Helena, AR
Date(s): July 4, 1863
Location: Please click on link below for map.Helena, Arkansas, United States
Campaign(s): Grant’s Operations against Vicksburg [1863]
Battles in Campaign:
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Grand Gulf, MS - April 29, 1863 C1
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Snyder's Bluff, MS - April 29-May 1, 1863 D1
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Milliken's Bend, LA - June 7, 1863 C1
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Goodrich's Landing, LA - June 29–30, 1863 D1
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Situation:
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Maj. Gen. Benjamin M. Prentiss, in command of the District of Eastern Arkansas, was headquartered at Helena with approximately 20,000 troops.
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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.
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Four artillery batteries with breastworks and rifle pits were placed in a semi-circle around the town.
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In addition, the USS Tyler, a "timber-clad" gunboat was assigned to support Prentiss.
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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.
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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:
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Union: Maj. Gen. Benjamin Prentiss
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Confederate: Lt. Gen. Theophilus H. Holmes
Principal Forces:
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Union: District of Eastern Arkansas
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Confederate: District of Arkansas
Description:
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Lt. Gen. Theophilus Holmes’ Confederate troops attacked Helena in an attempt to relieve pressure on Vicksburg.
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Holmes' forces captured some of the fortifications, however outmanned Union troops under Prentiss were able to repel them.
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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:
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Union: 206
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Confederate: 1,636
Results: Union Victory
Battlefield Websites:
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Battle of Helena - Wikipedia
Recommended Resources:
1 National Park Service summary.
2 Classification:
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A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war
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B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign
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C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign
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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
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