Saturday, March 1, 2008

Jenkins' Ferry, Part Three


This is the monument erected at the Jenkins' Ferry battlefield in 1928 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The monument is to the left just inside the entrance to the state park.
Although estimates of casualties vary, the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry was extremely bloody for Confederate forces who hurled themselves repeatedly against the breastworks of the Union army. The Southern attacks were uncoordinated and hampered by flooding. As a result, the Confederate ranks experienced severe losses.
Although they were unable to carry the Union lines, the Confederates were able to hammer the Federals so hard that they withdrew from the battlefield in an extremely battered condition, bringing the Arkansas phase of the Red River Campaign to a close.
Our look at the Jenkins' Ferry battlefield will continue, but in the meantime you can read more by going to www.exploresouthernhistory.com/jenkinsferry1.

No comments: