August 2023
towards the enemy. Within two or three shots a spent bullet hit his chest, sending Hovey staggering from the blow. Hovey plucked the bullet out and shouted that the rebellion, “did not seem to have much force in it.” His men cheered.
When the dismounted 16th Texas Cavalry advanced thirty minutes later, the outnumbered Federals gave way. Hovey ordered a retreat. Four of the gun crew had been wounded and their cannon was stranded. “Boys, save the gun,” shouted Capt. Potter. Sgt. Edward A. Pike ran towards the Confederates. He “seized the trail and tore down the road with the cannon as if it had been a baby wagon.” Pike would earn the Medal of Honor for this act.
Hovey on horseback caught up with his retreating men in Hill’s cornfield. Waving his sword he yelled, “… Are you going to run like sheep?”
He organized his men into building breastworks out of fence rails, branches, and cornstalks, and positioned others in the heavy timber. The 12th Texas Cavalry, riding four abreast, and yelling Comanche war whoops, charged the breastworks “at full speed and in great force.” The Federals rose and shot at point blank range, then frantically began reloading. Bodies soon covered the ground. Riderless horses rushed in all directions. The remnants of the 12th led the Confederate retreat.
Two hundred men with two 3-inch rifled cannon from Col. William Wood’s battalion, 1st Ind. Cavalry, arrived. They advanced into the swamp. Spotting the Confederates, the cavalry charged. The Confederates fired a “tremendous volley” hitting the officers in the front. For twenty minutes both sides fired at close range before the Confederates began retreating. The Federals switched from firing canister to solid shot and explosive shells. Hundreds of Texans raced each other from the field. The Arkansas infantry were surprised to see the Texans stampeding towards them, knocking some men down. The Texans vanished in a cloud of dust. The infantry followed, ending the last serious Confederate effort to prevent Federal control of the state.
Alas, Curtis missed his rendezvous with the supply vessels by a single day. Relinquishing the Little Rock operation, the army marched 45 miles to Helena, Ark., suffering with the heat, bad water, and few rations. Curtis would have the consolation of moving into Hindman’s mansion and flying a large United States flag from the roof. However, Curtis would never receive the credit he earned for his accomplishments in the field.
GEORGIA’S CONFEDERATE
MONUMENTS In Honor of a Fallen Nation Gould B. Hagler, Jr.
This unique work contains a complete photographic record of Georgia’s memorials to the Confederacy, a full transcription of the words engraved upon them, and carefully-researched information about the monuments and the organizations which built them. These works of art and their eloquent nation’s profound grief, praise the soldiers’ bravery and patriotism, and pay homage to the cause for which they fought.
Quiner, E. B.. The Military History of Wisconsin: Clarke & Co., 1866
