Listing of all day-by-day events of the American Civil War related to the state of Arkansas.
The American Civil War crossed borders throughout many states as the nation was plunged into turmoil. Key battles were fought throughout the land with the most being recorded in the state of Virginia followed by the state of Tennessee. The war stretched into loosely established territories in the West as well and involved actions in international waters and support from foreign powers. In the end, the fractured country required decades of healing and its scars can still be seen today.
There are a total of (17)Civil War Events by State - Arkansas events in the CivilWarTimeline.net database. Entries are listed below by date-of-occurrence ascending (first-to-last). Other leading and trailing events are also included for perspective.
Day-by-Day Timeline of Events
February 8, 1861
State troops of Arkansas take the official state arsenal.
May 6, 1861
Arkansas becomes the latest state to secede from the Union.
March 6, 1862
The Battle of Pea Ridge begins. It involves Confederate-aligned Cherokee units. 10,500 Union elements face off against 16,500 confederates in northwestern Arkansas. Among those in the Union ranks is "Wild Bill" Hickok.
March 8, 1862
The Battle of Pea Ridge ends as a Union victory. 1,384 Union personnel are killed against 2,000 Confederate losses.
July 15, 1862
Confederate warship CSS Arkansas engages Union ships north of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
August 5, 1862
After developing mechanical issues, CSS Arkansas is abandoned on the Mississippi River and blown up by Confederate forces near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
November 28, 1862
Cane Hill, Arkansas is site to a modest clash of forces. The Union claims the victory.
December 7, 1862
The Battle of Prairie Grove is had in Washington County, Arkansas. The one-day clash is a Union victory.
January 11, 1863
The Union Army claims Fort Hindman off the Arkansas River near Little Rock. Union Navy gunboats assist in the successful action.
July 4, 1863
Union defenders hold off a Confederate attempt to retake Helena, Arkansas. The Confederates are led by General Theophilus Holmes and the price to take Helena is high for the attackers.
September 10, 1863
Following a Confederate withdrawal at Little Rock, Arkansas, Union forces move in. General Frederick Steele is the commander for the North.
October 4, 1863
Colonel Quantrill and his raiders take prisoner Union cavalry while dressed in Union garb and proceed to execute about 100. The action takes place near Fort Smith, Arkansas.
January 19, 1864
The state of Arkansas accepts a new constitution doing away with slavery.
April 25, 1864
Marks's Mills, Arkansas is the site of a Confederate capture of over 200 Union supply wagons.
May 3, 1864
General Steele's army is forced back into Little Rock, Arkansas.
February 21, 1865
The Battle of Douglas Landing takes place in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. It is a Confederate victory.
May 11, 1865
Chalk Bluff, Arkansas is the site of another Confederate Army surrender to Northern forces.
