Helena in Phillips County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Battery A
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 26, 2017
1. Battery A Marker
Inscription.
Battery A. . Union forces entrenched on this hill held off repeated assaults by Confederate troops under CSA General Marmaduke on the morning of July 4, 1863, in their attack on Helena. CSA General Marsh Walker's Cavalry Brigade, consisting of the 5th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment under Col. R.C. Newton and Dobbins' Arkansas Cavalry under Col. A. S. Dobbins, failed to join the attack on Battery A from Sterling Road. Marmaduke and Walker withdrew their commands shortly before noon.
Union forces entrenched on this hill held off repeated assaults by Confederate troops under CSA General Marmaduke on the morning of July 4, 1863, in their attack on Helena. CSA General Marsh Walker's Cavalry Brigade, consisting of the 5th Arkansas Cavalry Regiment under Col. R.C. Newton and Dobbins' Arkansas Cavalry under Col. A. S. Dobbins, failed to join the attack on Battery A from Sterling Road. Marmaduke and Walker withdrew their commands shortly before noon.
Erected 1963 by the Arkansas Civil War Centennial Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1863.
Location. 34° 32.172′ N, 90° 35.505′ W. Marker is in Helena, Arkansas, in Phillips County. Marker is on Adams Street east of Beech Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 715 Adams Street, Helena AR 72342, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. General Marmaduke, General Walker & Colonel Dobbins (L-R)
After the Battle of Reed's Bridge on August 26, 1863, General Marmaduke accused Walker of imperiling Marmaduke's men by being absent from the field in the face of the enemy. Walker felt that he had been unjustly accused of cowardice and challenged Marmaduke to a formal duel.
On September 6, Walker and Marmaduke squared off on the north bank of the Arkansas River near Little Rock. Both fired and missed. Marmaduke then recocked and fired a second time, mortally wounding Walker in the right side, just above the beltline. Lucius M. Walker died at 5 p.m. the next day.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2017. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 240 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 31, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.