The Battle of Jenkins' Ferry was fought April 30, 1864, in Grant County, Arkansas as part of the Camden Expedition of the American Civil War. The American Civil War (1861–1865) was fought in North America within the United States of America, between twenty-four mostly northern states of the Union and the Confederate States of America, a coalition of eleven southern states that declared their independence and claimed the right of secession from the... Look up April in Wiktionary, the free dictionary April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. ... State nickname: The Natural State Other U.S. States Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Governor Mike Huckabee (R) Senators Blanche Lincoln (D) Mark Pryor (D) Official language(s) English Area 137,732 km² (29th)  - Land 134,856 km²  - Water 2,876 km² (2. ... The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... Casus belli is a Latin expression from the international law theory of Jus ad bellum. ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3–April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans February 4, 1861 until captured... Frederick Steele (January 14, 1819, Delhi, New York – January 19, 1868, San Mateo, California), American Civil War Union Major General. ... Portrait of Edmund Kirby Smith during the Civil War Edmund Kirby Smith (May 16, 1824 – March 28, 1893) was a career U.S. Army officer, an educator, and a general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, notable for his command of the Trans-Mississippi Department of the... Battle of Elkin’s Ferry Conflict American Civil War Date April 3-4, 1864 Place Clark County and Nevada County, Arkansas Result Union victory The Battle of Elkin’s Ferry was a land battle of the American Civil War that took place on April 3-4, 1864. ... The Battle of Prairie DAne was fought April 9–13, 1864, in Nevada County, Arkansas as part of the Camden Expedition of the American Civil War. ... The Battle of Poison Spring was fought during the American Civil War on April 18, 1864, in Ouachita County, Arkansas as part of the Camden Expedition. ... The Battle of Marks’ Mill occurred on April 25, 1864, in Cleveland County, Arkansas. ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining, as the last day in April. ... 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. ... The American Civil War (1861–1865) was fought in North America within the United States of America, between twenty-four mostly northern states of the Union and the Confederate States of America, a coalition of eleven southern states that declared their independence and claimed the right of secession from the...

Union 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. The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Camden is a city located in Ouachita County, Arkansas. ... Poison Springs State Park is an Arkansas state park located near Bluff City, Arkansas. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... The Saline River may refer to: The Saline River in Arkansas in the United States. ... There is also a Littlerock, California. ...

Both armies paid dearly for the carnage of Jenkins' Ferry. The Confederates reported 86 men killed, 356 wounded, and one missing for a total of 443 casualties. The numbers would doubtless have been much higher, perhaps 800 to 1,000, if Walker's Texas division's losses were known. Walker filed no report on the battle. Union casualties were reported as 63 killed, 413 wounded, and 45 missing, a total of 521 casualties. Again, the Union total is incomplete, as Gen. Thayer filed no report.

The Battle of Jenkins' Ferry was a Union victory, because the Federals successfully held back the attacking Confederates and allowed their wagons time to cross the Saline. Kirby Smith's last, best hope to destroy Steele's army was dashed as a result of the badly mismanaged and disjointed attacks in which the Confederate infantry was pushed in piecemeal instead of in a concentrated attack. The Confederates failed to capitalize on the Union's vulnerable left flank, choosing instead to pursue frontal assaults across Kelly's field, where the Southern line was devastated by Union fire.

See also

• Battles of the American Civil War

This is a list of American Civil War battles organized alphabetically by state. ...

References

• The Camden Expedition of 1864 by William D. Baker, Published by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program

External links

• Jenkins' Ferry