Arkansas Civil War

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.

Confederate Memorial Park in Helena, Arkansas is taking shape. What was once a kudzu-covered jungle in downtown Helena is now a place to reflect upon the sacrifices the brave Confederate soldiers gave with their lives and their families’ lives and livelihood fighting the enemy. Below are pictures of progress made on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

With the recent organizing of the Seven General Camp #135 SCV in Helena, members of this organization lent their help in the initial clearing of the property. The funds have been raised for the purchase of the property and deed work; ownership should take place within the next two weeks.

above: Michael Strickland (member of the Seven Generals SCV Camp #135, Helena, AR) examines kudzu growth prior to clearing. Yes, he is stumped….

…but he figured it out!



Michael with his buddy Gideon Pillow (yes, of the same) stand proud of their work! Thanks guys!

Thanks to some of our readers’ kind contributions toward the purchase of battlefield property in Helena, Arkansas, the park is progressing both in physical appearance and financial backing of concerned folks all around the world! We have received donations from as far as Great Britain and because of the success thus far from Arkansas Toothpick readers, the property will remind future Americans of the struggle our ancestors suffered through on July 4, 1863 during the battle of Helena.

With a few killing frosts behind us, the landscaping has become easier and much progress has been made to the eastern third of the property. Many vines, undergrowth, saplings, and many other vegetative annoyances hinder a fast and easy cleanup, but progress is slow but steady.

Again, thank you all kindly for your donations. We still have a ways to go- depending on surveyor and lawyer/legal fees, we still need about $2000 to secure the purchase of the property and associates fees. WIth your continued support, Confederate Memorial Park will become a success for our heritage, our history, and our country.

Have a Merry Christmas and a productive and blessed New Year!

September 22th – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Fall Clean–Up & Park Beautification – Looking for a way to give of your time and talents? Volunteers are needed to help clean and tidy the battlefield and park grounds. Cleanup activities range from picking up trash, raking leaves, repairing and replacing split rail fences. Additional projects include cleaning park roads, trails, gardening, maintenance, and cleaning the historic houses on the grounds. Some tools will be provided. Please bring gloves and tools if possible. Coffee, water, and snacks will be provided. Meet at Hindman Hall Visitor Center. Admission: Free

Volunteer lunch provide by the Prairie Grove UDC ladies @ the playground picnic area.
The picture of volunteers will be @ battle monument in Memorial yard before lunch.

Project list:
If you would like bring chainsaws or any other tools they would be more welcome to.

-Cutting and splitting firewood for the reenactment – Will need Chainsaws? (this is a big one that will need to be done by 12/1/2012) (Park will not be providing chainsaws. Park will have other tools & be providing fuel)
o Confederate pile – East end of Park
o Union pile – Village Area
o Civilian pile – Amp

-Pick up trash and clean up debris from: gloves & tags & buckets
-Playground and picnic areas
-Walking trail
-Driving trail
-North Stearman Road
-Battlefield Road
-Black Nursery Road
-County Road
-Along HWY US 62
-Right of way Jerkin Rd

-Repair worm fencing / split rail fence – remove leaves from the area along HWY US 62
-Borden House & Orchard
-Around the Dog Trot & CMF building (storage building)

Clean Historical Buildings:
-Morrow House – widows, Fireplaces
-Dog Trot House – fire place
-Latta House – widows, Fireplaces
-Latta Kitchen – Straighten up firewood on kitchen porch, fireplace , wood box, sink , stairs
-Church
-School

Reset nail heads on historic building porches (Morrow House & Latta House). Hammer

Big Thanks for all your help.

Holly April Houser, Historical Park Interpreter / Gift Shop Manager
Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
506 E. Douglas Street Prairie Grove, AR 72753
Office: 479-846-2990
Cell: 479-518-2422

WASHINGTON – The Friends of Jenkins Ferry Battlefield group has received a grant of $40,000 from the National Parks Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) to fund a preservation plan for the Civil War Jenkins Ferry Battlefield in Arkansas.

“We are proud to support projects like this that safeguard and preserve American battlefields,” said Jon Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service. “These places are symbols of individual sacrifice and national heritage that we must protect so that this and future generations can understand the struggles that define us as a nation.”

This grant is one of 27 National Park Service grants totaling $135 million to preserve and protect significant park sites from all wars fought on American soil. Funded projects preserve battlefields from the Colonial-Indian Wars through World War I) and include site mapping (GPS GIS data collection), archeological studies, National Register of Historic Places nominations, preservation and management plans.

Federal, state, local, and Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions are eligible for National Park Service battlefield grants which are awarded annually. Since 1996 more than $14 million has been awarded by ABPP to help preserve significant historic battlefields associated with wars on American soil. Additional information is online at www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp.