Fordyce in Dallas County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Road to Marks' Mills / Battle of Marks' Mills
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 2, 2018
1. Road to Marks' Mills Marker
Inscription.
Road to Marks' Mills, also, Battle of Marks' Mills. .
Road to Marks' Mills. Gen. Frederick Steele’s Union army set out from Little Rock on March 23, 1864, to join a second army in Louisiana and invade Texas. He made it as far as modern-day Prescott before turning toward Camden in hopes of finding supplies for his starving army. Steele lost a supply train at Poison Spring on April 18, but a wagon train from Pine Bluff arrived on April 20 with 10 days’ rations. He sent it back, along with 1,400 soldiers, to get more supplies. The column took roads near today’s Fordyce on the way to Pine Bluff as Confederates approached.
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Battle of Marks' Mills.
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. Confederate Gen. James Fagan set an ambush east of here at Marks’ Mills with 4,000 cavalrymen in two divisions. On April 25, 1864, they attacked the Union column from two sides, and a desperate, five-hour battle ended with the Union losing some 1,500 men killed, wounded and captured, along with hundreds of wagons. Fagan suffered only 293 casualties in what may have been the greatest Confederate triumph west of the Mississippi. The disaster at Marks’ Mills led Steele to abandon Camden and retreat to Little Rock. He lost 2,750 men in the Camden Expedition.
Road to Marks' Mills
Gen. Frederick Steele’s Union army set out from Little Rock on March 23, 1864, to join a second army in Louisiana and invade Texas. He made it as far as modern-day Prescott before turning toward Camden in hopes of finding supplies for his starving army. Steele lost a supply train at Poison Spring on April 18, but a wagon train from Pine Bluff arrived on April 20 with 10 days’ rations. He sent it back, along with 1,400 soldiers, to get more supplies. The column took roads near today’s Fordyce on the way to Pine Bluff as Confederates approached.
(Continued on other side)
Battle of Marks' Mills
(Continued from other side)
Confederate Gen. James Fagan set an ambush east of here at Marks’ Mills with 4,000 cavalrymen in two divisions. On April 25, 1864, they attacked the Union column from two sides, and a desperate, five-hour battle ended with the Union losing some 1,500 men killed, wounded and captured, along with hundreds of wagons. Fagan suffered only 293 casualties in what may have been the greatest Confederate triumph west of the Mississippi. The disaster at Marks’ Mills led Steele to abandon Camden and retreat to Little Rock. He lost 2,750 men in the Camden Expedition.
Erected
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2015 by Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, Dallas County Museum, Dallas County, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. (Marker Number 106.)
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 date for this entry is March 23, 1864.
Location. 33° 48.758′ N, 92° 24.722′ W. Marker is in Fordyce, Arkansas, in Dallas County. Marker is on North Main Street north of East 2nd Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: North Main Street, Fordyce AR 71742, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. View of marker in small pocket park on Main Street.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, August 2, 2018
4. View from marker towards the Dallas County Museum across the street on corner.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 325 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 6, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
