Helena, Arkansas Page2    
 

(3-99) Union Battery A, corner of Beech and Adams, west view
 
Site Marker: Union forces entrenched on this hill , held of repeated assaults by Confederate troops under CSA General Marmaduke on the morning of July 4, 1863, in their attack on Helena. CSA General Marsh Walker's Cavalry Brigade, consisting of the 5th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment under Col. R. C. Newton and Dobbins' Arkansas Cavalry under Col. A. S. Dobbins, failed to join the attack on Battery A from Sterling Road. Marmaduke and Walker withdrew their commands shortly before noon

(3-99) Union Battery B, Walker Street between College Street and Summit Road, northeast view

Site Marker: Union guns emplaced on this hill defended Old St. Francis Road, the approach used by CSA General Marmaduke's Division, consisting of the 1st Brigade under Col. Shelby and Col. G. W. Thompson and the 2nd Brigade under Col. Cotton Greene, in their attack on Helena, July 4, 1863. Felled timbers obstructing the road forced the cavalrymen to dismount and advance on foot to be halted by the 29th Iowa and guns of Battery A. On CSA General Holmes' orders, Marmaduke withdrew his command at 11 A.M. with 67 casualties

    

 

(3-99) Union Battery C, on top of reservoir hill, northeast view overlooking Helena
 
West view from Battery C
 
Site marker: Graveyard Hill. Union defensive position was attacked at sunrise and soon captured on July 4, 1863, by the 1st Brigade under Gen. McRae and the 4th Brigade under Gen. Parsons, commanded by Gen. Sterling Price, CSA. Because of intensive bombardment from the Union gunboat "Tyler" and guns on Hindman Hill, General Holmes, Confederate Commander, was compelled to order the abandonment of the hill at 10:30 A.M. Total casualties for Price's column were 105 killed, 194 wounded and 501 missing
 
 

(3-99) Union Battery D, Military Road just south of Park Hill Street, east view

Site Marker 1: Hindman Hill, southernmost of four positions fortified by Union forces in June, 1863, was attacked by the 35th, 37th, and Hawthorn's Arkansas Infantry Regiments under General Fagan, CSA, at daybreak, July 4, 1863. Thwarted by the strength of the Union defenses, manned by the 43rd Indiana, the 33rd and 35th Missouri, and the 33rd Iowa, Fagan's brigade retreated at 11 A.M. along the Upper Little Rock Road. About 250 men of the 37th Arkansas were captured after failing to receive the signal to withdraw. Total casualties for Fagan's brigade were 47 killed, 115 wounded and 273 missing

Site Marker 2: General J. F. Fagan's Attack: Hawthorn's Regiment advanced from the south, that of Bell from the north, King massed on Hawthorn's right. They charged at daybreak, clambering over fallen timber, and took the first line of rifle pits. Battery C, not yet engaged by Price, caught Fagan's Brigade in a deadly enfilading fire. Nevertheless they took three more lines at point of bayonet. By 7 A.M. the command arrived in front of Battery D. McRae came to Fagan's aid but was repulsed. Fagan carried the last line of rifle pits and made a desperate effort to capture the battery. Cut down by Union reinforcements, they held their position until ordered to retreat

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