Arkansas Civil War

Join us May 24-26 in historic Helena. This observance of the sesquicentennial of the Battle of Helena is sponsored by the Delta Cultural Center, the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, and the Helena Advertising and Promotion Commission.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, May 24:
Spectators are encouraged to visit the camps during the day. Registered food and merchandise vendors will be open for business.

All Day Reenactor, Artillery and Vendor set up

9 AM – 5 PM Participant Registration Open
Delta Cultural Center Depot

Noon-7 PM Vendors Open at Cherry Street Pavilion
Noon-5 PM Moore-Hornor Home Open for Tours
Noon-Sunset Camps Open for Visitors
5 PM After-hours viewing of “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War” exhibit
Delta Cultural Center Visitors Center
7 PM Battle Briefing at Beth El Heritage Hall
(Open to Reenactors and the Public)

Saturday, May 25:
Designated areas will be provided for viewing the assault on the Fort. Some activities are restricted to registered Reenactors only. Spectators will hear distant gunfire moving closer to town as the morning progresses and the activity nears Fort Curtis.
Battle of Helena Reenactment Event:

9 AM-Sunset Camps Open for Visitors

8 AM-10 AM Participant Registration Open
Delta Cultural Center Depot

9 AM-Noon Moore-Hornor Home Open for Reenactment Tours
Living History & Civil War hospital interpretation

9 AM Confederate Army begin their march through Crowley’s Ridge toward Helena

9 AM-11 PM Skirmish atop the ridge road toward Battery C
10 AM-9 PM Vendors Open at Cherry Street Pavilion
10 AM First shots of the Battle of Helena 150
(Confederates start driving in Federal pickets)

11AM-1PM Spectators Witness the Battle of Helena 150 reenactment
Designated viewing area near Fort Curtis

11 AM-11:30 AM Skirmish on historic Battery C
11:30 AM-Noon Attack on Battery C and Fort Curtis
(Federal retreat from Battery C to Fort Curtis – Confederates pursue)

Noon-5 PM Moore-Hornor Home Open for Regular Tours

Noon-1 PM Final charge onto Fort Curtis
1 PM Battle of Helena Reenactment concludes
3 PM-7 PM Artillery training in Fort Curtis
(Registered Reenactors Only)
Battle of Helena 150 Lectures:
The reenactment will be followed by a series of Civil War lectures at Beth El Heritage Hall 406 Perry Street in Historic Downtown Helena. The lectures are free and open to the public.

2 PM Music by Harmony
3 PM Dyan Bohnert: “Food and Medicine of the Civil War and Before”

4 PM Mark Christ: “The Battle of Helena”

5 PM Music by Harmony
6 PM Jack Myers: “U.S.S. Tyler”

Downtown Evening Events:
Spectators are encouraged to attend the artillery demonstration and free outdoor concert.

Sunset Artillery demonstration on levee near Cherry Street Pavilion

8:30 PM Civil War concert and dance at the Cherry Street Pavilion

Sunday, May 26:
Spectators are welcome to observe the reenactment along the banks of the Mississippi River in the Helena River Park.

Secondary Battle of Helena 150 Reenactment:

8:00 – 9:30 AM Battle at Fort Curtis

10:00 AM Worship Service at Cherry Street Pavilion

11:00 AM Battle of Helena 150 Concludes
11:15 AM Artillery training in Fort Curtis
(Registered Reenactors Only)

Notes:
Some activities and events are for reenactors only.
Spectator areas will be designated.
Please bring your own lawn chairs.
Registered food and merchandise vendors will be set up.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has recently signed into law the Heritage Protection Act.This law, which applies to the entire state and all cities, prohibits the renaming, removal, or relocating of any military monument or item, such as a statue or flag display, or park, and includes streets and school names, or any other item so honoring a military unit or person. It is effective as of April 1, 2013, and applies to any military item from the French and Indian War through the Mid-East wars, and all US wars in between, including the War Between the States.

This legislation, the basic text of which was written by Lee Millar, SCV Chief of Protocol and LtCdr of the Tennessee Division, was introduced to the Legislature by Tenn Div Cdr Mike Beck to the Senate and Millar to the House, and was passed overwhelmingly by both the House and the Senate by a combined vote of 95-25.Thanks also to those many compatriots who wrote in to their senators and representatives in support.

This law will assist in the Memphis issue with the Forrest Park anti-renaming campaign and will clearly hereafter protect the Forrest Statue, as well as the Jefferson Davis Statute and the SCV Confederate cannons in Confederate Park.It will also protect scores of other Confederate and War For Southern Independence sites throughout Tennessee.

The new law is one of the greatest documents in modern history for the protection and preservation of this state’s and nation’s military history and heritage.It is hoped that other states will now take up the initiative.

LITTLE ROCK—The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission has approved an application for an Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Historical Marker in Lincoln County, ACWSC Chairman Tom Dupree announced today.

The historical marker will be located at Hickory Grove Cemetery and will commemorate the January 19, 1864, skirmish at Branchville. The Ninth Arkansas Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 652 is sponsoring the marker.

Through the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Historical Marker Program, the ACWSC works with local partners to help tell the stories of how the Civil War affected communities around the state. The Commission hopes that there will be at least one marker in each of the state’s 75 counties by the end of the commemoration in 2015. To date, 63 markers have been approved.

For more information on sesquicentennial plans, visit http://www.arkansascivilwar150.com/or e-mailacwsc@arkansasheritage.org.

The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission is housed within the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The AHPP is the Department of Arkansas Heritage agency responsible for identifying, evaluating, registering and preserving the state’s cultural resources. Other agencies are the Arkansas Arts Council, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, the Old State House Museum, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and the Historic Arkansas Museum.

