The first opportunity for the Confederacy to win the Civil War in the Trans-Mississippi Department, was to win it in Missouri. The potential stakes were big in the vast region mapped below.
(March 1, 2024) At its peak, the Confederacy’s Trans-Mississippi Department stretched from the Mississippi River to the southeastern border of California and from Keokuk, Iowa to the mouth of the Rio Grande. Missouri, which had been admitted to the Confederacy in November 1861, might have been the leading state in that vast area if the Southerners had maintained control of it.
With 1.1 million white people, the state had over half of the white population of the entire Department. St. Louis was nearly the largest city in the 13-state Confederacy that included Kentucky and Missouri. Only New Orleans was slightly larger while St. Louis was four times bigger than the Confederacy’s capital city of Richmond, Virginia. Although modest by eastern standards, Missouri had eight times as much invested capital in manufacturing facilities as did the rest of the Trans-Mississippi.
Southerners made a good start in Missouri. In 1861 they won the two biggest battles in the state at Wilson’s Creek and Lexington. Although defeated at Elkhorn Tavern early in 1862, the Confederacy sent Major General Thomas Hindman to take charge of the region after Richmond withdrew the Confederate army that had fought at Elkhorn Tavern. In seven weeks, ending in mid-August 1862, he had organized a new army and set forth to take Missouri. Many of her residents supported him. On December 7, 1862 more Missourians fought for the South at the ensuing battle of Prairie Grove than fought for the North.
At ten o’clock in the morning on 23 May 1862 Confederate Major General Thomas C. Hindman called on Major Francis Shoup at the latter’s tent near Corinth, Mississippi. The Indiana born Shoup was head of artillery for one of the Army of Mississippi’s four corps. General P.G.T. Beauregard had assumed command of the army after its previous commander was killed at the Battle of Shiloh on 6 April. Yesterday Beauregard and Hindman agreed that the latter would assume command of all Confederate troops in the Trans-Mississippi District on the far side of the Mississippi River.
The five-foot-four-inch Hindman slipped into Shoup’s tent without pulling back the flap. He just let it brush past his shoulders. Shoup was taken by surprise and stood from his cot to salute the new, thirty-four-year-old major general.
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“At ease major,” said Tom. “Your corps commander, General Hardee, sanctions this visit.”
Shoup stared blankly at Tom to conceal his curiosity. He recognized Tom on sight but wondered, “What business does a newly promoted major general have with Hardee?”
Tom took a half step forward to say, “I will be organizing a new army west of the Mississippi River and want you to lead my artillery.”
Shoup tilted his head slightly before saying, “Why me?”
“In addition to General Hardee’s recommendation you have the proper West Point training. Hardee admits he will regret your departure. But having supervised many Trans-Mississippi units since last summer, he realizes the soldiers from that region need better artillery skills and overall discipline.
“That’s an understatement,” thought Shoup.
Tom waited for the major to speak, but he said nothing. “With your artillery knowledge and the Conscription Act recently passed in Richmond, I foresee good opportunity over there, but it is not without challenges. The territory was abandoned when General Beauregard ordered Major General Van Dorn’s Army of the West, defeated at Elkhorn Tavern, to join our Shiloh offensive. Although he arrived too late to participate, now that he’s here, Van Dorn will stay on this side of the River. He’s a Mississippian”
Shoup broke into a smile before saying, “You seem to be giving me good reasons to regret the new assignment.”
“The Conscription Act is only about a month old and applies to all men between the ages of 18 to 35. Richmond estimates it will bring in hundreds of thousands of conscripts across the country. It will also motivate others to volunteer to avoid the stigma of forceable conscription.”
“Arkansas is not a populous state, general, and many of her residents are slaves and women.”
“True, but my command is officially designated the Trans-Mississippi District. It encompasses more than Arkansas. It also includes Missouri, the Indian Territory, and those parts of Louisiana north of the Red River. Missouri has over a million whites. It is the most populous state west of the Mississippi. More Missourians fought for the South at Elkhorn Tavern than fought for the North.”
“Truly?” asked Shoup. “I did not realize that.”
“It changes things, doesn’t it?”
Shoup stroked his chin before saying, “Well, it suggests more opportunity than I had realized. . . But, tell me, what exactly is the Indian Territory?”
