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General Davidson caused guards to be placed upon every street-corner of the city, and, to the everlasting credit of his division, let it be said, that although they beheld their comrades shot from their saddles from houses in the suburbs, and entered the city amid the gathering shades of night, which would have concealed all manner of crimes, not a single act of violence or injustice was done the citizens of the place, or a single article of private property disturbed.
Such a record is seldom made in these days.
General Steele and staff, crossing the Arkansas in a skiff, for the bridges were not yet passable, entered Little Rock soon after General Davidson.
The greeting of the two Generals and the officers surrounding them was a cordial one--such as can only be seen under similar circumstances.
As a mark of his appreciation of General Davidson's gallant conduct during the day, General Steele directed the following order to be issued, making General Davidson “Military Commander” of the capital and vicinity:
General Davidson, in assuming command, appointed Colonel Andrews, Third Minnesota infantry, commander of the post; detailed the Forty-third Illinois infantry, Major Stefauney, as garrison at the United States Arsenal; appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, Seventh Missouri, Provost-Marshal General, with Captain S. S. McNaughton, Seventy-seventh Ohio, as his assistant; created a Board of Health, consisting of E. P. Smith, Medical Director of the cavalry division; E. A. Clark, Surgeon of the Eighth Missouri cavalry; and Assistant Surgeon A. C. Wedge, Third Minnesota infantry. Among the regulations adopted is one allowing the municipal authorities of the city to temporarily continue the exercise of their functions. Another invites citizens of the surrounding country to bring in their produce for sale to the inhabitants and the troops. Another prohibits all officers and soldiers, other than those on provost. guard duty, or belonging to the staffs or escorts of Generals, from being in the city without a pass; “officers and soldiers are expected to remain constantly with their commands, unless absent from duty.” Another regulation provides that no house will be occupied by any officer, or soldier without the order of the General commanding the city. The day's work had been so arduous that it was impossible to start immediately in pursuit of Price's retreating army. A strong force was organized and sent out under command of Colonel Merrill, on the following morning, however. It has not yet returned. General Davidson issued the following congratulatory order this morning, addressed to the soldiers of his division:
Little Rock has been long considered as a Union city, and, but for the sudden manner in which our forces entered it, the confederates would have carried into execution the threats they have so often made, to burn it for its “Yankee preferences.” An army was never more astonished upon entering a city than was ours upon its entry of Little Rock. Instead of a warm, cordial welcome from the citizens, we were greeted, at best, with cold, frigid politeness. Handkerchiefs were waved from the windows when first we entered, with a view of propitiating our friendship, doubtless with the idea of preventing the destruction of property. When, however, it was seen that our troops molested nothing, this poor, false profession of sympathy was withdrawn.
headquarters army of Arkansas expedition, little Rock, September 10, 1863.
General Orders No. 22:
I. The rebels under command of Sterling Price having been driven from the town of Little Rock, and it having been duly surrendered by the civil authorities to the Federal forces, Brigadier-General Davidson is hereby invested with the command of the town and its vicinity, which shall be occupied by the troops.
II.
Upon assuming the command, General Davidson will immediately organize such police and provost guard as may be sufficient to insure the good conduct of the troops and proper police of the city, instituting therefor such rules and regulations as shall be needful for good government of and protection to the city and its inhabitants; and for that purpose he will, on application to these headquarters, have such details of infantry as may be by him deemed necessary.
III. Captain S. S. McNaughton, Provost-Marshal, will report to Brigadier-General Davidson for duty. General Orders No. 22:
General Davidson, in assuming command, appointed Colonel Andrews, Third Minnesota infantry, commander of the post; detailed the Forty-third Illinois infantry, Major Stefauney, as garrison at the United States Arsenal; appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, Seventh Missouri, Provost-Marshal General, with Captain S. S. McNaughton, Seventy-seventh Ohio, as his assistant; created a Board of Health, consisting of E. P. Smith, Medical Director of the cavalry division; E. A. Clark, Surgeon of the Eighth Missouri cavalry; and Assistant Surgeon A. C. Wedge, Third Minnesota infantry. Among the regulations adopted is one allowing the municipal authorities of the city to temporarily continue the exercise of their functions. Another invites citizens of the surrounding country to bring in their produce for sale to the inhabitants and the troops. Another prohibits all officers and soldiers, other than those on provost. guard duty, or belonging to the staffs or escorts of Generals, from being in the city without a pass; “officers and soldiers are expected to remain constantly with their commands, unless absent from duty.” Another regulation provides that no house will be occupied by any officer, or soldier without the order of the General commanding the city. The day's work had been so arduous that it was impossible to start immediately in pursuit of Price's retreating army. A strong force was organized and sent out under command of Colonel Merrill, on the following morning, however. It has not yet returned. General Davidson issued the following congratulatory order this morning, addressed to the soldiers of his division:
headquarters cavalry division, Department of the Missouri, Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 18, 1863.
General Orders No. 62:
Soldiers of the cavalry division!
I congratulate you, that your long and weary march is at length terminated by victory.
Little Rock, the capital of the State of Arkansas, the key of the Trans-Mississippi department, is in our hands.
The United States Arsenal, uninjured, is “repossessed.”
The feet of the rebel army — who, but a day or two ago, filed with downcast heads through the streets of the city — will tread the sands of the Arkansas no more.
But, comrades, you have gained two victories on the same day. Though flushed with success, though entering the city when the darkness of night would have covered up misdeeds, though your passions were stirred that our soldiers were shot from their saddles within the suburbs of the city, no outrage upon its defenceless inhabitants has stained your hands.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Your conduct has more than repaid me for many an anxious day and sleepless night.
For you may there be continued success wherever it may be our lot to go. For me, I have no higher aim, and ask no greater honor, than to lead such men. General Orders No. 62:
J. W. Davidson, Brigadier-General Commanding.
Little Rock has been long considered as a Union city, and, but for the sudden manner in which our forces entered it, the confederates would have carried into execution the threats they have so often made, to burn it for its “Yankee preferences.” An army was never more astonished upon entering a city than was ours upon its entry of Little Rock. Instead of a warm, cordial welcome from the citizens, we were greeted, at best, with cold, frigid politeness. Handkerchiefs were waved from the windows when first we entered, with a view of propitiating our friendship, doubtless with the idea of preventing the destruction of property. When, however, it was seen that our troops molested nothing, this poor, false profession of sympathy was withdrawn.
