The Battle of Helena
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What is Helena's importance to the civil war and to the U.S.?
The Civil War and Helena -During the 1800s, Helena was known as Arkansas's
only riverport and, therefore, was a major resource to Arkansas. Helena
was also a great place for the Union to have control over during the civil
war. This port was in a location that would help to control and watch over
transportation on the Mississippi; especially to Vicksburg. It also made
it easier for soldiers stationed there to recieve more supplies from their
ships. Helean was used as a supply area for the campaign at Vicksburg.
For this reason the main purpose of the Battle of Helena was to divert
the attention of Union forces at Vicksburg and to stop their supply line
at Helena. After the Battle of Helena, Helena still remained as a supply
line for the rest of Arkansas becuse of its connection to the Mississippi.
Helena and the U.S. -
Helena was a contributer to many things in Arkansas because of it was
the on;y seaport that Arkansas had, but good things from Helena didn't
go solely to Arkansas. Helena was the home of seven Confederate generals
in that contributed greatly to the Civil War. These generals were: Maj.
Gen. Pat. R. Cleburne, Maj. Gen. Thos. C. Hindman, Brig. Gen. Chas. W.
Adams, Brig. Gen. Arch. S. Dobbins, Brig. Gen. Dan. C. Govan, Brig. Gen.
Luciuse. Polk, Brig. Gen. Jas. C. Tappan. Some of these generals are buried
in the Confederate cemetery
and Gen. Cleburne has a statue dedicted to him there. There is also
a memorial for the Hindman family. It is located in a cemetery right outside
of the Confederate cemetery.The homes of Tappan and Polk still stand as
historical sites in Helena. The have been restored and are visited frequently.
What factors caused the Confederate's loss at the Battle of Helena?
Civil War historian, Edwin C. Bears, says that the Confederates lost
the battle because of these factors: poor scouting and patroling; poor
comunications between attacking columns; misunderstanding of the basic
orders to attack by one of the commanders; failure by the commanding general
to to use his chain of command; failure of the calvary to adequetly support
their infantry; lack of cooperation between two subordinate commanders;
and last, the presence of the Union timber-clad gunboat Tyler along the
Helena waterfront, which greatly increased the effectiveness of the Union
defense. The Confederates efforts were useless mainly becuse, their objective
of attack was never secured and on that same day the Confederate forces
at Vicksburg had given in to the ruthlessness of Major Gen. U.S. Grant.
The Battle Plan-
On May 23, 1863 the plans for the Battle of Helena began in Richmond,
Virginia by James Seddon, the Confederate secretary of war. Gen. Joseph
E. Johnston was in charge of relieving Pemberton's troops at Vicksburg
and that is to whom the secretary turned. Johnston relayed the news to
Gen. Edmund Kirby-Smith, the commander of the Trans-Mississippi, which
did not reach him until June 10. Kirby-Smith contacted Gen. Theophilus
H. Holmes, the commander of the District of Arkansas in Little Rock, and
told him to act "as circumstances may justify." Holmes and others
had alrerady had their minds on an attack on Helena. On June 14, 1863 Holmes
recieved a message saying that the Union troops at Helena had been stripped
down so that there would be help at Vicksburg. This was the circumstance
that Holmes was waiting for to finally make his decision. The true attack
plans began.
A Long Procession-
July 15, 1863, Holmes wrote Kirby-Smith to ask for permission to attack
Helena and at the same time he sent word to Major General Sterling Price
to hold all of his troops in Jacksonport and prepare to attack Helena.
On the 17th Holmes went to Jacksonport and he, Price, and Marmaduke planned
out their attack. Then on the 22nd they began to make their way to Helena.
Price's men headed toward Cotton Plant, the groups preliminary rendevous.Fagan's
troops went for DeVall's bluff from where they would go through Clarendon
to Helena. Unfortunately heavy rains set in and the troops procession was
slowed down. Because of this the rendevous point was changed to Oakland,
but on the 26th Marmaduke's troops were the only ones there. Marmaduke
went ahead to Moro and on the 29th Price's troops finally made it to Oakland.
Fagan's group made it to Clarendon on the 26th. On the 27th the marched
34 miles from Clarendon and were now in Phillips County and on the evening
of the 29th they were camped there. On July 1, Price's troops finally made
it to Moro.On the 2nd Price's and Fagan's troops met at Lick Creek. The
next day at the Allen Polk farmhouse Holmes, Price, Fagan, Walker, and
Marmaduke met and worked out their plans.
Price would attack Greveyard Hill and Fagan would take Hindman Hill.
Marmaduke's troops would capture Rightor Hill and Walker's calvary would
help him. Once Rightor Hill was captured they would all take over the entire
city of Helena. They would all launch their attacks at sunbreak as soon
as the sun came up. Price made a major mistake and thought that he was
to attack at sunup and this was one of the major causes that made the Confederates
lose the battle. Word of the Confederates attack made its way to Helena
and the Union began to prepare. The Union ship, theTyler, was prepared
at Helena for attack.
