(3-99) White Oak State Park Museum, State Highway 387, Bluff City, Arkansas. Artifacts recovered from sites nearby. The evening before the Battle of Poison Spring, Union forces under Colonel James M. Williams camped on White Oak Creek near the State Park

(3-99) Route Of The Red River Campaign In Arkansas

    
Poison Spring, April 18. Mark's Mill, April 25. Jenkin's Ferry, April 30. General Steele leaves Little Rock March 23, 1864. He returns May 3, 1864

Turning Point of the Red River Campaign in Arkansas. The Federal government's unsuccessful Red River Expedition in April, 1864 was the last major invasion of confederate territory west of the Mississippi River. Its aim was to capture Shreveport, Louisiana, open Texas to Federal occupation and acquire much-needed cotton for Yankee textile mills in New England. The campaign failed as a result of several battles and skirmishes in Arkansas and Louisiana. For more information on the battle of Poison Spring, please visit the park located 8 miles southeast of White Oak Lake, on highway 76

(3-99) Top: A Confederate Infantry button for an enlisted man's coat. Bottom: A Confederate knife found where General William L. Cabell's Arkansas cavalry attacked during the Battle of Poison Spring

(3-99) Enlarge Personal artifacts excavated from the camp site of Colonel James M. Williams on White Oak Creek, April 17, 1864. From Top: 1. Burned Minie balls excavated from remains of camp fire. 2. A section of trace chain from a forage wagon. 3. Pocket knife. 4. Nipple wrench. 5. Spur wheel. 6. Harmonica. 7. Knapsack hardware. 8. Heel plate from shoe