LITTLE ROCK—The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, Delta Cultural Center and Helena Advertising and Promotion Commission will sponsor a three-day commemoration of the Battle of Helena May 24-26, ACWSC Chairman Tom Dupree announced today

“The Battle of Helena, fought on July 4, 1863, was one of the key battles of the war in Arkansas,” Dupree said. “This commemoration will honor the bravery of the soldiers who fought here and give visitors an idea of the events of that tragic day while highlighting the many historic resources available in Helena.”

The commemoration will include two battle re-enactments, a series of lectures, tours of historic properties, musical performances, living history demonstrations and vendors. A complete schedule is available athttp://www.arkansascivilwar150.com/events/.

To learn more about the Battle of Helena sesquicentennial commemoration, call 800-358-0972 or e-mailinfo@deltaculturalcenter.com.

The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission is housed within the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The AHPP is the Department of Arkansas Heritage agency responsible for identifying, evaluating, registering and preserving the state’s cultural resources. Other agencies are the Arkansas Arts Council, the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, the Old State House Museum, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and the Historic Arkansas Museum.

While filling in for Gen. Prentiss on May 1st, Helena Commander, Brig. Gen. Willis Gorman together with his staff, friends, and a few ladies rode off for a picnic to celebrate the opening month. A 160 man patrol of the 3rd Iowa Cavalry escorted them four miles in the direction of LaGrange. While nearing that village the vanguard was fired on by what was later claimed 400 dismounted men. A general engagement ensued as the Federal scout deployed, but at crucial moment the Confederates charged the flank and rear, sending the Federals reeling back to Helena. Gen. Gorman and his party were appalled at the sight of riderless horses covered with blood race by them, followed by the small haggard force who had endured 25% causalities. (G. M. Blackburn, ed.,“Dear Carrie….” Civil War Letters of Thomas N Stevens, Clarke Historical Library/Central Michigan University, 1984. 43))
Gorman likely was overcome with embarrassment at the event, compounded with rumors of MO. Gen. Price being close behind, because on May 6th he launched a strike force of 1600-1800 cavalry, infantry and artillery from Helena that later separated into two directions. The infantry reached Moro on the 8th where sanitized reporting indicated they destroyed bushels or corn they couldn’t consume. Col. Powell Clayton had direct command the 900 cavalry and lost no time destroying a gristmill and a vast storage of corn near Cotton Plant. Entrance to the town where tons of meat were said to be stored was blocked by the floodwaters of Bayou DeView. While moving east the expedition reunited, and Clayton ordered the infantry force back to Helena by way of Marianna and LaGrange. The desolated route was marked by dead livestock and burning houses that were looted without allowing the owners to remove their property. (Major Buck Walton, An Epitome of My Life, Civil War Reminiscences, Austin: Waterloo Press, 1965, 55.)
Clayton’s cavalry of the Kansas, Illinois, and Indiana variety, continued northeast in a like manner, devastating the countryside toward present day Colt. It was then Taylor’s Creek, six miles east of Seaburn’s Bridge on the L’Anguille River. This was a lesser stream that began in Poinsett County and joined the Saint Francis River 10 miles above Helena.
Following the Chalk Bluff exit from Missouri into northeast Arkansas on May 1st, Gen John S. Marmaduke made his HQ at Jacksonport, (a couple miles above Newport). The brigades of Colonels Joseph Shelby and Stephan Burbridge guarded the roads from that point to Missouri. Col. Colton Greene’s Brigade of 500, was situated at Mt. Vernon (Forrest City), while Colonel G. W. Carter’s Texas Brigade was positioned 16 miles south of Harrisburg near present day Vanndale. Col A. S. Dobbin operated independently near Helena.
A small scouting party under Texas Lt. William M. Walton spotted the enemy on May 8th, and sent a courier to Col. Carter who notified Gen. Marmaduke, adding that they were headed to Cotton Plant where 40 thousand pounds of bacon were stored. Walton continued to shadow the enemy, performing summary executions when possible, while Marmaduke with an aide covered the 40 miles to Carter’s HQ the following afternoon. (Walton, An Epitome of My Life, 58)
When the fight opened at Taylor’s Creek on the 11th, it was reported about 600 Federals had stolen away from the action and were burning and pillaging down the east side of the L’Anguille toward Mount Vernon. Carter went after them with 700 troopers.
Colonel Dobbin had been instructed in person to move up the west side of the river and attack the enemy rear, while Greene renewed a frontal assault against Clayton. With dusk approaching, it was later agreed to block the bridge instead. Dobbin reached the bridge that evening, but just after nightfall Clayton’s column somehow crossed the undetected and later turned south despite Dobbin’s 350 man roadblock.
Carter ran up against the Federals at Mt. Vernon and was beaten back at dark. The Feds then galloped south to Hughes’s Ferry six miles above Marianna, and after an all night crossing, high tailed to Helena long after Clayton had passed. Col Clayton arrived at Helena on the 13th and was strongly admonished by Prentiss for dividing his command in face of overwhelming numbers. Tension escalated when Clayton couldn’t account for the missing half of his strike force as the day wore on. It finally arrived later that day with much rejoicing while the rest of the garrison was again fearful of an invasion by General Price, and commenced felling trees around town to prevent it. (Rubaiyat of the Fifth Kansas, Topeka, 1898; Blackburn, “Dear Carrie….)
The purpose of the Gorman-Prentiss scorch earth operation was to deny the use of future sustenance to Confederate troops. For over a year the pro-southern population gave direct aid to the army as they patrolled, ambushed, and annoyed their rivals.
The Federals submitted no post action report concerning their “scout” because it was bad form to commit such depredation during that period of the war. They however submitted a brief summation found in the Official Records that said in part they “scoured” the country between White and St. Francis Rivers. Marmaduke was a downright unlucky general.