Settled by the French in 1686, the remote "Post de Arkansae" was the first permanent European colony in the Mississippi River Valley and played a valuable role in the long struggle between France, Spain and England for dominance of the lucrative fur trade.

A river port located on SH 169, a mile east of the US 165 crossing on the north side of the Arkansas River. In 1686, Henri de Tonti, established a trading post along the north side of the Arkansas River, but in 1689 it fell into disuse. In 1762, France ceded the land to Spain, and the Spanish established a fort here called Fort St. Charles III. In 1803, America took control, and the site grew, becoming a busy steamboat landing, river port, and territorial capital with a population of 3500. It also had many homes, a bank, brick factory and a racetrack among its accouterments. In the late 1800s, after the railroads reached the area, the steamboat trade decreased, and the town faded. The site is a National Historic Park.

Arkansas Post became part of the United States following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. By 1819, the post was a thriving river port and the largest city in the region and selected as the first capital of the Arkansas Territory.

During the Civil War, Confederate troops tried to maintain tactical control of the confluence of the Arkansas and White Rivers, and in 1862 they constructed a massive earthen fortification known as Fort Hindman at the Post. In January 1863 Union troops destroyed the fort, ensuring control of the Arkansas River.

http://www.nps.gov/arpo/historyculture/upload/Civil%20War%20Handout.pdf

On January 11, 1863, combined forces of the United States Army and Navy attacked and captured the out-numbered Confederate garrison of Fort Hindman at Arkansas Post. 1863 - American Civil War at Arkansas Post
" A blaze of fire flashed like lightening from our line, sending three thousand bullets into the Federal ranks."

Fort Hindman ghost Photo sent to us by Rocky Burton.

Arkansas Post was founded in 1686 by Henri de Tonti at the site of a Quapaw Indian village named Osotouy near where the Arkansas River enters the Mississippi River. This place was where the first recorded Christian services occurred in Arkansas. The site became a strategic point for France, Spain, the United States, and the Confederate States at different times during its history. Late at night presences can be felt in surrounding areas from the Quapaw Indians to the stalwart defenders of Fort Hindman Ghost stories are not new to the area.

On 17 April 1783 British Colonel James Colbert conducted a raid against Spanish forces controlling Arkansas Post as part of a small campaign against the Spanish on the Mississippi River. Colbert's Raid was the only American Revolutionary War battle fought in Arkansas.

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 Arkansas Territory and became the center of commercial and political life in Arkansas. Prior to statehood the territorial capital was moved to Little Rock, Arkansas and Arkansas Post lost much of its importance.

During the American Civil War the Post became an important strategic site as it was the confluence of two major rivers. In 1862 the Confederate Army constructed a massive earthwork known as Fort Hindman named after Confederate General Thomas C. Hindman. In January 9-11 of 1863 Union forces conducted an amphibious assault on the fortress backed by ironclad gunboats and destroyed both the fort and the civilian areas of Arkansas Post.

Arkansas Post National Memorial, located about 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Gillett, Arkansas, commemorates key events that occurred on site and in the vicinity: the first semi-permanent European settlement in the Lower Mississippi Valley (1686); an American Revolutionary War skirmish (1783); the first territorial capital of Arkansas (1819–1821); and the American Civil War Battle of Fort Hindman (1863).

The former site of Arkansas Post was made into a state park 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.

The Battle of Fort Hindman

The Battle of Fort Hindman, or the Battle of Arkansas Post, was fought from January 9 to January 11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War.

The Confederate Army constructed an earthen fortification near Arkansas Post, forty-five miles downriver from Pine Bluff, to protect the Arkansas River and as a base for disrupting shipping on the Mississippi River. The fort was named Fort Hindman in honor of General Thomas C. Hindman of Arkansas. It was manned by approximately 5,000 men, primarily Texas cavalry and Arkansas infantry, in three brigades under Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Churchill.

Union Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand was an ambitious politician and had permission from President Abraham Lincoln to launch a corps-sized offensive against Vicksburg from Memphis, Tennessee, hoping for military glory (and subsequent political gain). This plan was at odds with those of Army of the Tennessee commander, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. McClernand ordered Grant's subordinate, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, to join the troops of his corps with McClernand's, calling the two corps the Army of the Mississippi, approximately 33,000 men. He launched his quest for glory on January 4 with a combined army-navy force movement on Arkansas Post, rather than Vicksburg, as he had told Lincoln (and did not bother to inform Grant or general in chief Henry W. Halleck).

