Battle of Pine Bluff
1863 battle of the American Civil War
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The Battle of Pine Bluff was fought on October 25, 1863, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, during the American Civil War. The Post of Pine Bluff, a U.S. garrison commanded by Colonel Powell Clayton, successfully defended the town against attacks led by Confederate Brigadier-General John S. Marmaduke's cavalry division. Much of the fighting took place near the Jefferson County Courthouse, which the Confederates tried unsuccessfully to set ablaze. The Union victory ensured Pine Bluff was occupied by Federal troops until the end of the Civil War.[1]
| Battle of Pine Bluff | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 Confederate States | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Powell Clayton |
 John S. Marmaduke | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Post of Pine Bluff | Marmaduke's Division | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
550 cavalry and militia, 300 freedmen, 9 guns |
2,000 cavalry, 12 guns | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 16 dead and 40 wounded or missing | 41 dead, wounded or missing | ||||||
  Pine Bluff Location in Arkansas | |||||||
Background
After the capture of Little Rock on September 10, 1863, Federal troops occupied several towns along the Arkansas. Confederate Brigadier-General John S. Marmaduke, commanding a cavalry division, decided to test their strength at Pine Bluff. On Sunday, October 25, Marmaduke attacked the Post of Pine Bluff, a U.S. garrison commanded by Colonel Powell Clayton of the 5th Kansas Cavalry.[1]
Battle
At 8 a.m., Marmaduke's 2,000 Confederate cavalry approached Pine Bluff from three sides. The 550 federal cavalrymen and Missouri militia, supported by 300 freedmen, barricaded the court-house square with cotton-bales and positioned the cannon to command the adjacent streets. Marmaduke's Division made several attacks upon the square, then attempted to set the county court-house on fire. They were unsuccessful and withdrew to Princeton, Arkansas.[1][2]
