UNION ARMY VII CORPS
(DEPARTMENT
OF ARKANSAS)
Arkadelphia; Okalona; Elkin's Ford; Prairie D'ann; Moscow; Camden; Poison Springs; Marks' Mills; Jenkins' Ferry
As a result of the juggling with corps numbers by the Washington authorities, there occurs another duplication of titles. This corps was organized Jan. 6, 1864, and was formed by the consolidation of the troops in the Department of Arkansas. The command of the corps was given to Major-General Frederick Steele;the divisions were commanded by Generals Salomon and Thayer, with a cavalry division attached, under General E. A.Carr. The corps was continued in service until the close of the war.
The principal part of its fighting was done in Arkansas while on Steele's Expedition, during which a general engagement occurred at Jenkins' Ferry, on the Saline River. In this action the corps lost 64 killed, 378 wounded, and 86 missing; total, 528. General Samuel A. Rice, commanding the First Brigade of Salomon's (1st) Division, was mortally wounded in this battle. At this time the corps was composed of 17 regiments of infantry, 5 batteries of light artillery, and 10 regiments of cavalry.