The Battle of Pine Bluff was fought on October 25, 1863, between Union and Confederate forces in Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...

. Union troops under Colonel Powell Clayton

Powell Clayton

Powell Clayton was an engineer, a Union Army general in the American Civil War, the first Reconstruction Governor of the State of Arkansas, and Ambassador to Mexico during the administrations of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.-Early life:Clayton was born in Bethel, Pennsylvania, to John...

, having taken Pine Bluff

Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Pine Bluff is the largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area...

 on September 17, remained in the town with the 5th Kansas Cavalry

5th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry

The 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 5th Kansas Cavalry was organized at Leavenworth, Kansas from July 12, 1861 through January 22, 1862. Companies L and M were organized April through July 1862. ...

 and the 1st Indiana Cavalry. The Confederates, led by John S. Marmaduke

John S. Marmaduke

John Sappington Marmaduke was a career military man and a West Point graduate. He is known for his service as a Confederate Major general during the American Civil War...

, attempted to retake the town by attacking from three sides. The Union garrison, supported by 300 recently freed slaves, set up barricades in the courthouse square using cotton bales, along with nine cannons. Marmaduke made several attacks on the square but was unsuccessful.