Arkansas Post, Part Three

This is part three of a series on Arkansas Post National Memorial. To read the previous posts first, please scroll down the page.

The primary Civil War fortification at Arkansas Post was Fort Hindman, a full-bastioned square earthwork that stood on the edge of the bluff.

The site of Fort Hindman has long since been swallowed by the river and the location where the fort once stood is now under water. The National Memorial offers an interpretive overlook (seen here) that provides information on Fort Hindman and the 1863 Union bombardment that targeted it. A small scale model of the fort can be seen in the Visitor Center.

The fort was constructed under the supervision of the Confederate Navy to protect the "S" shaped section of the Arkansas River that passes by Arkansas Post. Built in the shame of a hollow square measuring 300 feet to a side with a full bastion on each corner, Fort Hindman had a 20-foot wide, 8-foot deep ditch. Iron-covered casemates provided additional protection for two of the fort's heaviest guns and the parapets were 18 feet thick at the top.

The artillery of the fort included four 3" Parrott rifles (10-pounders), two 9-inch Columbiads, one 8" Columbiad and four 6-pounder smoothbore field guns.

Our series on Arkansas Post National Memorial will continue. Until the next post, you can read more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/arkansaspost.