Helena, AR

Date(s): July 4, 1863

Location: Please click on link below for map.

Campaign(s): Grant’s Operations against Vicksburg [1863]

Battles in Campaign:

• Grand Gulf, MS - April 29, 1863 C¹

• Snyder's Bluff, MS - April 29-May 1, 1863 D¹

• Jackson, MS - May 14, 1863 B

• Port Gibson, MS - May 1, 1863 B

• Raymond, MS - May 12, 1863 B

• Champion Hill, MS - May 16, 1863 A

• Big Black River Bridge, MS - May 17, 1863 B

• Vicksburg, MS - May 18-July 4, 1863 A

• Milliken's Bend, LA - June 7, 1863 C¹

• Goodrich's Landing, LA - June 29–30, 1863 D¹

• Helena, AR - July 4, 1863 B

Situation:

• Maj. Gen. Benjamin M. Prentiss, in command of the District of Eastern Arkansas, was headquartered at Helena with approximately 20,000 troops.

• Brig. Gen. Frederick C. Salomon had been placed in charge of the forces manning the defenses of Helena, a Mississippi River port town at the terminus of Crowley's Ridge and was ringed by steep hills cut by heavily thicketed ravines.

• Four artillery batteries with breastworks and rifle pits were placed in a semi-circle around the town.

• In addition, the USS Tyler, a "timber-clad" gunboat was assigned to support Prentiss.

• Right before the battle, a large number of troops were transferred to Vicksburg to strengthen the siege around that city. This transfer left only about 4,000 Union soldiers to protect the Federal enclave at Helena.

• Lt. Gen. Theophilus H. Holmes, commander of the Confederate District of Arkansas, planned a coordinated attack from three sides on the formidable Federal fortifications surrounding Helena in order to relieve pressure on Vicksburg and to prevent Helena being used as a base to attack further into Arkansas.

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. Benjamin Prentiss

• Confederate: Lt. Gen. Theophilus H. Holmes

Principal Forces:

• Union: District of Eastern Arkansas

• Confederate: District of Arkansas

Description:

• Lt. Gen. Theophilus Holmes’ Confederate troops attacked Helena in an attempt to relieve pressure on Vicksburg.

• Holmes' forces captured some of the fortifications, however outmanned Union troops under Prentiss were able to repel them.

• Helena continued as an important Union position in the Trans-Mississippi theater and was the base for the expedition that captured Little Rock.

Slide Presentation: None

Classification²: B

Casualties³:

• Union: 206

• Confederate: 1,636

Results: Union Victory

Battlefield Websites:

• Battle of Helena - Wikipedia

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

³ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/02/2009