BG John S Marmaduke |
After being
defeated in the Battle of Cape Girardeau, Confederate Brigadier General John S
Marmaduke began a retreat towards Helena, Arkansas on April 27th
1863. His march took him on a road over
Crowley’s Ridge a route that provided protection for his flanks. Union Brigadier General William Vandever
followed the Confederates through Missouri to Chalk Bluff, Arkansas. This was where Marmaduke planned to cross the
St Francis River.
Marmaduke
placed a rear guard along the ridge, while his engineers and pioneers
constructed a bridge over the river. His
first line was set up at Four Mile, with a second reserve line about mile back
at Gravel Hill on the ridge above the St Francis River. Vadever’s troops attacked on May 1st
1863, but were unable to drive the Confederates from the heights. The fighting continued the next day.
Even though
the Confederate rear guard suffered heavy casualties they held their line long
enough for bridge to be built. This
allowed Marmaduke’s men to cross the river and return to his camps in Arkansas.
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