Battle of Pine Bluff

Battle of Pine Bluff Began: October 25, 1863 Ended: Same day Location: Jefferson County, Arkansas Theater: Trans-Mississippi Theater Campaign: Advance on Little Rock Outcome: Union victory Combatants Pine Bluff Garrison Marmaduke's division Commanders Powell Clayton Colonel, USA John S. Marmaduke Brigadier General, CSA Strength 850 2,000 Casualties 56 40

At 8:00 am, October 25, Col. Powell Clayton sent a company of cavalry toward Princeton which ran into Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke’s men advancing. After some fire, the Rebels, under a flag of truce, came forward demanding surrender. Lt. M.F. Clark answered that there would be no surrender. Clayton slowly retreated back into Pine Bluff. In the meantime, about 300 African-American soldiers rolled cotton bales out of the warehouses for barricades to protect the court square. After failing to take the square by force, the Rebels attempted to burn out the Union forces but to no avail. The Confederate forces retired, leaving Pine Bluff to the Federals.