Birthdays this week: Mike Mosley - March 8, Walter DalSanto, Dorothy Shepherd and Memory Sanders – March 11, James McIntyre Jr. - March 12, Joye Splawn – March 13, Sue Sanders – March 14, Jarrod Langford, James Herring and Jackie Harton – March 15.
Welcome back Jarrod Langford.
We Eagles are saddened at the passing of Mrs. Alene Thompson Erwin last week. She was 93.
Melody Spears reports the BBQ and auction of two weekends ago netter $5,100 that will go toward paying the NECC's building debt of $23,000.
Congratulations to Justin Wagnon who has accepted the pastorship of New Friendship Baptist Church in Kingsland.
The Battle of Marks' Mills by James L. Boney, part 3: "To
silence the two Federal guns on the hill, General Cabell sent for his
artillery. The cannoneers of Hughey’s battery were standing by
their guns, listening to the sounds of the battle when an officer
came along the line and ordered them to the front. They went down a
long hill, across a creek and out into an opening. Here they were in
full view of the Union battery on the hill some four hundred yards in
their front. The guns quickly went into battery, powder charges were
rammed home, and fuses were cut. At the word from Hughey, the four
guns roared into action sending round after round of case-shot into
the Federal line. Through the smoke and dust of this man-made hell,
the cannoneers could see that their artillery was doing terrible and
deadly work. The Federal battle line was weaving to and fro and
showing signs of giving way. The soldiers were falling fast. Most
of the battery’s horses along with a number of the men were killed.
The
Confederates also suffered heavy casualties from the grapeshot and
shell of the enemy cannon. It was here that the South lost many of
its best officers and men. The area around the road junction was
covered with dead and wounded men. The noise of the battle was
terrible. The roar of the cannon could be heard for fifteen miles.
The people in the next township could hear the roar and knew a
terrible battle was in progress.
At this
time, General Thomas Dockery’s small brigade arrived on the field
and joined the action on Cabell’s left. Supported by the 7th
Arkansas cavalry, Dockery’s command swept around Cabell’s command
and reached the Camden road west of the Union position. About the
same time, a scout informed Colonel Drake that a large force of
Confederate cavalry was approaching from the east. This would be
Shelby’s command that consisted of his own Missouri brigade and
Colonel John Wright’s 2nd
Arkansas brigade. The Federals were now surrounded on three sides.
Colonel Drake now called upon the five remaining companies of the
36th Iowa to meet
the attack from the east.
At
this time, Colonel Drake decided to try to make contact with Major
Mark McCauley who was to bring the 77th
Ohio to the front. This regiment was at the rear of the train.
While enroute to McCauley’s command post, Drake was severely
wounded in the left hip by a minie ball fired from the Confederate
line. Before passing out, Drake told Captain McGill to turn command
over to Major Spellman.
The time: 10:30 a.m., April 25th
1864.
When
they reached the battle area, General Shelby told Captain Richard
Collins to fire his two cannon. This would let General Fagan know
that they were on the Federal left flank. He then gave the order to
charge. The troopers charged into the right battalion of the 36th
Iowa forcing them back into the already tangled mass of fighting
around the guns and buildings. At the same time, Cabell’s command
rose to their feet and converged on Lieutenant Peetz’ two guns.
After
an hour of this almost hand-to-hand combat, the Federals with their
ammunition almost gone began to fall back. Leaving the two guns, a
large number of Federal soldiers move to their left and took refuse
in and around a large log house which stood about 150 yards north by
east of their original position. General Cabell’s command now
found themselves in possession of over 200 prisoners, two cannon and
a large number of wagons. The first Union position had been taken.
The 1st and 2nd
Arkansas now moved forward toward the house. After several volleys
had been exchanged, they captured about 100 Federals. These soldiers
were placed under guard and sent to the rear as prisoners of war. "
Please feel free to share items of interest for this column before Monday. This will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com . Go Eagles.
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