Because of its reputation for fierce fighting, the First Kansas Colored Infantry was placed by Colonel Williams to guard the Union train against the heaviest Confederate assault. The regiment repulsed two attacks with heavy losses before, denied reinforcements, yielding on the third attack. It suffered an unusually high number of killed compared with wounded, with 117 killed and 65 wounded, largely because Confederates took no African-American prisoners. Colonel James M. Williams praised the troops for true soldierly bearing, saying no line broke except under overwhelming force and then fell back only when ordered, and he honored the dead for their heroic spirit. In the wider campaign, General James F. Fagan and 4,000 selected cavalrymen were ordered to strike Federal communications and supply bases on the Arkansas River and then move between Steele and Little Rock. After learning on April 24th that the supply train was returning to Pine Bluff, Fagan made a forced march to intercept it at Mt. Elba on the Saline River, and the Battle of Marks' Mills followed the next day. On the 26th, Fagan left Marks' Mills to continue operations against Federal bases on the Arkansas River, and on the 27th he crossed the road only hours before Steele arrived, unaware that Steele was retreating to Little Rock. Unable to cross the swollen Saline and lacking food and forage, Fagan went to Pratt's Ferry and then continued to Arkadelphia after hearing nothing from headquarters. Had communication with Price and Kirby Smith been maintained, Fagan might have been able to block Steele's escape and bring about the capture or destruction of the entire Federal army in Arkansas. Along with Major General Nathaniel P. Banks's defeat on the Red River in Louisiana, Major General Frederick Steele lost three major encounters in Arkansas. At Marks' Mills, Steele lost many ambulances, 300 wagons, four stands of colors, four rifled guns, hundreds of small arms, and mail containing valuable documents, while Federal forces lost 1,300 of 1,600 men, mostly by capture, and Confederates lost 500 of 2,500 men. At Jenkins' Ferry, the Federals lost at least 700 men, while Confederates suffered 800 to 1,000 killed and wounded. In the Camden Expedition, Steele suffered 2,750 casualties and lost 635 wagons, 2,500 mules, and many sutler and refugee wagons, while Confederates had 2,300 casualties and lost 35 wagons. The entire campaign brought 5,000 casualties and severe hardship to both sides without giving either any strategic advantage.