Battle of Arkansas Post (1863)

Battle of Arkansas Post
Part of the American Civil War
The Bombardment and Capture of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post, Ark. Jany. 11th 1863 by Currier & Ives
Date January 9–11, 1863 Location Arkansas Post, Arkansas 34°01′00″N 91°20′43″W / 34.01667°N 91.34528°W / 34.01667; -91.34528 Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
John A. McClernand David D. Porter	Thomas J. Churchill
Units involved
Army of the Mississippi Mississippi Squadron	Garrison of Fort Hindman
Strength
~30,000	~5,000
Casualties and losses
1,092	60 killed 80 wounded 4,791 captured
Arkansas Post class=notpageimage| Location within Arkansas

The Battle of Arkansas Post, also known as Battle of Fort Hindman, was fought from January 9 to 11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederate forces had constructed a fort known as Fort Hindman near Arkansas Post in late 1862. In December of that year, a Union force under the command of Major-General William T. Sherman left for an expedition against Vicksburg, without Major-General John A. McClernand because neither Major-Generals Henry Halleck nor Ulysses S. Grant trusted McClernand. After Sherman's force was repulsed at Chickasaw Bayou, McClernand arrived and took command from Sherman in January 1863.

McClernand led an expedition to capture Arkansas Post, despite disapproval from Grant. After arriving near the fort on January 9, Union infantry moved into position on January 10. A major Union naval bombardment of the Confederate fort occurred that evening. Early in the afternoon of January 11, McClernand ordered an infantry assault, which moved close to the Confederate fortifications. Having suffered through severe artillery fire, white flags of surrender began to appear above the Confederate positions around 4 or 4:30 p.m., although the garrison commander, Confederate Brigadier-General Thomas J. Churchill denied ordering the surrender. There was some confusion as the surrender occurred anyway, as one of his brigade commanders initially refused to capitulate. Grant was convinced as to the value of the movement against Arkansas Post after the fact, but reassigned McClernand to corps command.