Timeline
1861 Civil War
By February 1, the seven states of the lower south had seceded from the United States. On February 5, a group of more than 800 armed secessionists arrived in Little Rock from south Arkansas to take control of the United States Arsenal. These troops were reacting to a rumor the United States government planned to reinforce the Arsenal. The Little Rock City Council adopted a resolution declaring the movement disrespectful to state authorities, and further labeled the group nothing more or less than a mob. To avoid bloodshed and disorder, the City Council finally requested Governor Rector to take the Arsenal in the name of the state. On February 8, the United States troops evacuated the Arsenal and the property was turned over to the governor. Little Rock citizens presented a sword to Captain James Totten, federal commander of the Arsenal, for managing to avoid violence in the face of considerable tension.
At the March convention called to consider Arkansas leaving the United States, Unionist sentiment prevailed. But it was clear, if war began, Arkansas would stick with its southern sisters. When the convention reconvened after the southern attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, the outcome was different. Only Isaac Murphy of Madison County would not vote "aye" in the final 69 to one decision for secession. Arkansas, the 25th state in the United States, became the ninth of the Confederate States of America.
Gearing up for war, the Secession Convention raised taxes, issued war bonds, confiscated all public lands formerly belonging to the United States, and called for volunteers. Flushed with the excitement of anticipated battle, the community jumped into mobilization. Companies were mustered, women were fabricating uniforms and flags and donation were made to "the Cause."
Volunteers from Arkansas entered actual warfare for the first time at the Battle of Oak Hill (Wilson's Creek) in southwest Missouri. In 1862, the battles of Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove brought the fighting to Arkansas, and by the end of 1863, most of Arkansas had fallen to the United States. The war, from various perspectives called the Civil War, the War Between the States, The War of the Rebellion, the War of Northern Aggression and the Late Unpleasantness, killed thousands of Arkansawyers in four years on both sides of the conflict. While it settled two issues-the end of slavery and the return of Arkansas to the United States-it could not hope to settle the more complicated economic and social problems left behind.
