215 BATTLE OF POISON SPRINGS April 19th Last evening information was brought that the forage train sent out for corn (200 wagons six mule teams) escorted by the Eighteenth Iowa Infantry, Second Kansas (colored) (our ironclads), two squardrons of cavalry with two pieces of Rabb's Indiana Battery, the whole outfit was gobled up, by the Johnnies. This report was shortly confirmed, but modified to some extent. The train, two pieces of artillary (sic) and perhaps 500 prisoners constitute the loss. Stragglers from the scene of action are coming in hourly. It seems that the command was surprised, and while there must been a prodigious loss of head somewhere, everybody else thought his feet were his best friends in the emergency and stampeded in all directions. While the Eighteenth Iowa left everything in the hands of the enemy, it at least preserved its organization and returned in good order. It came into camp with empty cartridge boxes. The Second Kansas (colored) was badly cut up, losing more than half its members. The two pieces of artillary (sic) were spiked before they fell into the enemy's hands. I knew this would be the case, as I have reason to know the grit and pluck of the boys that have heretofore handled those guns. We expect a supply train from Pine Bluff to reach here tomorrow. A brigade, picked temporarily from our best fighting material, commanded by Colonel Thomas H. Benton, Jr., is already enroute to meet it and, incidentally, to offer Shelby the opportunity of a meeting with even odds and on an open field. Ten to one they'll not meet. Told General S. when the command was formed that I had no fear or a meeting unless someone went to sleep on our side. Colonel Kittredge, with his Thirty-sixth Iowa, who had orders last evening to proceed six miles from here to take possession of a flouring mill was ordered back as soon as the news of the massacre at Liberty came in.           Contents  Words  Study Questions  Related Sites Next