the 47th arkansas mounted infantry was assigned to colonel thomas h. mccray's brigade and operated as part of general shelby's division in northeast arkansas in the summer of 1864. the regiments organized by colonel mccray were apparently ready for operations by july 25, 1864, when brigadier general shelby ordered mccray's brigade to move south and attack the railroad near brownsville, in current day lonoke county, arkansas. these attacks were to cut off supplies to the union army under general steele in little rock, which was dependent on supplies sent up the arkansas river and down the railroad from duvall's bluff, arkansas. in response to colonel mccray's movements, union brigadier general joseph r. west conducted an expedition from little rock to the little red river, august 7–14, 1864 in attempt to destroy mccray's forces. wests forces encountered some of mccray's men at hickory plains, arkansas, on august 7, 1864, and captured seven prisoners. nevertheless, shelby reported that mccray had succeeded in tearing up track and burned several railroad bridges.