Battle of Helena

Dates:

July 4, 1863

Other Names:

None

Location:

Helena, Arkansas

Key Individuals Involved in the Battle of Helena:

Union: Major General Benjamin Prentiss
Confederate: Lieutenant General Theophilus H. Holmes

Outcome:

Union Victory. 1,842 casualties of which 1,636 were Confederate soldiers.

Overview of the Battle :

Lt. Gen. Theophilus Holmes’s troops attacked Helena in an attempt to relieve pressure on Vicksburg. Although the Rebels had more troops and did initially capture some of the fortifications, the Union forces repelled them. Thus, Helena continued as an important Union enclave in the Trans-Mississippi theater and served as a base for the expedition that captured Little Rock..
Source: CWSAC Battle Summaries