Macarthur Park in Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

The Camden Expedition

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 10, 2018

1. The Camden Expedition Marker

Inscription. On March 23, 1864, Gen. Frederick Steele led a Union army south from Little Rock to join another army in Louisiana and invade Texas. After fighting at Elkins' Ferry and Prairie D'Ane, Steele's hungry army occupied Camden. Disastrous defeats at Poison Spring and Mark's Mills led Steele to abandon his drive south and retreat to Little Rock. He fought a desperate battle against Confederate troops from Louisiana at Jenkins' Ferry on April 30 before returning to the capital on May 3. The Camden Expedition marked its beginning and end here at the U.S. Arsenal.

Erected 2014 by Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, General T.J. Churchill Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, Arkansas Humanities Council, National Endowment for the Humanities. (Marker Number 73.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is March 23, 1864.

Location. 34° 44.264′ N, 92° 15.903′ W. Marker is in Little Rock, Arkansas, in Pulaski County. It is in Macarthur Park.

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It can be reached from East 9th Street. Located behind the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 601 East 9th Street, Little Rock AR 72202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Quapaw Homeland.

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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: United Spanish War Veterans Tribute (a few steps from this marker); Roosevelt Visits Little Rock / Roosevelt Visits City Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Douglas MacArthur (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S. Colored Troops in Arkansas in the Civil War / 1st and 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry Regiments (within shouting distance of this marker); The Little Rock Arsenal (within shouting distance of this marker); The Arsenal Crisis (within shouting distance of this marker); MacArthur Park World War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of United Spanish War Veterans (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Little Rock.

Other markers no longer nearby. In Memory of David O. Dodd (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Story of David O. Dodd (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . .
1. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture on the Camden Expedition.

View from marker towards Tower building of the Little Rock Arsenal at MacArthur park. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 10, 2018

2. View from marker towards Tower building of the Little Rock Arsenal at MacArthur park.

(Submitted on April 13, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. Wikipedia article on the Camden Expedition. (Submitted on April 13, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

The Camden Expedition Marker in distance looking south in MacArthur Park. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, April 10, 2018

3. The Camden Expedition Marker in distance looking south in MacArthur Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,087 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 13, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.