Battles & Campaigns · 1863
Battle of Helena
Helena, Arkansas, USA
What happened
The Union garrison under Benjamin Prentiss, with Frederick Salomon, faced Confederates under Holmes, Sterling Price, James Fagan and John Marmaduke. Confederate troops tried to capture Helena, a Union base on the Mississippi River, hoping to help the Confederates trapped at Vicksburg. Their attacks began at daylight but were poorly coordinated and did not succeed. The Confederates withdrew by the end of the day.
Why it matters
It was a Union victory on the very day that Vicksburg surrendered. Helena stayed in Union hands and became the starting point for the campaign against Little Rock.
What came next
Union forces marching from Helena took Little Rock on 10 September 1863.
Did you know?
Expecting an attack, Prentiss had his troops woken at 2 a.m.
Timeline
- 4 Jul 1863Battle of Helena.
- 4 Jul 1863Vicksburg surrenders to Grant.
- 10 Sep 1863Union troops take Little Rock.