Civil War Marker - Charles Ryan, an employee of Allen Granite Co., puts the finishing touches on a marker that will be placed near the intersection of Fourche Dam Pike and Interstate 40, the site of the last Confederate line during the Civil War.

 

Arkansas Gazette

September 4, 1988

 

Civil War buffs ready stone to mark 1863 capture of LR.

By Beth Dempsey

Democrat Staff Writer

 

What the local history enthusiast calls "the most traumatic seven days in the history of Arkansas' capitol city" began 125 years ago today.

 

With the Civil War embroiling the nation, 12,000 federal soldiers made a strong push into Little Rock and captured the city Sept. 10, 1863, writes William O'Donnell, a past president of the Civil War Roundtable and author of "The Civil War Quadrennium."

 

To commemorate the 125th anniversary of the battle of Little Rock, the Round Table on Saturday will dedicate a granite monument to be placed near Fourche Dam Pike and Interstate 40 - the site of the last Confederate line during the battle.

 

A 2-acre plot currently is being turned into a city park and the monument will be placed when the park is finished, probably next year, according to Jerry Russell, secretary of the Round Table.

 

Russell said the Civil War Round Table is a group of history enthusiasts ranging in age from 10 to the late 70's.

 

"All over the country, they've been having 125th anniversary celebrations since 1986"  Russell said.  "Ours wasn't that much of a battle, but it's all we've got."

 

From the Confederate viewpoint, the battle of Little Rock was a "disaster", according to Dr. Fred Henker, a past president of the Pulaski County Historical Society.

 

"It was a losing battle for the Confederates, but they were able to get it over without destruction," Henker said.  "They didn't get annhilated."

 

Events leading up to the battle began Aug. 25, 1863, when the Federals attacked Confederates near Lonoke, Henker said.

 

"The thing simmered from then until September 10," he said.  "They sort of played cat-and-mouse games for several days."

 

Bickering among the Confederate generals in the final week helped in the defeat, Henker said.

 

"The two generals most important to the battle became hostile toward each other," Henker said.  "General (John) Marmaduke was critical of General (Lucius) Walker.  He accused him of being less than courageous.  Walker challenged Marmaduke to a duel Sept. 6 on the east side of the (Arkansas) river at the Lefever plantation.

 

"Marmaduke shot Walker and Walker died the next morning.  The rest of the battle they were minus one general."

 

The battle ended four days later when the two forces met near Fourche Creek.  Part of the Federal troops crossed the river on a pontoon bridge.  Other federal troops were able to fire heavy artillery into the largely outnumbered Confederates, Henker said.

 

Henker said it was unknown how many died in the battle because Confederate and Federal reports varied widely.

 

"They knew, but they weren't telling," he said.  "I'm sure, especially when the Federals crossed the river, there were numerous casualties on both sides."

 

The $700 monument, which resembles a tombstone, simply reads: Battle of Little Rock.  In this vicinity on September 10, 1863, an invading federal column under General Frederick Steele defeated confederate forces under General John Marmaduke.  Civil War Round Table of Arkansas.  September 10, 1988.

 

***Transcription and photograph copy provided by Lonnie Spikes, 2010.