Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

August 24, 1864

The Action at Ashley’s Station took place. Confederate brigadier general Joseph Shelby and 2,000 to 2,500 men set out toward DeValls Bluff (Prairie County) with the intent to destroy the railroad between there and Brownsville. DeValls Bluff was also home to major hay-cutting operations contracted to civilians but guarded by a Federal garrison. Shelby attacked this operation, burning 3,000 bales of hay as well as destroying ten miles of railroad and inflicting 977 Union casualties. About 500 of the Union casualties were captured soldiers. Shelby lost 173 men during the action.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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