LITTLE ROCK, Capture of. The State authorities of Arkansas seized the United States arsenal at Little Rock 8 Feb. 1861, and until 10 Sept. 1863 the city remained in Confederate occupation. After the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, 4 and 8 July 1863, Gen. F. Steele was ordered from Vicksburg to Helena and directed to form a junction with General David son, who was moving south from Pilot Knob, Mo., to break up Sterling Price's army, and occupy Little Rock. Steele arrived at Hel ena 31 July and organized his expedition, find ing at that place two divisions of infantry, a brigade of cavalry and 39 guns; in all, about 7,000 men. On 5 August he marched for De vall's Bluff on White River, reached it without incident and there was joined by Davidson with 6,000 cavalry and three batteries, making his force about 13,000 men and 57 guns. A few days later he was joined by a brigade which raised his aggregate to over 14,000, of whom 10,500 were effective, many being sick. August 24 Davidson's cavalry advance skir mished with Marmaduke's cavalry up to and through Brownsville and up to his entrench ments at Bayou Meto. Davidson fell back to Brownsville, where, 2 September, Steele joined him, and concentrated all his available force. The position on the Bayou Meto. 12 miles from Little Rock, was flanked, and on the 7th Steele reached the Arkansas River near Ashley's Mills, where Davidson's cavalry had a sharp skirmish and drove the Confederates across the river. Steele repaired the main road back to Bayou Meto, and on the 10th Davidson crossed to the south side of the river by a pontoon bridge and marched on Little Rock, but 10 miles distant, Steele marching along the north bank. The
city was defended by Sterling Price with about 7,700 men, of whom 6,500 were en trenched on the north side of the Arkansas, and about 1,200 on the south side, on the line of the Bayou Fourche, about five miles from the city. Davidson moved directly on the city, without much opposition until he reached Bayou Fourche, where he found Marmaduke's cavalry, dismounted, a brigade of infantry and two batteries, all drawn up to oppose him. Davidson attacked on two roads, driving the Confederates back; Steele, who had marched abreast of hinr on the opposite side of the river. opened an enfilading artillery fire; and Marma duke fell back through the city, closely fol lowed by Davidson's cavalry. Price had with drawn from the north bank of the river when he learned that Davidson had turned the, posi tion, and evacuated the city at 5 P.M., retreating to Arkadelphia. Steele's cavalry followed Mar maduke's cavalry for a day, and returned to Little Rock on the 12th. At 7 P.M. the city was formally surrendered to Davidson by the civil authorities. Price burned eight steamers, one of them a powerful gunboat, but the arsenal was saved. Steele reported a loss of 137 killed, wounded and missing; Price reported a total loss of 64. Consult 'Official Records> (Vol. XXII) ; Lossing, 'History of the Civil War> (Vol. II) ; The Century Company's and Leaders of the Civil War' (Vol. III).