DeValls Bluff in Prairie County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Common Ground for Many Soldiers
Many Troops Pass Through DeValls Bluff
Photographed By Duane Hall, July 30, 2016
1. Common Ground for Many Soldiers Marker
With the possible exception of Helena, it is unlikely that any place in Arkansas had as many Union troops pass through it as did DeValls Bluff. Some saw the town when it was first occupied in September 1863, others stood garrison duty there, while still others visited DeValls Bluff before embarking on raids and expeditions into other parts of Arkansas or Missouri. Thanks to Frederick Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, we can compile a list of Union units that might have, however briefly, called DeValls Bluff home.
Confederates in DeValls Bluff
Confederate units that used DeValls Bluff are more difficult to identify since their records are sketchier and there is no Dyer’s Compendium for the Confederacy. Still, it is likely that many Regiments passed through the town during 1861 and 1862, heading east to fight with Confederate armies on the far side of the Mississippi River. As many as 6,000 Confederate troops assembled around DeValls Bluff in June and July of 1862 to oppose Union troops moving up the White River. Still others passed through in the months before it became a permanent, strategic Union base.
Several Texas units occupied DeValls Bluff. These include the 9th Field Artillery Battery, 9th Texas Infantry Regiment, 10th Texas Infantry Regiment, 12th Cavalry Regiment,
this page online
Union Regiments Entering DeValls Bluff
Illinois
9th Illinois Cavalry Regt. • 13th Illinois Cavalry Regt. • Battery “E,” 1st Illinois Light Artillery Battery (“Waterhouse’s”) • 8th Illinois Infantry Regt. • 11th Illinois Infantry Regt. (3 years) • 18th Illinois Infantry Regt. • 37th Illinois Infantry Regt. (“Fremont Rifles”) • 46th Illinois Infantry Regt. • 49th Illinois Infantry Regt. • 54th Illinois Infantry Regt. • 61st Illinois Infantry Regt. • 76th Illinois Infantry Regt. • 81st Illinois Infantry Regt. • 95th Illinois Infantry Regt. • 99th Illinois Infantry Regt. • 106th Illinois Infantry Regt. • 114th Illinois Infantry Regt. • 126th Illinois Infantry Regt.
Iowa
9th Iowa Cavalry Regt. • 2nd Iowa Light Artillery Battery • 1st Iowa Colored Infantry Regt. • 12th Iowa Infantry Regt. • 4th Iowa Infantry Regt. • 20th Iowa Infantry Regt. • 21st Iowa Infantry Regt. • 27th Iowa Infantry Regt. • 35th Iowa Infantry Regt. • 36th Iowa Infantry Regt.
Indiana
24th 8th Indiana Infantry Regt. • 34th Indiana Infantry Regt. • 43rd Indiana Infantry Regt. • 46th Indiana Infantry Regt. • 93rd Indiana Infantry Regt.
Kansas
6th Kansas Cavalry Regt. • 9th Kansas Cavalry Regt. • 7th Kansas Infantry Regt.
Kentucky
7th Kentucky
Photographed By Duane Hall, July 30, 2016
2. Civil War Interpretive Signs in the Center of Rhodes Park
Massachusetts
7th Massachusetts Light Artillery Battery • 15th Massachusetts Light Artillery Battery • 4th Massachusetts Light Artillery Battery
Michigan
3rd Michigan Cavalry Regt. • 12th Michigan Infantry Regt.
Minnesota
3rd Minnesota Infantry Regt. • 7th Minnesota Infantry Regt. • 9th Minnesota Infantry Regt. • 10th Minnesota Infantry Regt.
Missouri
8th Missouri Cavalry Regt. • 11th Missouri Cavalry Regt. • Battery “A,”, 1st Missouri Light Artillery • Battery “D,”, 2nd Missouri Light Artillery • 7th Missouri Infantry Regt. • 11th Missouri Infantry Regt. • 21st Missouri Infantry Regt. • 30th Missouri Infantry Regt. • 33rd Missouri Infantry Regt.
Nebraska
1st Nebraska Cavalry Regt.
Ohio
42nd Ohio Infantry Regt. • 72nd Ohio Infantry Regt. • 77th Ohio Infantry Regt. • 99th Ohio Infantry Regt. • 120th Ohio Infantry Regt.