Union boats began landing troops near Arkansas Post in the evening of January 9 and the troops started up river towards Fort Hindman. Sherman's corps overran Confederate trenches, and the enemy retreated to the protection of the fort and adjacent rifle-pits. Flag Officer David D. Porter, on January 10, moved his fleet towards Fort Hindman and bombarded it, withdrawing at dusk. Union artillery fired on the fort from positions across the river on January 11, effectively silencing most of the Confederate guns in the fort, and the infantry moved into position for an attack. Union ironclads commenced shelling the fort and Porter's fleet passed it to cut off any retreat. As a result of this envelopment, and the attack by McClernand's troops, the Confederate command surrendered in the afternoon, despite orders to Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Churchill that he must defend the fort at all costs.

The results of the battle were 6,547 total casualties: Union forces suffered 1,047, with 134 killed; Confederate about 5,500, almost all by surrender. Although Union losses were high and the victory did not contribute to the capture of Vicksburg, it did eliminate one more impediment to Union shipping on the Mississippi. Grant was furious at McClernand's diversion from his overall campaign strategy, ordered him back to the Mississippi, disbanded the Army of the Mississippi, and assumed personal command of the Vicksburg Campaign.

Army of the Mississippi: MG John A. McClernand
XIII Corps: BG George W. Morgan
1st Division: BG Andrew J. Smith

1st Brigade: BG Stephen G. Burbridge
2nd Brigade: Col William J. Landram
2nd Division: BG Peter J. Osterhaus

1st Brigade: Col Lionel A. Sheldon
2nd Brigade: Col Daniel W. Lindsey
3rd Brigade: Col John F. DeCourcy
XV Corps: MG William T. Sherman
1st Division: BG Frederick Steele

1st Brigade: BG Francis Preston Blair, Jr.
2nd Brigade: BG Charles E. Hovey
3rd Brigade: BG John Milton Thayer
2nd Division: BG David Stuart

1st Brigade: Col Giles A. Smith
2nd Brigade: Col Thomas K. Smith

Naval forces: Flag Officer David D. Porter
Fifty transport ships and 13 gunboats, including the USS Black Hawk, USS Lexington, USS Signal, USS New Era, USS Romeo, USS Rattler, USS Glide, and the ironclads USS Baron DeKalb, USS Louisville, USS Cincinnati, and USS Beardsley.

Confederate order of battle
Fort Hindman Garrison: BG Thomas J. Churchill
1st Brigade: Col. Robert R. Garland
2nd Brigade: Col. James Deshler
3rd Brigade: Col. John W. Dunnington

Ghost of the Battlefield

Considered one of the Ghost towns in Arkansas, rubble and/or roofless building ruins, The former site of Arkansas Post was made into a state park 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.

The sound of galloping horse has been observed by nearby residents and other locals. Many believe it is part of a time around 17 April 1783 British Colonel James Colbert conducted a raid against Spanish forces controlling Arkansas Post as part of a small campaign against the Spanish on the Mississippi River. Colbert's Raid was the only American Revolutionary War battle fought in Arkansas. And it is believed thats where this haunting originates.

During the American Civil War the Post became an important strategic site as it was the confluence of two major rivers. In 1862 the Confederate Army constructed a massive earthwork known as Fort Hindman named after Confederate General Thomas C. Hindman. In January 9-11 of 1863 Union forces conducted an amphibious assault on the fortress backed by ironclad gunboats and destroyed both the fort and the civilian areas of Arkansas Post.The smell of gunpowder and often the sounds of ghostly explosions It is thought to be a ghost from the Civil War era. Also a glowing light that flickers very rapidly bounces up and down a tree line.

It is illegal to mispronounce Arkansas while in the state. It must be pronounced "Arkansaw."

A southern version of Big Foot, called the Boggy Creek Monster, has been sighted near fort Hindman. Said to be seven feet tall and hairy all over, it kills chicken, cattle, dogs and livestock.

Here, appear the "Fort Hindman Lights," an unexplained phenomena that appears, flickers and sways in various colors. Some say they are the ghosts of lost soldiers searching for their way home.

Arkansas Post National MemorialOperating Hours & Seasons

The park grounds are open daily: 8:00 a.m. to dark. The visitor center is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The visitor center is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Fees & Reservations

Fees
There is no entrance fee to visit the park.

Individuals or groups seeking to utilize the park for commercial or special event purposes must contact the park at least 30 days prior to the event to obtain a Special Use Permit. There may be a cost associated with Special Use Permits.

Reservations
Groups planning a visit to the park should contact the park and make a reservation at least one week prior to their scheduled visit.

Reservations are not accepted for the picnic area.

 

ALSO SEE: THE TOP TEN MOST HAUNTED BATTLEFIELD LIST

Though the battles have long ago ended and the sound of cannons and muskets is but a distant memory, there are some souls who are still waiting for the call to “Retreat” – and for them, it may never come!

Make plans to visit a Haunted Battlefield today!

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