in late august 1864, colonel mccray and his brigade accompanied general shelby in a raid against union hay cutting operations west of devalls bluff in prairie county, arkansas. the purpose was to draw union forces east of little rock, to provide a diversion while general price crossed the arkansas river west of the city. mccray's brigade was the reserve for shelby's attack on ashley's station and four other hay cutting stations west of devalls bluff, during which shelby captured colonel greenville m. mitchell and over 500 men of the 54th illinois infantry regiment. price crossed the arkansas river near dardanelle on september 7, 1864, on his way to link with general shelby at batesville to prepare for his raid on missouri.