U.S. Regulars
3rd United States Cavalry Regt., “1st Mounted Rifles”
U.S. Colored Troops
6th USCT Cavalry Regt. • 57th USCT Infantry Regt. • 60th USCT Infantry Regt. • 69th USCT Infantry Regt.
Wisconsin
3rd Wisconsin Cavalry Regt. • 29th Wisconsin Infantry Regt. • 33rd Wisconsin Infantry
Photographed By Duane Hall, July 30, 2016
3. Rhodes Park in DeValls Bluff
(Portrait Images Captions)
Howell “Doc” Rayburn was serving with the 12th Texas Cavalry, a regiment that served in DeValls Bluff in 1862, when he fell ill. After the 12th Texas left the area, Rayburn stayed, regained his health, and led guerrilla operations in Prairie and White counties for the remainder of the war. He is reputed to have attended a Christmas dance in DeValls Bluff in 1864 dressed as a woman — after a few dances with Federal officers, Rayburn snuck out and stole horses for his men. Courtesy of the Arkansas History Commission
Private John Graff served with the 77th Ohio Infantry Regiment, which passed through DeValls Bluff in August 1863.Courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
Benjamin Fullager served with the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment in DeValls Bluff during the summer of 1864. Courtesy of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield.
Many of the men of the 36th Iowa Infantry Regiment, the unit George Hickenloper served as a lieutenant in Company K. were captured at the battle of Marks’ Mills in April 1864. After their release from Confederate prison camps, the 36th was stationed at DeValls Bluff until August 1865. Courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
Captain Jeremiah Boatman served in the 54th Illinois Infantry Regiment, a unit that lost most of its men as prisoners in the battle of Ashley’s Station on August 24, 1864. The 54th was stationed at DeValls Bluff in the summer of 1864. Courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
The 9th Illinois Cavalry Regiment, in which Charles T. Scammon served as a captain, was part of an expedition that briefly occupied DeValls Bluff in January 1863. Courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
The 43rd Indiana Infantry Regiment was part of Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele’s Union army that captured Little Rock on September 10, 1863, passing through DeValls Bluff on their long march from Helena. Capt. Joseph Lane served in the 43rd Indiana. Courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
Christopher Columbus Andrews entered Arkansas at the head of the 3rd Minnesota Infantry Regiment, stationed at DeValls Bluff from October 10, 1864, to May 13, 1865. Andrews commanded the base at DeValls Bluff and ended the war as a brevet major general. Courtesy of the Arkansas History Commission.
Elements of Sgt. L. Smith Cogswell’s 18th Illinois Infantry Regiment served in DeValls Bluff from 1863 through December 1865. Courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 34° 47.049′ N, 91° 27.534′ W. Marker is in DeValls Bluff, Arkansas, in Prairie County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Main Street (State Highway 33) and Prairie Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: De Valls Bluff AR 72041, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. DeValls Bluff: A Key Union Base (here, next to this marker); War on the White River (here, next to this marker); DeValls Bluff Under Fire (a few steps from this marker); DeValls Bluff in the Civil War (a few steps from this marker); Why DeValls Bluff (a few steps from this marker); Memphis and Little Rock Railroad (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named The Memphis and Little Rock Railroad (about 800 feet away); DeValls Bluff: A Major Union Riverport (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeValls Bluff.
More about this marker. The marker is one of five Civil War interpretive signs in Rhodes Park; there are two other Civil War interpretive signs in DeValls Bluff.
Also see . . .
1. DeValls Bluff (Prairie County). From The Arkansas Encyclopedia of History & Culture. Includes information on De Valls Bluff’s role in the Civil War. (Submitted on August 10, 2016.)
2. DeValls Bluff. Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism website entry (Submitted on March 4, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional commentary.
1. Marker Sponsors
The following is written at the lower right corner of the marker: “This project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Department of Arkansas Heritage. Other sponsors are the Arkansas Sesquicentennial Commission, the City of DeValls Bluff and the Bill & Sharon Arnold Family Foundation.”
— Submitted August 10, 2016.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 591 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 10, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.
