Fort Smith: Cradle of The First Southern Free State

(Fort Smith: Cradle of The First Southern Free State - continued)

Treasurer and Charles T. Jordan, Attorney General.
Colonel Johnson won his seat for Congress.
The Union people of Fort Smith felt that poor, despised "Rackensack" would henceforth have the honor of being the first of the seceded states to take her place in the Union of States. The New Era boasted "The hydra-headed monster, treason and rebellion that have preyed upon our vitals with human slavery have been defeated and the banner of Freedom, Justice and Truth are borne aloft. A breach has been made in the ranks of rebels and a flood of loyalty rushing through gaps will soon overwhelm the last of the Southern Confederacy. The New Era started early getting support for a free school system in Arkansas. They argued that if the state had a free school system the poor man's child would be on the same level with the rich man's. This would enable the poor child to press for a shiny mark of distinction in the battle of life. Further The New Era said the sluggish machinery of a slave government would soon be replaced by one of activity, energy and justice for all.
The spirit of the community was high around the fort for a few days. An order from the Provost Marshal stated no intoxicating liquors were to be sold outside the limits bounded on the north by Water Street, east by Mulberry Street, south by Van Buren Street and west by Garrison. There had obviously been trouble in the River City with excessive drinking.

THE FRONTIER TROOPS CALLED TO FIGHT

     Quite suddenly, though not unexpectedly, the Frontier troops were ordered southward in what was hoped would be the last campaign fought in Arkansas during the hated Civil War. The troops were in fine fighting shape for there had been four months of steady drill and discipline in camp in Fort Smith. It was noted by many that the units of black soldiers and most particularly the 22nd Kansas Colored "could execute with precision every movement required of an infantry regiment." The march southward was part of the Federal generals vast campaign that was planned to drive up the Red River, capture Shreveport and carry the war into east Texas. The plan was for General Frederick Steele to march from Little Rock and rendezvous with General Thayer at Arkadelphia when the troops advanced southward.
     General Thayer, who had been successful at Fort Donelson, Belmont, Shiloh, Post of Arkansas, Vicksburg and Jackson was in command of the Division moving from Fort Smith. The 18th Iowa left Fort Smith March 22nd, the 12th Kansas, March 23rd, the 1st Arkansas Infantry, March 24th along with the 2nd Kansas Colored. Other regiments of the Frontier District moved in behind them as they traveled southeastward by way of Booneville, Mt. Ida, and Caddo Gap because supplies were very short and cover was available on this route.
     Colonel W. R. Judson of the 6th Kansas Cavalry was left in command of the District and Lieutenant Colonel Bishop, 1st Arkansas Cavalry was left with part of a regiment and became Post Commander.

BUSHWACKING STEPPED UP

As expected, bushwacking activities stepped up with the troops gone from the fort. Small Rebel bands were all over the countryside. Citizens joining these groups were said to be "going to the brush." Union people who had gone back to their homes in the outlying districts in early 1864, began leaving their land for the safety of the fort. Twenty teams of horses and mules, cattle, sheep and scores of women and children of Union men came in from Waldron.

With small forces guarding them, the Union posts at Roseville and Clarksville were under imminent danger of falling to Confederate forces three times their size. In one battle that took place at Roseville, Rebels left six dead and twenty wounded. The Federals had two dead and eight wounded. There was no doctor to take care of any of the wounded. Union Cavalry volunteers dashed to Fort Smith overnight, and left the next morning with an assistant surgeon and a twenty-five man escort. Eleven miles from Roseville the volunteers and surgeon met up with four hundred Rebels. Since the Rebels were dressed in blue, the leader of the Federals thought he might be attacking his own people. He shouted for the Blue Clads to identify themselves and the Confederate leader shouted back "Stand there a moment and we will show you who we are." Guns started blazing and about half of the Union boys made it safely in a dash through the Rebels lines. The next day, the Roseville Union troops searched for and found their missing comrades, including the assistant surgeon. They were all dead, horribly mutilated with knives and stripped.
      Work was progressing on fortifying the land approaches to Fort Smith. By April 9th, Fort No. 2 on the Texas Road was almost completed with two twelve-pounder brass guns in place. A drawbridge was being worked on for access to the area. Fort No. 3 was coming along near the Catholic Convent. The rifle pits at that place would be finished within ten days. Fort No. 4 on the Van Buren Road, the largest of the fortifications was progressing rapidly but because it was to be large enough to hold five hundred men it would be another month before completion. Supporting batteries inside the perimeter were not begun until mid-May.
     A commissary train of seventy-five wagons was able to come from Little Rock and Dardanelle to Fort Smith on April 21st. The train had been harassed by five hundred to six hundred bushwackers but had not been attacked. Arkansas River was booming so that boats were also able to get upriver with supplies the 1st week of May and the soldiers were put on full rations. The citizens of Fort Smith went on full rations also because The Carrie Jacobs brought a load of supplies for town merchants.
     There was an election May 2 in Fort Smith and F.H. Wolfe was elected Mayor; J. A. Davis, Constable; and City Commissioners elected were C. G. Foster, A. J. Singleton, John Emrich, J. Hammersly and Peter Nolan.
     That same eventful day the 9th Kansas Cavalry with one thousand men and a large train of government and sutler wagons came into Fort Smith from Kansas. They had been on the road for twenty-two days. Part of the supplies were for the commissary and ordinance and part were goods for businessmen. Two days later the cavalry troops left for Little Rock to lend help to the Union troops fighting south of Little Rock.
     A Mass Union Meeting was held in Little Rock May 6th to elect delegates to the National Union Convention in Baltimore June 7 to nominate a Republican Presidential candidate. Local delegates elected to the convention were Valentine Dell, Sebastian County and L. C. White of Crawford County.
     The air was electric with excitement the week of May 14th, 1864. Word was received from Union spies that with the defeat of Union troops in south Arkansas the Rebels had been given new life. It was reported that 8,000 troops were on their way to capture Fort Smith. Military authorities closed Fort Smith businesses and citizens were ordered to work on a system of trenches to encircle the garrison and city of Fort Smith for the inner fortifications. The trench digging was a novelty that was soon to wear thin as blisters popped up on hands and stores had to re-open to sell buckskin gloves. The trench system was finished in a week. The Confederate threat failed to materialize before the Union troops came back to the fort.

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