Battle of Elkin's Ferry

The Battle of Elkin's Ferry was fought on April 3 and April 4, 1864, in Clark and Nevada counties in Arkansas as part of the Camden Expedition of the American Civil War.

Opposing forces
Union Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele had the 3rd Division of the VII Corps and two cavalry brigades (about 8,500 men) under his command. Confederate Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke had three cavalry brigades (about 7,500 men) under his command.

During the Camden expedition, the Union forces had to ford the Little Missouri River because all of the bridges were impassable.

Battle
With all the bridges across the river destroyed, Steele ordered Brigadier General Frederick C. Salomon, commanding the 3rd Division, to take and hold a ford known as Elkin's Ferry on the afternoon of 2 April 1864. The 43rd Indiana was tasked with this objective, supported by elements of the 36th Iowa Infantry and the 2nd Missouri Light Artillery. Following a forced march, the 43rd arrived at the crossing after dark that evening, crossed the river, and set up defensive positions while awaiting the rest of Steele's army.

Opposing the Union advance was a division of three cavalry brigades under the command of Confederate Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke&mdash;about 7500 troopers altogether. Marmaduke ordered Brigadier General Joseph Shelby to attack the 43rd and take back the ford. Colonel McLean, now a brigade commander, states what happened next:

Losses on both sides in the Battle of Elkin's Ferry were light, with 30 Union soldiers slightly wounded, 50 Confederates wounded, and 18 Southerners killed. On the evening of April 4, Shelby's brigade joined Marmaduke, and together they withdrew 16 miles south to Prairie D'Ane the following morning.