160th Anniversary of the Battle of Helena

By Professor Earnest Veritas · Originally published August 2023 · pp. 32

160th Anniversary of the Battle of Helena

By Professor Earnest Veritas Special Correspondent to – Western Theater – The Mississippi River Battle of Helena, Ark., July 4, 1863, was a well-intentioned effort to relieve pressure on Gen. John C. Pemberton under siege in Vicksburg, 170 miles south of Helena. Federal forces under Gen. Ulysses Grant were squeezing Pemberton and his 30,000 men tightly against the river. The Confederate garrison was starving and could not hold out much longer. Lieut. Gen. Theophilus Holmes, the Confederate commander in Arkansas, got approval to attack Maj. Gen. Benjamin Prentiss and carry Fort Curtis, a redoubt on the river, to begin the operation to help Pemberton. The relief attempt rapidly dissolved into a botched, bloody affair that did no good for Vicksburg and cost the lives of many soldiers on both sides. Indeed, Vicksburg surrendered at noon on July 4, just an hour or so after the Helena debacle ended. Fighting began with the dawn attack and continued at 11 a.m., when the Confederates fell back to cut their losses. Nearly 12,000 soldiers were involved (4,000 Federal/7,600 Confederate). The fight was as savage as many other bigger fights in the war. The forces under Holmes made a three-pronged approach over the bluffs and steep hills of the city against artillery and infantry that was well dug in and waiting for them. There was no element of surprise for the Confederate attack. The Confederate losses were estimated to be well over 1,600; the Federal lost a few more than 200. When Holmes fell back, General Prentiss knew he had secured a significant victory for controlling the Mississippi. His placing of four artillery batteries, imaginatively named Battery A, B, C, and D, on the hills around the town had paid off. Fort Curtis had served the Federal troops well in its sound construction and strategic placement on the edge of town. One Federal soldier dubbed Helena “Hell in Arkansas.” That nickname turned out to be all too prophetic for the troops under General Theophilus Holmes as they assaulted Helena and were repulsed with heavy losses. It was the last major offensive of Confederate forces in Arkansas. The 160th anniversary of the battle of Helena was observed on the weekend of April 15-16, 2023. Overshadowed by the fall of Vicksburg on the same day and the Confederate defeat of Lee and

Fort Curtis from the Confederate position. (Delta Cultural Center)

Federal artillery firing. (Don Waymack)

the Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg, the battle was little known at the time. The Delta Cultural Center in Helena, under the direction of Richard Spilman, organized a significant reenactment that did well for the memory of the battle and those who fought and suffered in it. Reenactor Brad Hartsfield of Helena was the host working with Richard Spillman and to organize two days of battle scenes that were well executed. Bobby Horton entertained the troops and civilians on Saturday night. General Grant (Curt Fields) was present as well. He came up from the earlier surrender at Vicksburg to make presentations and visit with the troops and spectators. Julia Grant (Lena Moody) accompanied the general and held a ladies tea in the famous PillowThompson House in downtown Helena. The table set by Julia was impressive indeed and pleased her guests no end. A number of ladies attended and politely peppered Mrs. Grant about many things in her life both before and after meeting General Grant. The leisurely afternoon affair went on for quite some time. General Grant made an appearance at the tea and was promptly told by Julia that he had no business there with her and her guests. It was one of the few times that the Grant ever made a hasty retreat (with a smile). The first day of the reenactment battle took place as an assault on Saturday afternoon at Fort Curtis. The fort, as it is today, is a ¾ size reproduction of the original near the river. It is an attractive site for spectators to view the battle as the Confederate troops attacked the Federal defenders camped out of sight on the steep hills rising sharply from just outside the fort. A four-gun battery in the fort was well served by crews who knew their business. A heavy contingent of Confederates attacked the Federals camped on the hills about the town near the fort. Confederate cavalry assisted in the assault that boiled down the hills and spread around the fort. After heavy fighting for nearly an hour and a half, the Confederates fell back. More than 200 spectators were impressed with what unfolded before them on the beautiful spring day. The second day of fighting took place on Sunday afternoon in the Helena River Park on the river side of the levee. The field of honor was open and deep in rich green grass as Federal artillery units prepared their guns. The gun crews were to engage Confederate forces they knew were coming. The woods around the field were full of Southern infantry and cavalry. The bluff above the park, immediately next to the battlefield, was higher than the field, forming natural amphitheater seating and filled with spectators. The roar of cannon punctuated by the consistent rattling crack of rifles was a battle sound that rolled over the field and out across the Mississippi River. Confederate cavalry did a good job of attack and parry with Federal lines moving across the field to engage Confederate infantrymen. When the Federal attack was too heavy to resist, the Rebels fell back into the tree line ending the fight. Helena had been protected. Many units were involved in the reenactment. The participating units were: • Third Arkansas, Co. D, galvanized as the 28th

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Wisconsin Tishomingo Avengers Trans-Mississippi Volunteer Infantry Battalion Sixteenth Arkansas Infantry Third Mississippi Cavalry Tenth Mounted Troops First Mississippi Cavalry First Texas Light Artillery, Battery E Bankhead’s Battery

Larry McCluney Jr. and Charles Tucker were, respectively, the Federal and the Confederate commanders. Professor Veritas recommends, for further information about Helena, Arkansas, to contact: Richard Spilman of the Delta Cultural Center at his email: [email protected]. “Simply put: tell the simple truth, simply.” – Professor E. Veritas

Federal infantry pose with the author for a group photo.

Federal artillery reenactors fire against the Confederate troops during the event.

Federal artillerists gather around their cannon with General Grant (Curt Fields) on the right side of the tube. (Don Waymack)