Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 9.djvu/445



FTER the battle of Jenkins’ Ferry on Saline river, General Price encamped the infantry of his dis- trict around Camden; detached Shelby's brigade from Marmaduke's division and ordered it to operate around Arkadelphia and watch Steele at Little Rock, and sent Marmaduke with Greene's brigade to Chicot county—the extreme southeastern county of the State to interfere with the navigation of the Mississippi river and prevent the transportation of men and supplies over it. At Saline river Marmaduke received the order of General Smith announcing his promotion to the rank of major-general, which entitled him of right to the command of a division; but, strangely enough, one of his brigades was taken from him and he was left with a single brigade.

The service in Chicot county was the lightest and most agreeable the Missouri cavalry had ever been ordered to perform. It was a rich county, and its inhabitants were wealthy, intelligent and hospitable. They were somewhat given to trading with the Federals, but their notices were always open to the Confederates, and they showed their kindly feeling toward them in numberless social ways. Marmaduke established his headquarters at Village, a pleasant little town, and from there directed