Confederate Forces Commanded by Col. John B. Clark, Jr.
Conclusion: Confederate Victory
On the morning of February 21st, Capt. Gurney W. Davis led a detachment of 50 men of the 13th Illnois Cavalry from Pine Bluff down the Arkansas River to Douglas Landing, camping that night in a torrential downpour. While there, Davis learned that Confederates had been seen down the river about 3 miles and were expected to move on the landing to burn cotton to prevent it from being captured by Union troops.
With the rain too heavy to allow him to move out, he doubled his pickets and decided to wait out the storm. The Confederates, however, moved first and about 1:00 A.M., attacked his outposts on both sides, then sent a volley directly into the main body of his small command, huddled for protection under a shed. The Federals returned fire, holding the Confederates long enough to get their horses out into line. Davis mounted his command, cared for his casualties (4 wounded) and ordered his men to retire. They returned to Pine Bluff that night after encountering several other roaming parties of Confederate cavalry.
Davis had been both scouting and foraging but returned without the cattle he sought- and with little information other than that small parties of Federals like his were in constant danger in the Arkansas outback. The identity of the Confederates who attacked him was uncertain, though he believed their leader to be the notorious Col. John B. Clark, Jr., one of scores of partisan and raider leaders who constantly tormented the Federals in Arkansas and throughout the Trans-Mississippi. These leaders were largely responsible for making it almost impossible for Pres. Lincoln to effectively take and hold the western Confederacy.
Vikosi vya Confederate vilivyoongozwa na Kanali John B. Clark, Jr. Ushindi wa Confederate: Asubuhi ya Februari 21, Capt. Gurney W. Davis aliongoza kikosi cha watu 50 wa 13th Illinois Cavalry kutoka Pine Bluff chini ya Mto Arkansas hadi Douglas Landing, kambi usiku huo katika mvua kubwa. Wakati akiwa huko, Davis alijua kwamba Confederates walikuwa wameonekana chini ya mto karibu maili 3 na walitarajiwa kuhamia kwenye kutua ili kuchoma pamba ili kuzuia kutekwa na vikosi vya Umoja. Kwa kuwa mvua ilikuwa kubwa sana hivi kwamba hangeweza kuondoka, aliweka ngome zake mara mbili na kuamua kungoja dhoruba hiyo iishe. Hata hivyo, Confederates walihamia kwanza na karibu saa moja asubuhi, walishambulia vituo vyake vya mbele pande zote mbili, kisha walituma risasi moja kwa moja kwenye mwili mkuu wa amri yake ndogo, iliyojificha chini ya kibanda. Majeshi ya Shirikisho yalijibu kwa kupiga risasi, yakishikilia majeshi ya Muungano kwa muda mrefu vya kutosha ili kupata farasi wao katika mstari. Davis alipanda amri yake, akawatunza waliouawa (4 waliojeruhiwa) na kuwaamuru watu wake warudi nyuma. Walirudi Pine Bluff usiku huo baada ya kukutana na vikundi vingine kadhaa vya wapanda farasi wa Confederate. Davis alikuwa amekuwa akitafuta chakula na kutafuta chakula lakini alirudi bila ng'ombe aliotaka na akiwa na habari chache zaidi ya kwamba vikundi vidogo vya Wafederali kama chake vilikuwa katika hatari ya mara kwa mara katika mashambani ya Arkansas. Alikiri kuwa kiongozi wa Confederate alikuwa Colonel John B. Clark Jr, mmoja wa viongozi wengi wa wapiganaji wa kupigana na wapiganaji wa kupigana ambao waliwatesa mara kwa mara katika Arkansas na katika Trans-Mississippi. Viongozi hawa walikuwa na jukumu kubwa la kufanya iwe karibu haiwezekani kwa Pres. Lincoln kwa ufanisi kuchukua na kushikilia Confederation magharibi.