Col. John M. Harrell, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 10.2, Arkansas
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

‘ [253] commissary train of 200 wagons, guarded by an escort of 50 cavalry. I immediately organized an expedition of 4,000 picked cavalry, under General Fagan, who were ordered to cross the Ouachita, under instructions to destroy the supplies at Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Devall's Bluff, and then throw himself between the enemy and Little Rock.’ Such was the service cut out by General Smith for Fagan, in consequence of the success of Poison Spring, and his knowledge of the extremity of Steele's situation. This position was not Steele's seeking, but against his protest all along. He yielded, of course, to the commands of General Grant.

General Fagan moved, on the morning of April 22d, from the vicinity of Camden on the road down the west bank of the Ouachita to Eldorado landing, where a pontoon bridge had been laid, over which the troops crossed, and early the next day he proceeded on the road leading from Chambersville to Mount Elba, on the Saline. There information was received that a train of the enemy¹ had departed from Camden and was on the road to Pine Bluff, under escort of 2,000 infantry, 500 cavalry and a battery of four 10-pounder Parrott guns. General Fagan determined, if possible, to intercept and capture this train. By leaving all baggage, except the ordnance train and ambulances, and marching with rapidity, much of the distance in a gallop, he gained a position on the road beyond the enemy, who had camped on Moro creek. About midnight he halted for rest, having marched 45 miles without stopping for any purpose. After a few hours' rest the command was again in the saddle, moving to a point for attacking the train, when on the morning of