Arkansas - The Civil War

Though Arkansas was not a leader in the secessionist movement, no other state had more of its men fighting in so many places as did Arkansas. More populous Virginia recruited more men but the vast majority of them never left Virginia.

The State of Arkansas was never captured by the Union Army who could not penetrate southwest Arkansas where the government of Arkansas operated in what is now known as Old Washington.

Events Timeline

1851 - Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe is published in episodes by National Era. Supposedly - when Abraham Lincoln met H. B. Stowe for the first time he said, "So this is the little lady who made this big war."

March 20, 1852 - Uncle Tom's Cabin is published in book form. Harriet Beecher Stowe, a radical abolitionist and feminist, fanned the flames of the abolitionist movement to unprecedented heights.

April 26, 1852 - South Carolina Convention states, "The people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, on the 26th day of April, A.D., 1852, declared that the frequent violations of the Constitution of the United States, by the Federal Government, and its encroachments upon the reserved rights of the States, fully justified this State in then withdrawing from the Federal Union." The state, however, did not secede at that time "in deference to the opinions and wishes of other slaveholding states."

January 12, 1860 - From Old Line Democrat newspaper published in Little Rock, "I hope that these internal dissentions among us, may be done away with, and the North and South will be benefited thereby; and we will continue to be a free and prosperous nation and looked to as a model by the rest of the earth. And I hope before the close of the year 1860, every portion of this glorious Union will be acting in concert with the whole."

February 2, 1860 - From Old Line Democrat newspaper published in Little Rock, "Since the 1st of January the great house of Stewart & co., of New York—as we learn from the papers of that city—have discharged FIFTY of their employees in consequence of the reduction of their Southern trade. The same holds good in other cities, and the north will soon appreciate fully the magnitude of the peril with which her commercial and manufacturing interests are treated.

Unfortunately, many innocent people must suffer for the misdeeds of the Republicans, but when [illegible] pinches them they must attribute it to the [illegible] of the northern conservatives who have allowed the constitutional rights of the South to be assailed and her peace disturbed without resistance. Let them hold their own people responsible for what they suffer."

March 8, 1860 - From Old Line Democrat newspaper published in Little Rock, "The ladies of Demopolis, Ala., are circulating the following resolutions, which have already been numerously signed:
Whereas, the Northern section of the Union is placing itself in antagonism to the institutions, rights and equality of the South in this Confederacy, and its politicians, teachers, and divines have lighted the fire of fanaticism, which, if unresisted, will lay waste our land and desolate our firesides.
And whereas, it is becoming in us to withhold our aid and support from our avowed enemies, as well as our sacred duty to encourage the development of the industrial resources of our State and the South; therefore be it,
Resolved, That we but emulate the patriotism of our mothers of the Revolution, when we declare that we are ready to practice any self-denial to assist our fathers, our husbands, our brothers and sons, in maintaining their rights to liberty and independence.
Resolved, That for this purpose, and to contribute our humble mite to the advancement of Southern commerce, Southern manufactures and Southern industry, we hereby pledge ourselves to purchase no article of Northern manufacture; no books from Northern publishing houses, and no goods bought in Northern markets, from and after the 1st day of March, 1860, even should we have to resort to the primitive "homespun," or the fabrics of our own handiwork.
Resolved, That we will not hereafter support a Northern Preacher, employ a Northern teacher, or travel in Northern clime in pursuit of health or pleasure.
Resolved further, That the foregoing resolutions shall be binding upon us until the questions now effecting our political existence and our lives be determined fairly and justly to our section; or until the South shall take her stand among the nations of the world, and the people of the North as she holds the rest of mankind, "enemies in war, in peace, friends."

December 13, 1860 - From Old Line Democrat newspaper published in Little Rock, "In the bill introduced in the House a few days ago, by Mr. DuVal, authorizing the Governor to issue arms to the Belle Point Guards and other volunteer companies, is a provision to appropriate the sum of $100,000 to purchase arms and other military equipments.
Although we believe that there is not the slightest ground for the apprehension of any immediate hostilities, in the event of a dissolution of the Union, still, as Arkansas is a border State, exposed to the aggression of abolition emissaries on her frontiers, and with no hope of getting any protection whatever from the present government, we think that it is a matter of the utmost importance that our Legislature should make some provision for preventing our men, women and children, on the frontiers from being butchered, by refusing to place the necessary means of defense in their hands."

December 20, 1860 - South Carolina adopts ordinance of secession.
January 9, 1861 - Mississippi adopts ordinance of secession.
January 10, 1861 - Florida adopts ordinance of secession.
January 11, 1861 - Alabama adopts ordinance of secession.
January 19, 1861 - Georgia adopts ordinance of secession.
January 26, 1861 - Louisiana adopts ordinance of secession.
February 1, 1861 - Texas adopts ordinance of secession.

February 7, 1861 - Choctaw Nation Pledges Support to Arkansas and Texas, "Resolved, further, That we desire to assure our immediate neighbors, the people of Arkansas and Texas, of our determination to observe amicable relations in every way so long existing between us, and the firm reliance we have, that amid any disturbance with other States, the rights and feelings so sacred to us will remain respected by them, and be protected from the encroachment of others."

