Camden Expedition Sites National Historic Landmark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Camden Expedition Sites
National Historic Landmark |
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 Camden
Location in Arkansas
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| Location | Clark, Cleveland, Grant, Hempstead, Nevada, Ouachita, and Pulaski counties, Arkansas |
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| Nearest city | Camden, Arkansas |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001182 |
| Added to NRHP | April 19, 1994 |
The Camden Expedition Sites are a group of important historical places in southwest Arkansas. These sites are where the Union army's difficult Camden Expedition happened in 1864. This expedition was part of the American Civil War. The Union army was trying to capture Shreveport, Louisiana.
There are nine sites in total. Each one is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The sites became a national historic landmark on April 19, 1994. The National Park Service (NPS) lists eight of these sites by name. However, the "Old U.S. Arsenal" in Little Rock is also part of the group. This is where the expedition began.
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What Was the Camden Expedition?
The Camden Expedition was a big military plan by the Union during the Civil War. It aimed to remove Confederate forces from southwestern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. The Union also wanted to move into Confederate Texas.
Major-General Frederick Steele led the Union troops. They left Little Rock on March 23, 1864. Their goal was to meet up with another Union general, Major-General Nathaniel P. Banks, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Confederate Response and Early Battles
Confederate forces in Arkansas were based in Washington. This was because the state's Confederate government had moved there. Confederate Major-General Sterling Price ordered Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke to slow down the Union army. He wanted to stop them from crossing the Little Missouri River.
On April 3, Union troops crossed the Little Missouri River. They fought the Confederates in the Battle of Elkin's Ferry. The Confederates were outnumbered and had to retreat. General Price then set up defenses near Prairie d'Âne. This was a wide, open area surrounded by woods.
Struggles and Retreat
General Steele waited for more Union soldiers to arrive. On April 9, he moved forward. But his troops were stopped in the Battle of Prairie D'Ane. This battle lasted until April 12. Steele then decided to go to Camden to get more supplies. His army was running low on food.
Camden had few Confederate soldiers because they had moved to defend Washington. So, the Union forces took over Camden easily. However, getting supplies to the Union army in Camden became very difficult. Confederates attacked their supply lines in the Battle of Poison Spring (April 18) and the Battle of Marks' Mills (April 25).
The Battle of Marks' Mills was especially bad for the Union. The Confederates captured most of their supplies. They took about 1,400 Union soldiers and over 200 supply wagons. Because of these losses, Steele left Camden and started to retreat back to Little Rock. Confederate forces chased him. They fought a very bloody battle at Jenkins' Ferry on April 30. This battle did not have a clear winner.
Important Camden Expedition Sites
The Camden Expedition sites are located in seven different counties in Arkansas. These places help us remember the events of this important expedition.
- Old U.S. Arsenal, Little Rock, Pulaski County
- Elkin's Ferry, near Prescott, Nevada & Clark counties
- Prairie D'Ane Battlefield, near Prescott, Nevada County
- Confederate State Capitol, Washington, Hempstead County
- Fort Southerland, Camden, Ouachita County
- Fort Lookout, Camden, Ouachita County
- Poison Springs Battlefield, near Chidester, Ouachita County
- Marks' Mills Battlefield, near New Edinburg, Cleveland County
- Jenkins' Ferry Battlefield, near Leola, Grant County
