Jenkins' Ferry
Civil War Arkansas

American Civil War
April 30, 1864

Major General Fred Steele's forces retreated from Camden after being mauled at Marks' Mills and Poison Spring.

On the afternoon of April 29, the Union forces reached Jenkins' Ferry and began crossing the Saline River, which was swollen by heavy rain.

Rebel forces arrived on the 30th and attacked repeatedly.

The Federals repulsed the attacks and finally crossed with all their men and supply wagons, many of which they were compelled to abandon in the swamp north of Saline.

The Confederates bungled a good chance to destroy Steele's army, which after crossing the river, regrouped at Little Rock.

Result(s): Union victory in retreat

Location: Grant County

Campaign: Camden Expedition (1864)

Date(s): April 30, 1864

Principal Commanders: Major General Fred Steele [US]; General E. Kirby Smith [CS]

Forces Engaged: Department of Arkansas [US]; Army of Arkansas [CS]

Estimated Casualties: 964 total (US 521; CS 443)


Unconditional Surrender: U. S. Grant and the Civil War
This is the best juvenile biography on Ulysses S. Grant by a wide margin. Marrin has done an excellent job in introducing Grant to a young audience. I highly recommend it.

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Robert E. Lee
This book not only offers concise detail but also gives terrific insight into the state of the Union and Confederacy during Lee's life. Lee was truly a one of kind gentleman and American, and had Virginia not been in the south or neutral, he ultimately would have led the Union forces.
All Cut to Pieces and Gone to Hell
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three of the most important battles fought west of the Mississippi River during the Civil War. They influenced the course of the first half of the war in that region by shaping Union military efforts while significantly contributing to Confederate defeat. A history of each battle and an overview of the larger strategy and tactics of the military action in which these battles figured.

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Blue Vs. Gray - Killing Fields
Relive the most vicious fighting of the Civil War, in which General Ulysses S. Grant forcibly reversed the tide of the conflict by paying with the blood of thousands. It was a desperate time for the Union

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Sources:
U.S. National Park Service
U.S. Library of Congress.
 

Sometimes Jenkins' Ferry is misspelled causing difficulty when doing research. So I have added some text to include the other spelling such as Jenkin's, which is wrong because the owner of the Ferry was named Jenkins. Therefore the possessive of the name has the apostrophe after the s. Some people look for Jenkin and the Ferry which is also spelled wrong. With these extra spellings I hope I have helped you find the information that you are looking for about Arkansas battles during the Civil War.