During the summer of 1862, Union Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis planned to move his army toward Helena in search of supplies to replace those that had been promised but never deliverd by the Navy. The Confederates skirmished with the Federals as the Federals marched south along the White River toward the supply flotilla waiting at Clarendon. On July 7, 1862, Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman ordered Brig. Gen. Albert Rust to stop them at the Cache River. Rust moved too slowly, so the forward elements of his force did not strike until 4 miles south of the river on Parley Hill's plantation near Cotton Plant. The outnumbered Illinois and Wisconsin infantry commanded by Union Col. Charles E. Hovey repulsed repeated, poorly orgainized attacks by Confederate Col. William H. Parsons' two Texas cavalry regiments. The Confederates fled when Federal reinforcements arrived.

Curtis proceeded to Clarendon only to find that the flotilla had departed the previous day. He turned east toward Helena and occupied it on July 12. Federal forces controlled the town for the duration of the war. Nevertheless, Hindman, despite suffering defeat, remained between Curtis and Little Rock, his objective.

The Battle of Cotton Plant, designated one of the Civil War's 384 principal battlefields by the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission in 1993, has regional/state significance because it had an observable influence on the outcome of the Vicksburg campaign. The Union victory enabled Federal forces to move toward Helena and occupy that strategic town on the Mississippi River for the duration of the Civil War.

Cotton Plant should be documented. Onsite interpretation is appropriate and connection to the Vicksburg Campaign Trail Heritage Coalition is encouraged.