Mena in Polk County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Polk County in the Civil War
Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 24, 2022
1. Polk County in the Civil War Marker
Polk County men served on both sides during the Civil War. Two companies of the 4th Arkansas Infantry Co. I and Co. H, the Polk Invinciblesand Harts Battery served the Confederacy and at least 73 local men joined the Union army. One man in the 4th, Thomas Harmon, was expelled for deserting. He was hanged after returning to Polk County. Because of its nearness to Texas, both regular and irregular soldiers for both sides roamed and scouted in Polk County, particularly after Union troops occupied Waldron in late 1863 and began operations.
Several Union scouting expeditions traveled through Polk County during December 1863. A Federal detachment captured two men at Dallas on Dec. 6, 1863. Union troops fought Confederate guerrillas at Baker Springs on Jan. 24, 1864, killing 5, wounding 2 and taking 27 prisoners while losing 1 dead and 1 hurt. On May 12, 1864, men of the 2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment (U.S.) were attacked by Confederate Choctaws, losing 1 man dead and 1 wounded in the skirmish. The Polk County Courthouse at Dallas with all of its records was burned in the war.
Erected 2016 by Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, Polk County Genealogical Society, Shirley Manning, Harold Coogan and David Dingler, SCV Polk County Invincibles #646, Arkansas Historic Preservation
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1863.
Location. 34° 34.994′ N, 94° 14.144′ W. Marker is in Mena, Arkansas, in Polk County. It is on Sherwood Avenue west of Mena Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mena AR 71953, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Also see . . . Polk County. Encyclopedia of Arkansas website entry (Submitted on August 27, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 24, 2022
2. Polk County in the Civil War Marker (reverse)
via Mena Star, 2016
3. Civil War Marker Unveiled
Nearly 100 people gathered at The KCS Depot on Saturday afternoon for the presentation of Polk County's new Civil War Historic Marker. The Mena High School Band played patriotic songs while Polk County veterans, representatives from local chapters of the Disabled American Veterans, Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of Confederate Veterans stood around the new marker carrying flags and flowers. Mena Mayor George McKee and Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison removed the tarp from the monument, which reads: "Polk County in the Civil War". Polk County men served on both sides during the Civil War.
Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 24, 2022
4. View of marker towards old Mena train depot.
Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 24, 2022
5. View of marker and intersection of US-71 & Mena St.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2022, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 4,791 times since then and 93 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 24, 2022, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 3. submitted on August 27, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4, 5. submitted on June 24, 2022, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
