Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-08-21

w
Immediately destroyed, and proceed
ed with the main body of his troops
to Jacksonport, from which point he
raided around Helena until General
Holmes disastrous attack upon that
place, in which Prices division car
ried the works and entered the town,
losing over 1000 in killed and cap
tured, proving failure, he fell back
to Little Rock with all his force ex-
cept Marmaduke's cavalry division,
which was ordered to resume its form
er position, with headquarters at
Jacksonport. A few weeks thereaf-
ter upon Gen. Steele's advance from
Helena towards Little Rock, Marina
duke was ordered to Brownsville with
his division and there reported to Gen.
L. M. Walker, who was resisting
Steel's advance. Marmaduke was or
dered to cover the retreat, and fought
Steel stubbornly until reaching Bayou
Metre, an ugly stream, almost impas-
sable except by bridges. Here he de-
termined to make more deadly re-
sistance against Steel's overwhelming
columns, and here, after hard fought
battle Of many hours, Steel's advance
was driven back and forced to take
another route to reach Little Rock.
At the evacuation of Little Rock,
Marmaduke was again assigned to
the post of danger and honor by Gen.
Price then commanding the depart
ment, who ordered him to cover the
retreat and retard the advance of the
pursuing enemy. He planned the at
tack on Pine Bluff, commanding three
brigades. Later, his demand to sur
render being refused, he drove the
garrison within the Notifications, cap
tured their encampments, quarter
master, commlssary and ordnance
supplies, their horses andi mules
and the officers effects, destroying
all he could not carry off, shelled
their Notifications, and withdrew,
rather than sacrifice hundreds Of lives
for an inadequate result.
In the spring of 1864 he was as
signed to the duty Of maneuvering
against Steele to retard his progress
long enough to allow Gen. E. Kirby
ISmith to dispose of Gen. Banks, then
knowing from New Orleans. Marina.
dukes force of 1900 men and eigh,
guns were so admirably handled thai
he forced Gen. Steele, with magni.
ficently equipped army Of $4,000 te
occupy nearly three weeks in moving
from Little Rock to Camden, a dis
ltance of one hundred and twenty-five
miles. He harrassed him at every
possible point, until Steele was driv'
.en into Camden where he exhausted
his supplies. On April goth, Steele
sent forage train out with guart
of 5000 men. Marmaduke, by skill
and hard fighting, captured the trair
about 250 wagons and ambulances
1,500 horses and mules, and foul
pieces of artillery-killing and cap
turing several hundred federals
Steele being forced to evacuate Cam
den, marched for Little Rock, bu
being hotly pursued by Marmaduke'
cavalry, was forced to give battle
and this gave time for General E
Kirby Smith to come up with a heav.
infantry force, whereupon followed
the sanguinary battle at Jenkins
Ferry, in which Steele's army wa
saved by hasty and disorderly re
treat.
For distinguished services rem
dered in this battle, and in the gen
eral campaign against Steele, Marina
duke was made a Major General
During the summer Of 1864 Geners
Marmaduke established himself nea
Lake Village, Chicot county, an
succeeded in breaking up the traffi
between federal traders and the Cit
zens and rendering navigation haz
, ardous except to the better class G
gun-boats. In this position, with 60
men and twelve pieces of artillery
he four times, during an engagemer
of six hours, repulsed the fedora
under General A. j. Smith, an
when the latter turned his position b
q flank movement, he retreated acros
, the bayou, harassed the rear of tt
. retiring expedition and the next ds
,, resumed his old position against Il
enemy's transportation on the rive
In the fall of 1864 when Gener
Price made his memorable raid I'M
Missouri General Marmaduke VI
!; placed in charge Of division Of ca
|. airy and it was largely owing to /
valuable services that the campais
|, was not even more disastrous in
= ending for the confederates.
r After the repulse Of the confede
70 ates in the attack on Pilot Kno
!. Marmaduke moved with his divisi'
!. up the Missouri river as far as WEI
J. port. Several battles and skirmish
" occurred, until finally, about THU
n miles from Fort Scott he was 81
i rounded and taken prisoner, much
,e the sorrow Of his brave men who b