“Ah, yes. Since you are from Indiana you may be unaware how whites settled the South. . . The Indian Territory—sometimes referred to as The Nations—comprises the lands that lie between Arkansas’ western border and the Texas panhandle. The area is populated mostly by the Five Civilized Tribes removed from the Southern states thirty years ago. It is the Confederacy’s least important region militarily, but we have an army stationed there that includes several white regiments and a couple of batteries.”
“The rest are Indians?”
Tom nodded, “From the Civilized Tribes.”
“Which ones are those?”
“The Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, and Chickasaw. Their clothing is a mixture of Indian and white-man attire.”
Tom continued, “I intend to populate my new armies with volunteers and conscripts. Arkansas will provide a combination of both. While many Arkansans don’t won’t to volunteer because Van Dorn abandoned their state after losing at Elkhorn Tavern, I plan to compel them to join by way of last month’s Conscription Act. If I can build the nucleus of an army from Texas volunteers and the few units already in the state, conscript inductions might add enough new soldiers to promote enlistments. If convinced that my army will not abandon the state, I think Arkansans will volunteer again. Although it will be difficult to enforce conscription in Missouri, the state’s large population will make it a major source of volunteers. I can explain more when we get to Little Rock.
“Oh,” said the Shoup. When do we get to Little Rock?”
Tom covered the smile that grew on his lips after Shoup said “we.” Even though Tom could order Shoup to comply, he preferred subordinates who eagerly, or at least willingly, volunteered. At length he removed his hand from his chin and extended it toward the major with his palm-up as if offering a gift and said, “Frank, if I may?”
“Yes, by all means,” replied Frank.
“Good. You may address me as ‘Tom’ unless subordinates are present.”
Frank nodded.
“Our first objective is to prevent the Union’s victorious Elkhorn army from capturing Little Rock.”
“How big is it?” asked Frank.
“Major General Samuel Curtis presently has 15,000 men in northwest Arkansas. Since he’s had nearly three months to recover from battle, I expect him to move toward Little Rock as soon as his supply situation will allow. If he captures the town, it will be the second Confederate capital taken by Federal forces.”
“What is Curtis’ supply situation?”
“Precarious. It originates in St. Louis and proceeds 100 miles to a railhead at Rolla, Missouri. Thereafter supplies must be carried 200 miles in wagons over the Ozark Plateau to northwest Arkansas. If he were to similarly supply his army overland to Little Rock his wagon trains would need to carry cargo nearly three hundred miles, one way. He’d need 3,000 teamsters and guards for that.”
Frank stroked his chin, “Can you more fully describe the military situation over there?”
Tom pointed to two campstools near a table covered with artillery drawings and mathematical calculations and said, “That’s a good thought. Perhaps we should sit so that we can discuss it thoroughly?”
Frank gestured at the stools with the open palm of his right hand and said, “By all means.”
After sitting, Tom said, “On 23 March General Albert Sidney Johnson ordered General Van Dorn to join the pre-Shiloh troop concentration at Corinth. Union General Curtis remained in northwest Arkansas until 4 April, almost a month after his battlefield victory. Our spies indicate that his chief worry until then was that Van Dorn might try to invade Missouri a second time.”
“After he learned in early April that forward elements of Van Dorn’s army were in northeast Arkansas, Curtis began to move eastward along Missouri’s southern border. He was seeking a place near the state’s boot hill where he might confront Van Dorn. Since there was little forage along the way his army spread out into a forty-mile front that devoured everything in it its path.”
Tom took a breath and continued, “By the time he got half-way across Missouri on 27 April, Curtis learned that Van Dorn’s entire army was already across the Mississippi.
Apparently under orders from Washington, Curtis switched objectives from Van Dorn’s army to Memphis. His immediate goal was the town of Batesville, Arkansas on the White River. The White is a tributary of the Mississippi that can be navigable as far upstream as Batesville during the spring. The town, therefore, might be transformed into a new supply base without all the headaches of lengthy overland supply train. . . Any questions?”
“Will it work?” asked Frank.
“Good question. Curtis captured Batesville on 2 May. Two days later a division commanded by General Frederic Steele joined him. Our spies tell us that the united force was intended to be part of a combined navy and army operation against Memphis, like Grant and Foote had used to capture Fort Donelson.”
“Was ?. . .” asked the major.
“Yes. When Curtis told Washington that the alluvial plain between Batesville and the Mississippi was temporarily a giant impassable flood-water lake, Little Rock once again became his prime objective. The town is in the center of the state and only 100 miles southwest again of Batesville. If he captures the capital, he is to declare himself the military governor and implement martial law.”
