What do you know about The Civil War and Powhatan?
1861- Confederate
In july 1861, Captain Elliot Fletcher Jr. wrote to his father that he and his company had boarded the steamboat "Sovereign" and left from Memphis. They traveled to Helena, Arkansas and up the White River, arriving at Jacksonport where they received "a most enthusiastic reception." From Jacksonport, they went up the the Black River and worked their way up to Powhatan in the company of smaller boats. From Powhatan, they went to Pocahontas and beyond. 1
1863
Confederate Assistant Adjutant General Major E.G. Williams may have been in Powhatan, and received a report from Colton Greene related to scouting along the Spring River.6
1863- Union
On may 18, 1863 Colonel D.H. Hughes wrote to Captain H.C. Fillebrown that rebel deserted reported ongoing conscription throughout Arkansas in preparation for an advance into Missouri. They have collected supplies at Powhatan.5
1864- Union
On January 17, 1864 Colonel R.R. Livingston of the First Nebraska Cavalry wrote to Captain A.B. Kauffman of the Eleventh Missouri Cavalry that he had sent 160 men to cross the Black River 2 miles below Powhatan and to move rapidly down the Black River to surprise McRae at Jacksonport. Livingston learned that McRae had 300 armed men instead of the 100 previously thought, so he was sending 150 men to reinforce the 160 sent earlier. They were ordered to take the Powhatan road and join Captain Majors' command. 3 Colonel Rogers wrote to Captain T.J. Majors to expect the reinforcements from Kauffman and ordered him to occupy the roads leading to Jacksonport and to eliminate resistance. He also warned that Colonel Adams has 300 men near Canton, west of Powhatan. 4
On March 3, 1864 Colonel J.B. Rogers of the 2nd Regiment, Missouri State Militia Cavalry wrote to General Clinton B. Fisk that Freeman skirmished with the First Nebraska and crossed to the east side of the Black River at Pocahontas then moved to Powhatan. From there, he crossed Cash Swamps and came on to Crowley's Ridge. He further stated that he does not believe there are sufficient guerillas who can be combined in Northeast Arkansas to resist 200 of Rogers' men.2
Sources:
1. I Do Wish This Cruel War Was Over: First-Person Accounts of Civil War Arkansas from the Arkansas Historical Quarterly, p.15
2. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, p.493
3. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, p. 99
4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, p. 99
5. https://books.google.com/books?id=6KYZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA287&lpg=PA287&dq=powhatan,+arkansas&source=bl&ots=SxFbw1fnho&sig=ACfU3U2jZ6ft-C5GYjy24g_uI6ast2xsmA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiiho_s6vPiAhULt54KHaOcCzs4eBDoATAIegQIBxAB#v=onepage&q=powhatan%2C%20arkansas&f=false
6 https://books.google.com/books?id=6KYZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA287&lpg=PA287&dq=powhatan,+arkansas&source=bl&ots=SxFbw1fnho&sig=ACfU3U2jZ6ft-C5GYjy24g_uI6ast2xsmA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiiho_s6vPiAhULt54KHaOcCzs4eBDoATAIegQIBxAB#v=onepage&q=powhatan%2C%20arkansas&f=false
