Attack on Pine Bluff Civil War Trail
What to know
Following the Union occupation of Little Rock, Gen. Frederick Steele sent Col. Powell Clayton's Fifth Kansas and First Indiana Cavalry Regiments to garrison Pine Bluff. On October 24, Confederate Gen. John Sappington Marmaduke set out from southern Arkansas with a small Confederate army, intent on crushing Clayton's small force. A patrol of Kansans encountered the Rebels as they approached Pine Bluff, upsetting Marmaduke's plans for a sneak attack. Clayton fortified the courthouse square with heavy hay bales, aided by escaped slaves who also fought along the Arkansas River bank. After a day-long battle, the Confederates fell back, with Marmaduke reporting: "The Federals fought like Devils."
APPROACH ROUTES
Monroe and Thompson's Approach
(Confederate Colonels J.C. Monroe and G.W. Thompson followed this route to strike the Federal defenders of Pine Bluff from the northwest.) Start at Princeton on Hwy 9 to Hwy 48 through Carthage to Farindale then US 167 to Grant County Road 14 to Hwy 35 to Grapevine then Hwy 54 to Providence Road to Summers Road to Princeton Pike into Pine Bluff.
Newton's Approach
(Robert C. Newton's Arkansas, Missouri and Texas horsemen followed this route to strike Pine Bluff from the southeast.) Start on Hwy 35 three miles south of Staves to Hwy 212 then US 79 to Hwy 54 to Pinebergen then Hwy 15 into Pine Bluff.
Greene's Approach
(Colton Greene's Confederate cavalry rode up the Sulphur Springs Road to attack Pine Bluff from the west.) Start at Princeton on Hwy 9 to Hwy 48 through Carthage to Farindale then US 167 to Grant County Road 14 to Hwy 35 to Grapevine then Hwy 54 through Sulphur Springs to US 79 into Pine Bluff.
APPROACH ROUTES
Monroe and Thompson's Approach
(Confederate Colonels J.C. Monroe and G.W. Thompson followed this route to strike the Federal defenders of Pine Bluff from the northwest.) Start at Princeton on Hwy 9 to Hwy 48 through Carthage to Farindale then US 167 to Grant County Road 14 to Hwy 35 to Grapevine then Hwy 54 to Providence Road to Summers Road to Princeton Pike into Pine Bluff.
Newton's Approach
(Robert C. Newton's Arkansas, Missouri and Texas horsemen followed this route to strike Pine Bluff from the southeast.) Start on Hwy 35 three miles south of Staves to Hwy 212 then US 79 to Hwy 54 to Pinebergen then Hwy 15 into Pine Bluff.
Greene's Approach
(Colton Greene's Confederate cavalry rode up the Sulphur Springs Road to attack Pine Bluff from the west.) Start at Princeton on Hwy 9 to Hwy 48 through Carthage to Farindale then US 167 to Grant County Road 14 to Hwy 35 to Grapevine then Hwy 54 through Sulphur Springs to US 79 into Pine Bluff.