The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 41, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports. Page: 649
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CHAP.LIL. LI PRICE'S MISSOURI EXPEDITION. 649
No. 92.
Reports of Brig. Gen. Joseph 0. Shelby, C. S. Army, commanding divis-
ion.
HEADQUARTERS SHIELBY'S DIVISION,
December -, 1864.
COLONEL: The following report contains a full account of my oper-
ations north of White River, which I now have the honor of laying
before you:
On August 4 I picked fifty men and sent them under Lieutenant
Burch, of Smith's regiment, to Devall's Bluff. They went boldly on
their mission, captured and.killed about 50 Federals on the west side
of the river, hailed the lookouts at the Bluff, passed themselves off for
friends and tried to decoy a boat over, but could not succeed, and finally
they fired half a dozen rounds into the gun-boats, quarters, and steam-
ers at the Bluff, and got away without losing a man, the iron-clads at
the.wharf and the heavy batteries on the hill sweeping the western
shore with a tornado of shot and shell.
The next day Captain Williams, with a scouting party. met a larger
force of the enemy, attacked and routed them, killing and wounding
27, and bringing 10 prisoners to camp. Re-enforcing Colonel Dobbin
with Colonel Gordon's regiment, I ordered him to make a foray upon
the Federal plantations around Helena, and harry them with fire and
sword. He started immediately, but met a large body of Federals at
Big Creek bridge, with two pieces of artillery and" one regiment of
negroes. Dobbin attacked them at first sight and fought them hard
for three hours. The enemy gained the cover of some old fortifications
of logs and trees, and made a stubborn resistance. Dobbin and Gor-
don still pressed on, drove them from their shelter, and in confusion
toward Helena, capturing and killing great numbers, besides taking
2 caissons, 3 wagons, many guns and pistols. Gordon, in the retreat
of the enemy, came. upon Major Carinichael with 300 cavalry, sent out
to re-enforce the Federals, charged him in column of fours straight
down the road, scattered his command in every direction, and narrowly
missed the notorious Carmichael--a house-burner, robber, and murderer
of the first water. This disastrous battle inflicted upon the enemy the
loss of2 field officers, 7 line officers, and 200 soldiers killed and wounded.,
The retreating foe was followed up to the corporation limits of Helena,
falling and surrendering by the wayside from sheer exhaustion. The
next day they pounced down .upon the plantations and turned loose
upon them 1,000 rough and hungry horsemen. Then began a scene
almost unparalleled in the history of the war. Cotton-gins and cotton,
hay, corn, and oats, reaping, machines and threshing machines, negro,
cabins and soldiers' quarters, were burned, torn down, and destroyed.
Yankee schoolmasters and schoolmai'ms were taken from their little
flocks of gaping Africans and taught the secrets of rebel raiding; negro.
soldiers were shot amid the blazing rafters of their dwellings, and 300
horses and mules, much clothing and supplies, and 200 negroes brought
safely off. Lieutenant-Colonel Erwin, sent to the plantations aboye
Memphis, was also successful in destroying much Federal property,
but being attacked and partly surprised, lost several good officers and
men .
SFor portions of report here omitted, see Vol. XXXIV, Part I, p. 926, and p. 28,
ante. The following extract relates to operations already covered by special reports
of August 9, 13, and 30, for which see pp. 191, 229, and 286, respectively.
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The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 1, Volume 41. (Pamphlet)
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 41, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports., book, 1893; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth145053/m1/666/?q=McCray: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.