Arkansas True Democrat
Little Rock
May 2, 1861
From the Fort Smith Times and Herald, April 21.
Arrival of Volunteers for the Capture of Fort Smith. Midnight Abandonment of the Post by the Federal Troops.
Last night, about 12 o’clock, the steamers “Tahlequah” and “Frederick Notrebe” arrived almost simultaneously at our wharf, having on board, as we subsequently learned, 235 men, composed of the volunteer companies of Little Rock and Pulaski county, in this State; having come for the purpose of reducing, under the State authority, the federal post at this place. The expedition ordered by Governor Rector, who was represented in it by his Adjutant General, Edmund Burgevin, was under the immediate command of Col. Solon Borland, Aid-de-damp of the Governor, and consisted of five companies, three from the city of Little Rock, and two from vicinity. They were all well armed, drilled and uniformed, and consisted of the flower of the chivalry of that portion of the State. Their disappointment upon learning, when they reached the place of disembarkation, that the enemy had ingloriously fled, was not disguised, and was, doubtless, as we can well imagine, deep and sincere. Yes, the bird had flown.
About one hour before the arrival of the little fleet at this port, the brave federal captain, who had so often vaunted here of his ability to cope with ten thousand assailants, suddenly, in the dead hour of the night, quietly and precipitately, gathered up his plunder, consisting of a train of 23 wagons, and about 160 horses and mules, and crossing the Poteau, and succeeded effectually, without having aroused any suspicion of his purpose, here, in placing himself safe beyond the reach of his brave pursuers. The citizens of Fort Smith were no less chagrined than the volunteers, at this unexpected flight. It is thought that the departure took place after the arrival of the expedition at Van Buren, and before its arrival here, news of which arrival at Van Buren, although we learn it was quiet and thought to be unknown, must have been communicated from Van Buren by telegraph.
The buildings of the Fort remain uninjured. About one o’clock, the officers of the expedition took formal possession of the fort and such stores as were left by the federal authorities. Upon the order of the Adjutant General, Capt. Montgomery, Q. M., Major Gatlin, and a Sergeant, all of the United States army, were seized as prisoners of war by Col. Borland, and released on parole.
The fruits of the expedition, compose of 6000 bushels of corn, 500 tons of hay, 100 mules, a number of wagons, a large quantity of quarter master’s stores, possession of the buildings of the fort, which are very fine—constituting a property worth about three hundred thousand dollars.
The volunteers were eager to pursue, but inasmuch as they were on foot, while the enemy were well mounted on the finest of horses, pursuit was decided to be impracticable. The volunteers spent the night in removing their ordinance, etc., to the fort, and will be formally lodged there to-day. Among the volunteers, besides the many gentlemen of high position unknown to us, we observed as privates in the ranks, Wm. R. Miller, Auditor of State; John M. Harrell, Solicitor General; Col. R. H. Johnson and J. T. Trigg, esq.