Marks' Mills, AR

Date(s): April 25, 1864

Campaign(s): Camden Expedition (1864)

Battles in Campaign:

• Elkin's Ferry, AR - April 3-4, 1864 C

• Prairie D'Ane, AR - April 9-13, 1864 B

• Poison Spring, AR - April 18, 1864 C

• Marks' Mills, AR - April 25, 1864 D

• Jenkins' Ferry, AR - April 30, 1864 C

Situation:

• The Camden Expedition (March 23–May 2, 1864) was a military campaign in southern and central Arkansas.

• It involved Union forces stationed at Little Rock and Fort Smith under the command of Major General Frederick Steele.

• The plan called for Steele's force to march to Shreveport, Louisiana, where it would link up with an amphibious expedition led by Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks and Rear Admiral David D. Porter, whose force was to advance up the Red River Valley; once joined, the Union force was to strike into Texas.

Commanders:

• Union: Lt. Col. Francis Drake

• Confederate: Brig. Gen. James B. Fagan

Principal Forces:

• Union: Infantry brigade

• Confederate: two divisions

Description:

• A Union force escorted 240 wagons from Camden to Pine Bluff to pick up supplies and transport them back to Maj. Gen. Fred Steele’s army.

• At first the Union escort rebuffed Confederate attempts to halt them.

• Then the Confederates moved in on the Union rear and front, causing a rout.

• The Rebels captured most of the men and all of the supply wagons.

• Thus, Steele gave up all thoughts of uniting with Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks on the Red River and realized that he had to save his army.

Photo Gallery:¹

Marks' Mill Historic Battlefield Site	The Union Wagon train Leaves Camden	The Battle at Marks' Mills
	James Fagan Monument	Monument Errected to Cap. Richard T. Banks by His Son and Grandsons

Slide Presentation²: Camden Expedition, AR

Classification³: D

Casualties⁴:

• Union: 1,500

• Confederate: 293

Results: Confederate Victory

Battlefield Website:

• The Camden Expedition in Arkansas - Civilwar.org

Recommended Resources:

¹ Please click on the image to enlarge it. You may copy the images if you include the following note and link with each image: "Courtesy of civil-war-journeys.org."

² Slide Presentation Updated on 1/31/07. Click on link to view as web-based slide show.

³ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

⁴ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/02/2009