Two State Governments

So, when Murphy took the oath of office, April 18, 1864, for four years, Arkansas had two state governments. The Murphy government held sway over the counties north of the Arkansas river, and a few localities along its southern bank, while the Flanagin government, in Washington, controlled the southern counties.

Murphy left to his credit the record of a conscientious, if not brilliant administration. Affairs were wisely and thriftily managed. When he went out of office all the expenses of his term had been paid, and there was $270,000 in federal currency in the state treasury.

The legislature of the Murphy administration named Elisha Baxter and William Fishback as United States Senators. And the senators in the Confederate Congress from the state were Robert W. Johnson and Charles B. Mitchell. In 1864, however, Mitchell died, and A.H. Garland took his place.

Meanwhile, military operations in Arkansas had not ceased. On the contrary, there was sharp fighting in 1864, along with numerous raids and counter raids in the northern counties. The battles were staged south of the river, as the result of a campaign in that section opened early in March 1864, by General Steele. His plan was to co-operate with other federal forces coming up from New Orleans, and crush the Confederate s by a converging movement.

But, to Steele’s great discomfiture, the Confederates refused to be mopped up in any such manner. At Poison Spring, the Southern forces under General Marmaduke and General Cabell, inflicted a severe defeat on Steele, and captured a large and welcome train of supplies. That was on April 17, 1864. Following quickly after that drubbing, Steele was given another set-back or two. He decided to return to Little Rock, having lost much of his supplies and ammunition.

Poison Spring Battlefield

At Jenkin’s Ferry, on the Saline river, about 10 miles southwest of Sheridan, Steele narrowly escaped disaster in another battle, April 30th. There, he was attacked by a Confederate force under General Price, aided by reinforcements from Gen. Kirby Smith, in Louisiana. Only by skillful maneuvering was Steele able to get his troops across the river on pontoons. He had to burn his wagons and supplies. Both sides suffered heavy losses in four and half hours of furious fighting.  Steele was later relieved of his command, being succeeded by Gen. J.J. Reynolds.

Jenkin's Ferry