FEDERAL REPORTS

Report of Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt, U.S. Army

Fort Smith, Arkansas
September 3, 1863

"..On the 31st ultimo, I encamped 3 miles west of the ford of the Poteau, 12 miles from its mouth. I there learned that Cabell was strongly posted near the ford, on the right bank of the creek, and had obstructed with fallen trees all the other roads leading this way. His force consisted of six regiments of infantry and cavalry and four pieces of artillery, in all numbering about 2,500 effective men.

"At daylight the following morning, I advanced to attack his position, but found that he had retreated during the night a short distance toward Fort Smith, and that from that point his force had divided, proceeding by various routes southward. I then detached Colonel Cloud, with the Second Kansas and Sixth Missouri Cavalry and two section of Rabb's battery, in pursuit of the fleeing enemy. He followed them closely 16 miles, when he engaged their rear, killing and wounding from 20 to 30 and capturing 40 prisoners. His advance guard, Capt. Edward Lines' company of the Second Kansas, unfortunately fell into an ambush prepared by the enemy, and suffered a loss of 8 wounded, 2 of them mortally. One of the latter was Captain Lines, a brave and skillful officer, whose loss is sincerely deplored. After detaching Colonel Cloud, I marched with my staff and body guard and the First Arkansas Infantry to this place, and possessed the fort and city without opposition."

Official Records, Series 1, Volume XXII, Part One, pages 601-602.

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Camp opposite Little Rock
September 20, 1863

Report of Col. William F. Cloud, Second Kansas Cavalry.

"In the morning, moving my brigade to the attack, the enemy were found to have retreated, at 12 o'clock in the night, in the direction of Fort Smith; but, upon following in his trail, it was determined that he had turned in the direction of Arkadelphia, entering that road at a town named Jenny Lind.

"At my request, General Blunt consented that I should take the efficient cavalry and the two sections of Rabb's Second Indiana Battery and two mountain howitzers and push the retreating enemy, hoping to capture baggage, &c. At 12 o'clock we came to their rear guard in ambush, whose deadly fire cut down Captain Lines and 10 or 12 of his command. I found a line of dismounted cavalry and howitzers, and steadily drove their rear from their position, and up the mountain side, to within one-fourth of a mile of their line of battle, skillfully formed upon the summit of Backbone Mountain, of the Poteau range. I here brought my whole force into action, and for three hours the battle raged with variable violence. During a suspense of my fire, the enemy suddenly withdrew, leaving his dead and wounded, together with arms, baggage, &c., in our possession. I immediately occupied the field, and extended my pickets beyond, taking prisoners and receiving deserters, who came flocking in.

"Our entire loss was 14. The enemy's, in killed and wounded, was from 15 to 20.

"In the morning I returned to Fort Smith and assumed command, where I remained until the 9th, receiving several hundred deserters, to whom I extended the lenient policy directed in General Schofield's letter upon that subject.."

Official Records, Series 1, Volume XXII, Part One, pages 602-603.

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Fort Smith, Arkansas
September --, 1863

Letter from J.W.R., Assistant Surgeon, Second Kansas Cavalry, to C.B. Lines, father of Captain Edward E.D. Lines, Second Kansas Cavalry.

"..Our command, under Col. Cloud, marched about 17 miles, and were ambushed by the rebels, Company "C" being in our advance. The enemy formed in a dense growth of small timber and brush, and when our scouts came up, they let them pass through without firing a gun, but when Company C came up, they opened upon them a very heavy volley of infantry in two columns. Your son was killed at that time. He was in the extreme advance, (as was his custom,) and was shot by minnie ball, through the bowels and liver. He lived about 2 1/2 or 3 hours after the wound, remaining entirely sensible to the last moment. He died as brave a man as ever gave his life for his country."

Memorial of Edward C.D. Lines, Late Captain of Co. C, 2d Reg't Kansas Cavalry, New Haven: Tuttle Morehouse & Taylor, Printers, 1867, Appendix.

CONFEDERATE REPORTS

Monument at the site of the Battle of Devil's Backbone. It is at the base of Backbone Mountain on Highway 71 just west of Greenwood.(JWJ, 2007)

Headquarters Cabell's Brigade
December 7, 1863

Report of Brig. Gen. W.K. Cabell, C.S. Army, including operations July 17-September 14.

"About 9 p.m. on the 31st, I determined to fall back, if possible, to Waldron, in Scott County. The baggage trains were all ordered to a little place called Jenny Lind, 10 miles on that road, early in the day. As soon as I commenced falling back, taking the Jenny Lind road, I sent and started the train. The ordnance train, which was an ox train, I had previously sent to Waldron.

"General Blunt, finding out that I had abandoned the position I had on the Poteau, sent Colonel Cloud, with 1,500 cavalry, six pieces of artillery, and 40 wagons, loaded with infantry, in pursuit of me. They followed, and attacked the picket I left at Jenny Lind about 9 o'clock on the 1st day of September. The picket skirmished with their advance until they reached the foot of Backbone Mountain, about 16 miles from Fort Smith, where I had formed my command for battle. I placed Monroe's regiment in ambush at the foot of the mountain, and placed all the different regiments en echelon along the sides of the mountain, near the road; the battery being placed so as to command the whole field of operations. The enemy came dashing up, yelling and shouting, confident of success, their cavalry in advance. When they came within gunshot, Monroe's regiment opened fire on them, and dismounted every man except two in the front companies. The action soon became general, and, after a heavy fire of nearly three hours and a half, especially of artillery, the enemy were repulsed... My loss was 5 killed and 12 wounded. The number of missing I cannot state, as eight companies of Morgan's infantry regiment, Hill's and Thomson's regiments, and Woosley's battalion of cavalry ran in the most shameful manner. Hill's regiment, in running, ran through the provost guard, where I had 80 prisoners under sentence for treason and desertion. These men in running carried all the prisoners off with them. Thomson's and Hill's regiments acted in the most disgraceful manner. The eight companies of Morgan's regiment acted but little better. There was nothing to make these regiments run, except the sound of the cannon. Had they fought as troops fighting for liberty should, I would have captured the whole of the enemy's command, and gone back to Fort Smith, and driven the remainder of the enemy's force off, and retaken the place. As it was, I was forced, on account of the smallness of my force, to content myself with repulsing the enemy and protecting the public property. Leaving a party to bury the dead and take off the wounded, I, after posting a heavy picket on the battle-field, withdrew in good order, and marched to Waldron, Scott County, arriving there on the 2d of September."

Official Records, Series 1, Volume XXII, Part One, pages 606-607.