When Fagan's troops came across the fallen trees that the Union had
placed they were without an axe and had to slowly make their way passed
the trees on foot. When Brooks' troops reached Beach Grove plantation they
confronted Union soldiers and killed three and captured six of the Union
soldiers. They stopped at the Clements' house. Price's group split in two
and left the Polk house at midnight. Before they made their way up the
hills they left their artillery behind; their fatal mistake. Marmaduke
told one-fourth of his men to stay a little ways out of town with the horses
and the others became lost and were forced at a stand still until daybreak.at
daybreak Walker's troops were stuck right outside of Helena.
While all of this occured the Union soldiers sat their regular 2:30
positions and began to hear musket shots. Gen. Prentiss was then informed
that the Rebels had driven in their outpost on the Upper Little Rock Road.
The Union troops made their way to their battle stations.
The Battle Finally Begins-
The first to attack were Fagan's men and they were headed for Battery
D. It was now daybreak. The soldiers became winded from their steep climb
up the hill and were order to halt their attack, even though, they had
driven the Union back from their first line of attack. Unfortunately, Fagan's
group had both Battery C and D guns firing upon them. This was due to Price's
misunderstanding of orders. There were also four more guns on the lower
Little Rock road firing upon them. Even with all of this against them the
group was still able to capture three more rows of pits by 7a.m. This was
due to bayonet charges. Gratefully they were now able to forget about the
guns of Battery C that were now firing upon the late Gen. Price's group.
Price had not gone into action until one hour after Marmaduke and Fagan's
troops. Gen. Holmes had come upon Price's group and help to clear up the
misunderstanding.
Marmaduke's troops were stopped cold 200 yards from the crest of Rightor
Hill. They were passing artillery to one another through the fallen trees
while they struggled to beat the Union at Battery A. Walker's troops were
in their position north of the Sterling Road and were ready to storm into
town when the batteries were taken. Unfortunately, Price's troops became
confused again due to his subordinates, Parsons and McRae, neglected to
maintain communication. After this confusion was cleared they then attacked
while being fired upon from batteries B, C, and D. They were fired upon
from battery D because Fagan's troops were still resting. the defebder's
of Battery C were ordered to spike their guns and retreat. Before the Union
could prepare again the Confederates took over battery C. The Confederates
discovered that the guns were spiked and sent immediate orders for guns
to be sent up. Because of the other obstacles the soldiers never made it
with the guns. So, now the Confederates were in trouble once again. The
Union now forced batery A, B, and D guns on Graveyard Hill. Also to the
Confederate's dismay the Tyler placed its guns upon Graveyard Hill.
Not to mention the guns from the lower Little Road and the guns held in
strategic reserve. They also sent a new line of defense 250 yards east
of Graveyard Hill to fight against the Confederates.
Gen. Holmes broke the chain of command and order another general's unit
to attack Fort Curtis. this caused confusiuon and many of the other men
thought that that they were to ruch down Graveyard Hill. These men were
caught in the crossfire of the afore mentioned guns. Thede troops were
so weakened that many of them through down their weapons and retreated.
Price had also issued commands to another general's group telling them
to aid Fagan's troops that were pinned down before Hindman Hill. Holmes
again ordered another group to also help Fagan. This would leave no mean
on Graveyard Hill.
McRae offered to aid Fagan, but only find one-sixth of his men from
Polk's farm. They moved toward Battery D and were atopped almost as soon
as they had started. Because of these weapons on Battery D turning from
Fagan's men they were then able to take the last line of rifle pits and
attempted to take battery D, but failed. Parson's troops had attacked Fort
Curtis and were now down to 400 men At 10:30a.m. Holmes decided to order
a withdrawl. The Union had retaken Battery C and 100 of Parsons' troops
who were frightened by the shelling from the Tyler and surrendered.
At 11a.m. Fagan was told to retreat. He and his men happily made their
way to the Polk place. All of the men except for 250 that were in a ravine
left of Battery D and that had not gotten the word to retreat went to Polk's.
These men were soon forced to surrender along with some of McRae's men
that were caught in a ravine between Graveyard and Hindman Hill.
Marmaduke sent for help from Walker. He then tried another attack using
two guns from Capt. Joseph Bledsoe's battery. However, he failed. ANother
message was sent to Walker for help, but it was unsuccessful. He then recieved
Holmes's order to retreat around 11a.m. and did so. Since he was furious
at Walker's lack of aid to him he left without letting Walker know to retreat.
Walker realized on his own as Union soldiers made their way towrad him
that he was to retreat. He then quickly made his way to safety. On Sept.
6, 1863 Marmaduke was still so agrivated at Walker that he shot and mortally
wounded him in a duel near Little Rock. 13 days after the duel, Walker
died.
After the battle the only Confederates found by the Union were 72 badly
wounded men left at the Polk place. This place was then being used as a
hospital. the Confederate troops left Helena by Spring Creek Road and it
took them four days to reach Cotton Plant. Walker had remained in Helena
to harass any Union men that tried to pursue them. The brief, but harmful
battle had come to an end!