Arkansas Post National Memorial in Arkansas County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Four guns...opened on us and a thousand rifles from the pits
Dyer Hitchcock, private, 23rd Wisconsin Infantry
— Arkansas Post National Memorial —
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear, but not peaceful. The ground shook as the cannons roared. The Confederates fiercely defended their line. Though ordered to fight to the last man, that afternoon white flags appeared from the rifle pits to the surprise of their leaders. "It was the only intelligible thing we could do," explained a Texan. "The next charge would have annihilated us."
The men in the ditches fought like so many tigers...
Clinton W. Gerard, sergeant, 83rd Ohio Infantry
{Background photo caption}: Fort Hindman
The rifle pits extended 700 yards across the peninsula, reaching from the fort on one end to an impassable swamp on the other.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 34° 1.306′ N, 91° 20.884′ W. Marker is in Arkansas Post National Memorial, Arkansas, in Arkansas County. Marker can be reached from Old Post Road, 0.4 miles south of State Route 169. Located about 600 feet southwest from the first parking area on the road that leads to the picnic area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gillett AR 72055, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 38,000 Reasons to Fight (within shouting distance of this marker); On they come like an irresistible thunder bolt (approx. ¼ mile away); Our ironclads and gunboats knocked the fort to pieces (approx. ¼ mile away); Where is Fort Hindman? (approx. ¼ mile away); The Post of Arkansas (approx. 0.3 miles away); The European Settlement (approx. 0.3 miles away); Stone from Ruins of Old Bank (approx. 0.3 miles away); The French Period (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arkansas Post National Memorial.
Also see . . . Explore Southern History article on the Battle of Arkansas Post. (Submitted on September 2, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Additional keywords. Four guns...opened on us and a thousand rifles from the pits
Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 2, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.