Frank nodded slowly and asked, “How far along is he?”
“About a week ago the lead elements of his army fought Confederate cavalry at the town of Searcy, sixty miles northeast of Little Rock. The results were indecisive, but the lead Federal troops are finding it hard to get resupplied. We conclude that Curtis’s overland supply line is presently at the end of its tether. Additionally, his three divisions are scattered over northeast Arkansas where they are separated from one another by unfordable, flooded rivers.”
“If they remain in such a vulnerable deployment, I intend to attack them as soon as I can concentrate the required number of troops to launch a defeat-in-detail campaign. I am eager to get to Little Rock and begin. . . I think that brings you up to date. Any questions?”
Frank rubbed his right index finger along his lower lip a few times before answering, “No, I think not.”
Next Tom used a persuasion technique he learned as a lawyer. Specifically, he proffered an actionable suggestion that presumed his audience agreed with him. “Good. Be ready to leave for Little Rock on Monday morning.”
“Yes sir,” said Frank.
“Do you see?” thought Tom. “Assume the subject agrees with your premise and make that assumption the lynchpin of your proposition.” Tom studied Frank’s face before the pair traded salutes and Tom left the tent. Frank stepped across the threshold and watched as Tom walked to his horse, mounted, and rode off.
Although his small size, rose-colored leather gloves, and rattan cane gave Frank the initial impression that Tom was a bit of a dandy, the general’s confident conversation and command of facts suggested that Tom was a man born to lead. His summary of the military situation was thorough and authoritative.
“Who are the general’s spies,” thought Frank. “How extensive is their network? It seems that General Hindman is getting information out of Washington, or he is somehow able to intercept telegraph signals between Washington City and Curtis’ army. If our side can do that, how many Yankee armies might we be eavesdropping on?” Participating in such spycraft could be a fascinating side of our war. . . Indeed, it might, but the Yankees seem to have the same capability. Only about a month ago the New York Herald plastered confidential communications between Beauregard and Richmond on its front page.”
On 25 May General Beauregard met with his four corps commanders, together with Van Dorn and Major General Sterling Price who had commanded the Missouri troops at Elkhorn Tavern. The purpose was to settle upon a plan for the combined forces. They were presently outnumbered more than two-to-one by a Yankee force that is gradually encircling them at Corinth.
Major General William J. Hardee, who had been a tactics instructor and author at West Point, stood to provide his analysis. First, he argued that the Confederate army was too small to successfully attack its larger foe, particularly considering that the enemy was well entrenched on all sides.
Second, he likewise dismissed the option of waiting for the Yankees to attack. Without risking exposure to their own troops, they could pound the Confederates into submission with their siege artillery alone.
By a process of elimination, he concluded that Corinth must be evacuated. Beauregard favored the conclusion for two reasons. First, he agreed with its arguments. Second, Hardee’s analysis would help him overcome anticipated objections from the President about losing territory in his home state and a key railroad connection to the Mississippi River.
After the meeting, Beauregard orchestrated an elaborate deception to fool the Yankees into believing that the Confederates were being reinforced, not retreating. For most of the night of 29-30 May, trains rolled into Corinth behind Confederate lines with whistles blowing and simulated greetings with loud cheers. The troops set new campfires and supplied them with nearby piles of firewood for drummer boys to attend overnight, thereby creating the illusion of growing campsites. Regimental bands marched from spot to spot playing patriotic songs. Some troops had created fake artillery (Quaker Guns) with logs painted black and tended by straw-stuffed soldier effigies. It was a grand hoax.
After watching the commotion at length, Union Major General John Pope wired Lincoln’s General-in-Chief in Washington at 1:20 in the morning: “The enemy is reinforcing heavily by trains. The cars are running constantly, and the cheering is immense every time they unload. I have no doubt that I shall be attacked in heavy force at daylight.”
The attack never happened. Beauregard’s Confederates escaped during the confusion. A couple of days earlier Tom Hindman and his staff had already left for his new Trans-Mississippi assignment.
The title is my fourth since 2013 and will be followed by a fifth next May. The preceding books are Lee’s Lost Dispatch and Other Civil War Controversies, Trading With the Enemy, and an illustrated and annotated version of Confederate Private Sam Watkins’s memoirs, Co. Aytch, which is Rebel vernacular for “Company H.”
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