March 4, 1861 - Special Convention held in Little Rock REJECTS secession. Lincoln sworn in as President.

April 10, 1861 - CSA Brigadier General Beauregard demands the Union Army abandon Ft. Sumter in South Carolina. Major Anderson, the federal commander of the garrison, refuses. On April 12, forces of the Confederacy open fire on Ft. Sumter, and Major Anderson surrenders the next day.
April 17, 1861 - Virginia adopts ordinance of secession; ratifed by vote of the people on May 23, 1861.
May 6, 1861 - ARKANSAS adopts ordinance of secession. Arkansas State Troops organized.
May 18 - 19, 1861 - Two Union gunboats fire on Confederate batteries at Sewell's Point, Virginia.
May 20, 1861 - North Carolina adopts ordinance of secession.
May 29 - June 1, 1861 - Three Union gunboats fire on Confederate batteries at Aquia Creek, Virginia.
June 8, 1861 - Tennessee ratifies ordinance of secession.

June 15, 1861 - From Weekly Arkansas Gazette published in Little Rock, "...the ladies of Little Rock, since the war began, have performed an extraordinary amount of patriotic labor. They have made nearly or quite three thousand military suits, upwards of fifteen hundred haversacks, and probably five thousand shirts, and have also covered over twelve hundred canteens. When it is considered that a large portion of this labor is necessarily done by hand, it is indeed wonderful how so much has been accomplished in the short space of six weeks. Nor has the patriotic ardor which urged them to these duties been at all lessened by the arduous services which they have so cheerfully and so faithfully rendered their country, in this the day of her trial. They are willing to labor on and to the end with a high and holy purpose."

June 20, 1861 - West Virginia separates into a state and is admitted to the Union.
July 21, 1861 - First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) - Virginia, CSA Victory
August 10, 1861 - Battle of Wilson's Creek/Oak Hills - Missouri, CSA Victory
October 31, 1861 - Missouri Legislature approves ordinance of secession.
November 20, 1861 - Kentucky approves ordinance of secession
January 27, 1862 - Lincoln issues War Order Against the Confederacy
February 25, 1862 - Nashville, Capital of Tennessee, falls to Union Army
March 6 - 8, 1862 - Battle of Pea Ridge, Benton County, ARKANSAS, Union Victory

Click here to read about Elkhorn Tavern at Pea Ridge.

April 6, 1862 - Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, Union Victory
MAY 1862 - Stonewall Jackson's convincing victories in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
June 17, 1862 - Battle of St. Charles, Arkansas County, ARKANSAS
July 7, 1862 - Battle of Hill's Plantation, Woodruff County, ARKANSAS
August 29 - 30, 1862 - Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), CSA Victory
September 17, 1862 - Antietam, Maryland, over 23,000 casualties, no victor
November 28, 1862 - Battle of Cane Hill, Washington County,ARKANSAS
December 7, 1862 - Battle of Prairie Grove, Washington County,ARKANSAS
January 1, 1863 - Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln
January 9 - 11, 1863 - Battle of Arkansas Post, Arkansas County, ARKANSAS
May 1 - 2, 1863 - Battle of Chalk Bluff, Clay County, ARKANSAS
May 22 - July 4, 1863 - Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Union Victory
July 1 - 4, 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Union Victory
July 4, 1863 - Battle of Helena, Phillips County, ARKANSAS
September 1, 1863 - Battle of Devil's Backbone, Sebastian County, ARKANSAS
September 10, 1863 - Battle of Bayou Fourche, Pulaski County, ARKANSAS
September 19, 1863 - Battle of Chickamauga, Tennessee, CSA Victory
October 25, 1863 - Battle of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, ARKANSAS
April 3 - 4, 1864 - Battle of Elkins Ferry, Clark-Nevada County, ARKANSAS
April 9 - 13 - Battle of Prairie D'Ane, Nevada County, ARKANSAS
April 18, 1864 - Battle of Poison Spring, Ouachita County, ARKANSAS
April 25, 1864 - Battle of Marks' Mill, Cleveland County, ARKANSAS
April 30, 1864 - Battle of Jenkin's Ferry, Grant County, ARKANSAS
June 6, 1864 - Battle of Old River Lake, Chicot County, ARKANSAS
July, 1864 - Confederate forces get within 5 miles of Washington, D.C. but driven back
August, 1864 - General Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, Union victory
November, 1864 - General Sherman begins his infamous march, Lincoln re-elected
February, 1865 - Jefferson Davis offers Peace Conference to Lincoln. Lincoln refuses.
April 9, 1865 - General Robert E. Lee surrenders Virginia forces at Appomattox
April 14, 1865 - President Lincoln assassinated
May 10, 1865 - CSA President Jefferson Davis captured
May 12 - 13, 1865 - Battle of Palmito Hill, Texas - Last Battle of War, CSA Victory

(Acknowledgements: Newspaper article quotations compiled and edited by Vicki Betts) Back to Top

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