Battle of Bayou Fourche

Other Names: Little Rock

Location: Pulaski County (present-day Little Rock), Arkansas

Campaign: Advance on Little Rock (1863)

Date: September 10, 1863

Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. John W. Davidson [US]; Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke

Forces Engaged: Cavalry Division, Army of Arkansas, Arkansas Expedition [US]; District of Arkansas [CS]

Casualties and losses: Total unknown (US 72; CS unknown)

Result(s): Union victory

Brief Description:

On September 10, 1863, Maj. Gen. Fred Steele, Army of Arkansas commander, sent Brig. Gen. John W. Davidson's cavalry division across the Arkansas River to move on Little Rock, while he took other troops to attack Confederates entrenched on the north side. In his thrust toward Little Rock, Davidson ran into Confederate troops at Bayou Fourche. Aided by Union artillery fire from the north side of the river, Davidson forced them out of their position and sent them fleeing back to Little Rock, which fell to Union troops that evening. Bayou Fourche sealed Little Rock's fate. The fall of Little Rock further helped to contain the Confederate Trans-Mississippi theater, isolating it from the rest of the South.