Engagement at Elkin's Ferry

The Engagement at Elkin’s Ferry, often referred to as the Battle of Okolona, was a part of the U.S. Army’s Camden Expedition. The Camden Expedition lasted from March 23, 1864 to May 2, 1864 with the ultimate goal of conducting a campaign against the Confederate Army in Arkansas, therefore cooperating with Major General Nathaniel Banks’ movement against Shreveport. Louisiana. Spread over Clark and Nevada counties, the Engagement at Elkin’s Ferry resulted in a Union victory that allowed Union forces to cross the Little Missouri River and push back Confederate forces, furthering the U.S. Army’s advances into Southwest Arkansas and the upcoming battles of Prairie D’Ane, Poison Spring, Marks’ Mills, and Jenkins’ Ferry.

The Engagement at Elkin’s Ferry would take place on April 3-4,1864 after Major General Frederick Steele had captured Fort Smith and Little Rock in September of 1863. Heading towards Hempstead County, Steele needed to capture Camden in order to replenish his troops and ensure Union victory over Confederate forces led by Major General Sterling Price. Rations and supplies were running low, and Steele’s ambition of meeting reinforcements led by Brigadier General John Thayer had proven unsuccessful due to poor weather conditions. Therefore, Steele devised a strategy to pull Price’s forces away from Camden and towards Washington by crossing the Little Missouri River at Elkin’s Ferry.

Named after the Elkin family that owned the Ferry at the time, Elkin’s Ferry was the ideal location for Steele to cross the Little Missouri. While one brigade was left near Okolona to scout for Brigadier General John Thayer, Steele moved 4,000 men to the river where they were met with 1,200 Confederate men led by Colonel William McClean with the assistance of Brigadier General Joseph Shelby and Colonel Francis M. Drake. With one Confederate cavalry stalling the Union’s advancement and one moving in from the rear, Steele charged the rear Confederate forces on April 3rd. While weather conditions worsened with hail storms, thunder, and lightning, neither side would cease to surrender. From this chaotic night, it is said that Confederate forces were pushed back not from Union advances or weather, but from several bee hives being turned over, therefore attacking the Confederate militia and driving them to retreat.

As the battle continued into April 4th, Confederate General Brigadier John S. Marmaduke arrived with artillery to push back Steele’s advancements. Although Marmaduke’s men temporarily pushed back Union forces, 2,000 federal reinforcements continued to arrive and push through the river. Knowing that his chances of victory were becoming slim, Marmaduke retreated from the river with Shelby and resumed position 16 miles away at Prairie D’ Ane where they were to wait for Union troops to arrive on April 10th. Until then, Steele and the rest of his men crossed the Little Missouri, resulting in a crucial Union victory.

“Engagement at Elkin's Ferry.” Encyclopedia of Arkansas, March 19, 2019. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/engagement-at-elkins-ferry-1132/.

Home.” Skirmishes at Okolona/Fighting at Elkins' Ferry. Accessed November 29, 2020. http://www.arkansascivilwar150.com/historical-markers/skirmishes-at-okolona-fighting-at-elkins-ferry.

“Battle of Elkin's Ferry Facts & Summary.” American Battlefield Trust, April 3, 2018. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/elkins-ferry.

“Soldiers' Records: War of 1812 - World War I.” Missouri Digital Heritage : Soldiers' Records: War of 1812 - World War I. Accessed November 29, 2020. https://s1.sos.mo.gov/Records/Archives/ArchivesDb/soldiers/Results.aspx.