Civil War in Clark County AR

The Civil War in Clark County, Arkansas

Salt Works
East of the Ouachita River bridge on Highway 7 at Saline Bayou
The salt works site was investigated during the war by Confederate Captain J.M. King and built and operated by Confederate officer M.S. Carpenter, an Arkadelphia resident.

Wells were sunk to a depth of 40-50 feet. Several 200 gallon iron kettles continually boiled salt water. Large metal pans were used to dry out the salt. The salt was shipped by steamboat on the Ouachita River, or by wagon. Hundreds of tons of salt were manufactured during the years of operation. A bushel of salt sold for about ten dollars when it was available at the works.

The facility discontinuted operations near the close of the war due to wartime conditions. It reopened for a time after the war, but was then abandoned.

The site is listed in the National Register of History Places.


Powder Works (Munitions Factory)
Fifteenth Street and Mill Creek Drive Arkadelphia
The Civil War powder works was begun by Major General Thomas C. Hindman in the early summer of 1862. It was used only a short time, then disassembled and moved to Marshall, Texas, in 1863. In May of that same year, an explosion occurred, killing one person. It blew up all the machinery and the building, but by June 13, 1863, tbe factory was back in operation.


Arsenal (Munitions Factory or Ordnance Works)
526 Main, Arkadelphia (present site of Horizon Bank)
Arkadelphia's main contribution to the war effort was as a Confederate supply depot. It was one of the depots set up by Major General Thomas C. Hindman, Confederate commander of the Trans-Mississippi District, who was responsible for raising an army and equipping it. Medical chemicals, munitions, and salt manufacturing were established in Arkadelphia.

The chemical laboratory produced needed medicines and products, such as calomel, castor oil, spirits of nitre, and tinctures of iron. The chemicals necessary for production of these products, such as cultivated plants, weeds, and herbs, were purchased from citizens through newspaper advertisements.

The ordnance works was also owned by the Confederacy, and directed by Captain G.S. Polleys. Most of the machinery was homemade, and manufactured light artillery, pistols, and rifles. The cannon on the grounds of the Clark County Library may have been made at the arsenal.

A munitions works was established to supplement the main works in Camden. Gun carriages, powder, shot and shell, bullets, cartridge boxes, wagons, and caissons were produced.

There was a tanning yard in the city, and leather products were produced at the arsenal. Harnesses, knapsacks, saddles, bridles, and shoes were made for the army.


Harris Flanagin Law Office
320 Clay, Arkadelphia
Completed prior to the Civil War, this stuccoed brick building has sewed as an office for many Clark County attorneys. Early Arkadelphia bricklayer J. H. O'Baugh built the structure for James Witherspoon. In addition to Harris Flanagin, Confederate governor of Arkansas, other owners of note have been Duncan Flanagin, J.H. Crawford and Ernest Still. The law offices of B. W. Sanders and Randy L. Hill currently occupy the building.

The structure is listed in thc National Register of Historic Places.


Harris Flanagin Grave
Rose Hill Cemetery, Main Street, Arkadelphia
Harris Flanagin served as a Confederate officer in the First Arkansas Infantry, Co. E.

His name was entered as a nominee for governor of Arkansas, and although he was away in military service, he won the election. Flanagin was recalled from active duty and served as Governor for the duration of the war.

He died in 874 while erving as a delegate to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention.


United Daughters of the Confederacy Civil War Monument
Grounds of the Clark Couray Court House, Arkadelphia
Constructed with funds collected by members of the Harris Flanagin Chapter, UDC, to commemorate the heroic efforts of the soldiers and citizens of Clark County, the monument was unveiled and was dedicated on May 27, 1911. A large crowd attended the festivities, including many former Confederate soldiers.

The monument was destroyed in thc March 1997 tornado and is to be replaced. It is 1isted in the National Register of Historic Places.


Military Road
Crosses Clark County
The Military Road began as an Indian trail, and served as an early transportation artery across Arkansas into Texas and Mexico. It was used extensively during the Civil War. The road crosses Clarlc County from the northeast to southwest.


Bullock's Plantadon
Manchester
After the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, General Joseph O. Shelby, General John S. Marmaduke, and Colonel Colton Greene established their headquarters in various outbuildings on the plantation of Colonel Charles Bullock. Here they probably planned their Missouri campaign.

The soldiers camped at the plantation two weeks or more, and when they left, the grounds were scraped clean and the trash burned.


Skirmish at Bozeman's House
Highways 26 and 51, about four miles from Arkadelphia on the old Military Road
On April 1, 1864, Confederate General Joseph O. Shelby caught up with and attacked the rear guard of Union General Frederick Steele's army.

Union General Samuel A. Rice, in charge of the supply, pontoon, and brigade trains, rushed to support the troops under attack. After eight long and bloody hours of savage fighting, the opponents being a brigade against a division, darkness fell and the battle ended.

Nearly 400 prisoners were taken. There were many dead and wounded. "Rice, shot twice, hatless and swordless, finally reached the main army, swearing he fought nothing but devils who rode horses upon his bayonets, and shot his infantry in square with revolvers."


Skirmish at Spoonrille (Hollywood)
Highway 26, about two miles south of Hollywood on Terre Noire and Gentry Creeks
On April 2, 1864, General Joseph Shelby attacked the Union Army from the rear and Generals Marmaduke and William L. Cabell came from Antoine, at Gentry Creek, and attacked the front. Marmaduke and Cabell withdrew to Antoine to set up on Wolf Creek to attack the Union forces as they crossed the Little Missouri River on their way to Washington. However, the Federals turned at Halfway on the Military Road and headed toward Camden.


Battle of the Bees, Okolona
One mile north of Okolona on County Road 55
On April 3, 1864, General Joseph Shelby caught up with General Samuel Rice's Union troops. They engaged in a skirmish in a pecan orchard during a severe thunderstorm. Along with the other damage due to hail and high winds, several beehives were overturned. The insects first attacked the Confederates, then turned their attention to the Union army. Both armies left the battlefield to their stinging tormentors.


Skirmish at Elkins' Ferry
Three or four miles south of Okolona
General Joseph Shelby had fallen back at the Little Missouri River and moved on the Washington road to Antoine. He crossed the river there to join Marmaduke and Cabell, informing them that the Federals planned to cross at Elkins' Ferry. The Rebels crossed Wolf Creek on the south side of the Little Missouri, skirmished a while, then set up at Elkins' Ferry to await the Federals. Union Colonel Drake described the heavy skirmishing on April 3 and 4, 1864, as "very warm, and my men were falling wounded on my right and left." He commented that the Rebel forces "in one continuous line rushed upon us, firing volleys of musketry and yelling like demons." After many hours of intense fighting, the Federals finally gained control of the ferry crossing. The Union Army camped there and constructed bridges and corduroy roads across the river and bottoms. These were all afloat by April 7, due to heavy rains. The Elkins' Ferry battle site is part of the Camden Expedition National Historic Landmark.