Battle of Bayou Forche

Battle of Bayou Forche Little Rock Began: September 10, 1863 Ended: Same day Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Theater: Trans-Mississippi Theater Campaign: Advance on Little Rock Outcome: Union victory Combatants Cavalry Division, Army of Arkansas District of Arkansas Commanders John W. Davidson Brigadier General, USA John S. Marmaduke Brigadier General, CSA Strength Casualties 72 Unknown

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. (NPS summary)