On
November 16, 1862, Union forces from Helena mounted an attack
on Arkansas Post. However, the troops could not reach their objective
and returned to Helena on November 21. Later on December 31, Maj.
Gen. John A. McClernand conferred with the Federal commander at
Helena at which time the subject of a renewed offensive against
Arkansas Post was discussed.
On
January 11, 1863, an expedition under Union Brig. Gen. Willis
A. Gorman left Helena, floating down the Mississippi and entering
the White River. Gorman's cavalry left Helena on the same day,
bound for Clarendon. One of the goals of Gorman's expedition was
to divert Confederate attention from Vicksburg.
On
July 3, 1863, the extant Alan Polk House/Farm, located 5 miles
west of Helena, was the site of a meeting in which Confederate
military leaders planned the attack on the Federal enclave at
Helena. Those attending the meeting included Lt. Gen. Theophilus
H. Holmes, Maj. Gen.. Sterling Price, Brig. Gen. L. Marsh Walker,
Brig. gen. John S. Marmaduke, and Brig. Gen. John F. Fagan.
On
July 4, 1863, Holmes' troops attacked Union fortifications on
the Crowley's Ridge hilltops overlooking roads leading into Helena,
Arkansas, from the north and west. The assault was a belated attempt
to relieve Union pressure on Vicksburg by recapturing the Mississippi
River town from Federal forces that had occupied the enclave in
July 1862, and were using it as a supply depot for the siege of
Vicksburg. Located at the southern tip of the ridge where it meets
the Mississippi River, Helena was situated on the only high ground
on the western bank of the river south of St. Louis. Holmes launched
his 7,600 troops in a four-pronged attack against 4,100 Federals
under U. S. Maj. Gen. Benjamin M. Prentiss in the fortifications
(Batteries A, B, C, and D) at Helena.
The
main effort was launched southwest of town by three brigades of
Price's Division against Union batteries atop the steep slopes
of Hindman Hill and Graveyard Hill. Fagan commanded a brigade
that captured several lines of rifle pits at Battery D on Hindman
Hill, but the Federals successfully defended the battery. Price
led two brigades that overran the cannon in Battery C on Graveyard
Hill until fire from Fort Curtis and from the gunboat Tyler
stopped them. The Federals in Fort Curtis repulsed a frontal assault,
and at 10:30 a.m. Holmes ordered a retreat. The Federals reoccupied
Graveyard Hill as the Confederates fell back to the Alan Polk
House/Farm, using the residence as a hospital. The Federals used
the extant Moore-Hornor House in town as a hospital during and
after the battle.
The
Battle of Helena was a futile and ultimately pointless undertaking
on the part of the Confederate command in Arkansas. Not only did
the attack fail to achieve its goal, the capture of Helena, but
it also failed to realize its secondary objective, that of relieving
Union pressure of the besieged fortress of Vicksburg. It is one
of the ironies of history, that unbeknownst to Holmes and his
officers, Vicksburg surrendered to the Federals on the same day
that the Confederates launched their ill-fated attack on Helena.
Thus, the unsuccessful Confederate assault on the well-fortified
Union garrison at Helena reaffirmed Federal control over eastern
and northeastern Arkansas and made possible the Union capture
of Little Rock on September 10.
Helena presents a unique opportunity
to provide a multifaceted visitor experience. The city has a number
of properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
three historic districts, and the largest number of historic structures
listed in the National Register for the State of Arkansas. The
city also has a variety of architectural styles, a Confederate
cemetery in which Confederate Generals Patrick Cleburne, Thomas
Hindman, and James Tappan are buried, and riverfront park. Efforts
by the Delta Cultural Center at interpreting and celebrating the
Blues including an annual music festival are extremely well done.
The Blues initiative has also stimulated historic preservation
efforts in the downtown area. A range of visitor services including
museums; restaurants and shops are now emerging in the central
business district. Packaging these existing attractions and programs
with a Civil War experience and with the larger Vicksburg Campaign
Trail Heritage Corridor would enhance and enlarge the visitor
experience in Helena.
Currently one hilltop fortification,
Battery C, is in public ownership while three others remain privately
owned. Batteries A and D present extraordinary opportunities for
interpretation since both retain a high degree of integrity. If
possible the three batteries in private ownership should be acquired
and managed by a local entity, either the City of Helena or the
Delta Cultural Center. Having all four batteries available for
visitor use would complete the Civil War interpretive package
at Helena and relate the story of the larger Vicksburg Campaign
Trail. Civil War interpretive material is displayed by the Delta
Cultural Center in the restored railroad depot adjacent to the
mainstreet downtown of Helena. The Civil War interpretive material
may be moved to the Moore-Hornor House and thus closer to the
hilltop fortifications. Currently the Moore-Hornor House is undergoing
restoration and transfer of the interpretive material would happen
once the restoration is complete.
While not recommended as an addition
to the National Park System, a partnership between the Department
of Arkansas Heritage, the City of Helena and the National Park
Service would insure preservation and interpretation of the Tier
1 resources of Helena.
