The 1861 Seizure of Fort Smith by the State of Arkansas
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - 1861 Seizure of Fort Smith, Arkansas
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - 1861 Seizure of Fort Smith, Arkansas
OFFICIAL REPORTS


Camp on Walnut Creek, Kansas
May 21, 1861

Report of Maj. Samuel D. Sturgis, Fourth U.S. Cavalry, of the seizure of Fort Smith, Ark.

“I avail myself of the first opportunity which has occurred since leaving Fort Smith, Ark., to inform you that I evacuated
that post at 9 o’clock p.m. on the 23d ultimo, and marched with my command for Fort Washita, where we arrived on the
30th ultimo, and reported for duty to Col. W.H. Emory, First Cavalry. All the available transportation at the post,
amounting to some twenty wagons and teams, was taken along. The ordnance sergeant, hospital steward, chief
bugler, sick, and laundresses were left at the post, to be shipped to Jefferson Barracks by Capt. A. Montgomery, A.Q.M.

“The causes which induced me to evacuate the post I presume are known to the department commander from general
notoriety. After the supplies were cut off by the State of Arkansas the post, of course, became untenable, and we could
have occupied it in any case but a few more days. One hour after we left, two boats arrived with three hundred men and
ten pieces of artillery. To have contended against this force with two companies of cavalry, and that, too, while the entire
population of the surrounding country were ready at a moment’s warning to take up arms against us, could only
resulted eventually in our being taken prisoners and the loss to the Government of all the arms, horses, means of
transportation, &c., at the post.”

Official Records, Series 1, Volume I, pages 650-651.

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Fort Smith, Ark.
April 24, 1861

Report of Capt. Alexander Montgomery, assistant quartermaster, U.S. Army, of the seizure of Fort Smith, Ark.

“I have the honor to report that the companies of cavalry under command of Captain Sturgis, First Cavalry, withdrew
from this post yesterday evening and marched in the direction of Fort Washita….

“About two hours after his departure a body of troops under the command of Col. Solon Borland, aide-de-camp to his
excellency the governor of the State of Arkansas, accompanied by the adjutant-general of the State, arrived in steamers
and took possession of the post, making me a prisoner of war, under authority and by direction of the governor of the
State. Maj. R.C. Gatlin, Fifth Infantry, who happened to be in the garrison at the time on a visit, was also made prisoner
of war. On giving our parole that we would not fight against the State of Arkansas or the Southern Confederate States
during the existing difficulties between the latter and the United States, unless exchanged, we were permitted to go at
large. The force under Colonel Borland consisted of 235 men, rank and file, with battery of artillery. Colonel Borland
demanded and has taken possession of all the public property at the post and in its vicinity, inventories of which will be
forwarded to the proper bureau.

“For the information of the friends of the parties, I beg leave to state, that Major Brown, paymaster, and Captain Burns,
C.S., were absent from the post at the time of its evacuation. Major Brown, returning from Fort Arbuckle, received
information at Scullyville that I had been made a prisoner of war, and immediately turned back and joined Captain
Sturgis’ command. Captain Burns had gone down the river to look after certain subsistence stores, which it was feared
would be seized by the State authorities.

“The movement of Captain Sturgis was necessitated by the limited supply of provisions on hand and the intelligence
received a short time before he left that all the public stores on the river in transit to this post had been detained or
captured by the State authorities. He was also aware that the governor of the State had dispatched a force, with artillery,
to demand possession of the post, and possibly to capture his arms and horses. It was not expected that any orders
had been given to make prisoners of war.”

Official Records, Series 1, Volume I, page 651.

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Fort Smith, Ark.
April 24, 1861

Report of Maj. Richard C. Gatlin, Fifth U.S. Infantry, of the seizure of Fort Smith, Ark.

“I have the honor to report that a body of troops of the State of Arkansas, under the command of Col. S. Borland, entered
and took possession of the post of Fort Smith last night, Captain Sturgis, of the First Cavalry, having evacuated it but a
few hours previous. Being on a visit at the post at the time, I was made a prisoner of war by the authority of his
excellency, the governor of the State, but permitted to go at large upon giving my parole not to fight against the State of
Arkansas or the Southern Confederated States during the pending difficulties between the latter and the United States,
unless exchanged.

“In a conversation with Colonel Borland today I am given to understand that the governor is acting as though the State
had already seceded; that last act in the drama being only a question of a few days’ time.”

Official Records, Series 1, Volume I, page 650.

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