(Fort Smith: Cradle of The First Southern Free State - continued)
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ten thousand
in all, were reviewed. Citizen's from near and far were present for the occasion. The
troops were in encampments all around Fort Smith stretching to Van Buren. The
ceremony took place on the race track about noon and the troops started their position
just below the Elias Rector mansion. The review began with the Infantry of the 18th Iowa, 1st Kansas and 2nd
Kansas Colored and 6th Kansas; Artillery was represented by the 2nd Kansas and 3rd
Kansas Batteries; Cavalry had the 3rd Wisconsin and 14th Kansas. There was a thirteen
gun salute for Major General James Blunt and Brigadier General John McNeil and
their staffs. Ten thousand troops around Fort Smith posed no little problem in furnishing supplies. One thousand cords of wood and fifty thousand bushels of corn were among items needed to supply the army in one order. Staff personal changed fairly often, as different troops came and went during the Union occupation of the fort. General Orders #14 said that commanding officers of brigades could not make personal escorts out of companies of squadrons and the term "body guard" could not be used within the Frontier District because it was "vulgar, snobbish and unbecoming a soldier." Fort Smith, with it's First Mass Meeting of Western Arkansas, had led the way in getting Arkansas back into the Union. In the first part of December, 1863, an Unconditional Union Mass Meeting was held at Dardanelle with citizens from Yell, Pope, Johnson, Scott, Perry and Conway counties endorsing and adopting the platform and resolutions of the Fort Smith meeting. Additionally they asked for a return of state law and order. To accomplish that, they asked for an appointment of a Provisional Governor. Another Mass Meeting was held about the same time at Benton, Saline County, with representatives from Clark, Sevier, Pike, Garland, and Montgomery counties present. At a Mass Meeting held in Fort Smith December 17th, the need for the appointment of Judge Isaac Murphy was unanimously echoed. In mid-December, Colonel J. M. Johnson, candidate for United States Congress in the Western District, was finally declared winner by receiving at least 1 /10th of the eligible votes that had been cast in the 1860 Presidential election. This was the number that President Lincoln had settled on as sufficient to declare a Congressional member of an insurgent state back into Congressional graces. Colonel Johnson obtained a leave of absence from the 1st Arkansas Infantry, which he had formed, and traveled to Washington to claim his seat in Congress.49 Unfortunately, Congress didn't feel that Arkansas was "redeemed" and would not seat Arkansas' Congressional delegation as President Lincoln had recommended. Post Commander Orders #4 came down hard on those officers who were allowing soldiers to pillage and plunder. They were also told they had no authority to question the loyalty of citizens. Orders said to make sure men had rations when they left camp so that there would be no excuse to take food from citizens. |
Those citizens in the population who had friends or loved ones in the
Confederate Army were able to get their mail under the Flag of Truce. The mail was
picked up at the Provost Marshal's Office. Christmas Day dawned with fighting close by, this time at Waldron. Rebel Major Gibson, leading a scouting party of guerrillas, was surprised by Captain Mentzer of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry, but no deaths were reported. On the 29th, Major Gigson was killed three miles from Waldron by the 2nd Kansas Infantry, nine Rebels were wounded and six Federals wounded. New Year's eve heralded the beginning of snow that was to stay on the ground for three weeks.55 It was 12° below zero and scarcely got above zero for days on end. The damage to fruit trees was extensive. The Arkansas river was frozen over and heavily loaded wagons crossed over on the ice from Fort Smith to Van Buren. Because snow was so seldom seen in Fort Smith, sleds and sleighs of all sizes and shapes made their appearance for fun and work in the snow. JANUARY, 1864 Merchants were beginning to move into Fort Smith by January, 1864. Ernich and Lender opened a dry goods store that featured dry goods, grocery, hardware, saddlery and dealt in gold, silver, demand notes, government vouchers and checks. They also bought cotton, hides, beeswax and tallow.Dr. L. T. Watson, who had served as a surgeon in the 14th Missouri Cavalry, opened a drug store on Garrison. And for special occasions, Lane's String Band was available for engagements. Mr. I. B. Dickerson, proprietor of the Cosmopolitan Saloon, acted as manager for M. Lane, of the 18th Iowa Infantry. A Union Mass Meeting to gain support for the Stars and Stripes was held January 5th at Waldron and there were representatives from Scott, Hemp- stead, Pike, Polk, Sevier, and Montgomery counties. CONFUSION IN THE GENERAL'S RANK |