans" and that the high number of Confederate casualties showed how stubborn the enemy was. Some historians consider Marks' Mills to be the worst defeat for Union forces west of the Mississippi River.
An Unexpected Outcome
Ironically, this terrible defeat might have saved the rest of Steele's army. Confederate Generals Fagan and Shelby had been ordered to get between Steele's army and Little Rock. If they had done so, Steele's forces would have been surrounded and likely captured.
But by attacking Drake's brigade at Marks' Mills, Fagan and Shelby caused a delay. This delay gave Steele just enough time to leave Camden. He was able to lead the remaining parts of his army to safety.
Lieutenant-Colonel Drake later had a successful career in Iowa. He even became the governor of the state. However, some soldiers from the 43rd Indiana still blamed him. They felt he led them into the ambush because he was too slow to act at Marks' Mills.
