Arkansas Post National Memorial
Encyclopedia
Arkansas Post National Memorial, located about 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Gillett, Arkansas
, commemorates key events related to European-American history that occurred on site and in the vicinity: the trading post was the first successful French
(and European) settlement in the Lower Mississippi River
Valley (1686); site of an American Revolutionary War
era skirmish (1783); the first territorial capital of Arkansas (1819–1821); and site of the American Civil War Battle of Fort Hindman
(1863).
Arkansas Post was founded in 1686 by Henri de Tonti
as a trading post at the site of a Quapaw
Indian village named Osotouy, near where the Arkansas River
enters the Mississippi River
. There the French conducted the first documented Christian services in present-day Arkansas. The site became a strategic point for France
, Spain
, the United States
, and the Confederate States at different times during its history. During its time as a trading post there were three known locations and possibly a fourth as the area was prone to flooding.
On 17 April 1783, Indian trader James Colbert
conducted a raid against Spanish
forces controlling Arkansas Post, as part of a small campaign against the Spanish on the Mississippi River
.
In 1803 Arkansas Post became a part of the United States
as part of the Louisiana Purchase
. The post was selected as the first capital of the new Arkansas Territory, and became the center of commercial and political life in Arkansas. When the territorial capital was moved in 1821 to Little Rock
, Arkansas Post lost much of its importance.
During the American Civil War
, the Post was an important strategic site, as it was at the confluence of two major rivers. In 1862, the Confederate Army constructed a massive defensive earthwork
known as Fort Hindman, named after Confederate General Thomas C. Hindman
. It was located on a bluff 25 feet above the river on the north bank, with a mile view up and downriver. It was designed to prevent Union forces from going upriver to Little Rock, and to disrupt Union movement on the Mississippi. On January 9–11 of 1863, Union forces conducted an amphibious assault on the fortress
backed by ironclad gunboats. They destroyed both the fort and the civilian areas of Arkansas Post.
in 1929. It is located on a peninsula in the Arkansas River in Arkansas County
. On July 6, 1960 the site was designated a National Memorial
, and a National Historic Landmark
on October 9, 1960.,,
As with all National Historic Landmarks, Arkansas Post was administratively listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on October 15, 1966.
It is located at 1741 Old Post Road, in Gillett, Arkansas
.
Battle of Fort Hindman
Gillett, Arkansas
Gillett is a city in Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 819 at the 2000 census. Gillett is the home of the annual Gillett Coon Supper. The Arkansas Post National Memorial is located southeast of the town....
, commemorates key events related to European-American history that occurred on site and in the vicinity: the trading post was the first successful French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
(and European) settlement in the Lower Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
Valley (1686); site of an American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
era skirmish (1783); the first territorial capital of Arkansas (1819–1821); and site of the American Civil War Battle of Fort Hindman
Battle of Fort Hindman
The Battle of Fort Hindman, or the Battle of Arkansas Post, was fought January 9–11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War.-Background:...
(1863).
History
Henri de Tonti
Henri de Tonti was an Italian-born soldier, explorer, and fur trader in the service of France.-Early life:Henri de Tonti, a Sicilian, was mostly likely born near Gaeta, Italy in either 1649 or 1650. He was the son of Lorenzo de Tonti, a financier and former governor of Gaeta...
as a trading post at the site of a Quapaw
Quapaw
The Quapaw people are a tribe of Native Americans who historically resided on the west side of the Mississippi River in what is now the state of Arkansas.They are federally recognized as the Quapaw Tribe of Indians.-Government:...
Indian village named Osotouy, near where the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
enters the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. There the French conducted the first documented Christian services in present-day Arkansas. The site became a strategic point for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the Confederate States at different times during its history. During its time as a trading post there were three known locations and possibly a fourth as the area was prone to flooding.
On 17 April 1783, Indian trader James Colbert
James Colbert
James Colbert was an Irish politician and farmer. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála for the Limerick constituency at the 1923 general election. He did not take his seat in the 4th Dáil due to Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy. He was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD at...
conducted a raid against Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
forces controlling Arkansas Post, as part of a small campaign against the Spanish on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
In 1803 Arkansas Post became a part of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as part of the Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...
. The post was selected as the first capital of the new Arkansas Territory, and became the center of commercial and political life in Arkansas. When the territorial capital was moved in 1821 to Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, Arkansas Post lost much of its importance.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the Post was an important strategic site, as it was at the confluence of two major rivers. In 1862, the Confederate Army constructed a massive defensive earthwork
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
known as Fort Hindman, named after Confederate General Thomas C. Hindman
Thomas C. Hindman
Thomas Carmichael Hindman, Jr. was a lawyer, United States Representative from the 1st Congressional District of Arkansas, and a Major General in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War....
. It was located on a bluff 25 feet above the river on the north bank, with a mile view up and downriver. It was designed to prevent Union forces from going upriver to Little Rock, and to disrupt Union movement on the Mississippi. On January 9–11 of 1863, Union forces conducted an amphibious assault on the fortress
Battle of Fort Hindman
The Battle of Fort Hindman, or the Battle of Arkansas Post, was fought January 9–11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War.-Background:...
backed by ironclad gunboats. They destroyed both the fort and the civilian areas of Arkansas Post.
Administrative history
The former site of Arkansas Post was made into a state parkState park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in 1929. It is located on a peninsula in the Arkansas River in Arkansas County
Arkansas County, Arkansas
Arkansas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 19,019. The county has two county seats, De Witt and Stuttgart...
. On July 6, 1960 the site was designated a National Memorial
National Memorial
National Memorial is a designation in the United States for a protected area that memorializes a historic person or event. National memorials are authorized by the United States Congress...
, and a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
on October 9, 1960.,,
As with all National Historic Landmarks, Arkansas Post was administratively listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on October 15, 1966.
It is located at 1741 Old Post Road, in Gillett, Arkansas
Gillett, Arkansas
Gillett is a city in Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 819 at the 2000 census. Gillett is the home of the annual Gillett Coon Supper. The Arkansas Post National Memorial is located southeast of the town....
.
External links
- Arkansas Post Museum, at Arkansas State Parks
- Official NPS website: Arkansas Post National Memorial
Battle of Fort Hindman
Battle of Fort Hindman
The Battle of Fort Hindman, or the Battle of Arkansas Post, was fought January 9–11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War.-Background:...