Mysterious AR engagement

[archieclement]

I came across this years ago, every so often I try to relook into it, to always hit the same dead ends.

In 1864 the Union either withdrew a garrison from Batesville AR or the Batesville commander ordered the refugees out, have seen different accounts. In response around 70 some families from Batesville and Jacksonport formed a refugee wagon train to go to West Plains/Rolla MO. It was escorted by 200 men of the 1st Nebraska Cav, which was or formerly was the Batesville garrison, though apparently at some point they were recalled leaving the train to itself.

Outside Salem AR it was attacked by 300 ruffians, and 80 men and a unknown number of women killed, wagons looted and burned. Rolla garrison sends out the 2nd WI Cav to escort the survivors and remaining wagons to Missouri.

Whats especially bizarre to me is the attacking force is never described or leadership attributed to it. Arkansas was overrun with various small bands of guerrillas and confederate deserters, but how could a force of 300 be unknown?

 

[Ole Miss]

That's an excellent question and would not the answer be partly revealed by how organized the ruffians were in their attack?
Regards
David

 

[archieclement]

That's an excellent question and would not the answer be partly revealed by how organized the ruffians were in their attack?
Regards
David

Thats what puzzles me, if its an outside organized force of that size, it should be able to be tracked and info would be known as it raided homes and small villages in its path...…if it was a local or combination of local forces their identity would also be known as it was their neighbors ect…...

For example when in Missouri groups that size came together, we know the overall commanders and even what subgroups came together to form the large force.......its seems strange to me nothing seems known here, or they were protecting someone by not mentioning them........

 

[1stMS-Arty]

Is there a more specific date than 1864....?

 

[1stMS-Arty]

I came across this years ago, every so often I try to relook into it, to always hit the same dead ends.

In 1864 the Union either withdrew a garrison from Batesville AR or the Batesville commander ordered the refugees out, have seen different accounts. In response around 70 some families from Batesville and Jacksonport formed a refugee wagon train to go to West Plains/Rolla MO. It was escorted by 200 men of the 1st Nebraska Cav, which was or formerly was the Batesville garrison, though apparently at some point they were recalled leaving the train to itself.

Outside Salem AR it was attacked by 300 ruffians, and 80 men and a unknown number of women killed, wagons looted and burned. Rolla garrison sends out the 2nd WI Cav to escort the survivors and remaining wagons to Missouri.

Whats especially bizarre to me is the attacking force is never described or leadership attributed to it. Arkansas was overrun with various small bands of guerrillas and confederate deserters, but how could a force of 300 be unknown?

I think I may have found out why you keep running into dead ends....

This is the report of the attack on the wagon train...OR 34 pt. 1 pages 956-957....

and this is the result of the relief forces sent out to find the refugees...OR 34 part 4 page 235

 

[archieclement]

Its bizarre then modern sources give credence to it, such as https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/capture-of-wagon-train-at-salem-8615/

they even erected a marker http://www.arkansascivilwar150.com/historical-markers/civil-war-in-fulton-county

 

[1stMS-Arty]

Its bizarre then modern sources give credence to it, such as https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/capture-of-wagon-train-at-salem-8615/

they even erected a marker http://www.arkansascivilwar150.com/historical-markers/civil-war-in-fulton-county

yes that is strange...they have a way to submit a comment or correction guess I might try that.