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This Day in Arkansas History

April 6, 1864

The Skirmishes at Arkansas River and Prairie Grove began when at least 500 Confederates crossed the Arkansas River near Fort Smith (Sebastian County). Colonel William Judson of the Union District of the Frontier claimed that they were Missourians working to disrupt agricultural efforts in the state. Union troops from the Fort Smith area engaged the Confederates that night, with six Federals being killed.

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Baring Cross Bridge; 1927

Spanning the Arkansas River in Little Rock (Pulaski County) is the Baring Cross Bridge, one of the six bridges in the downtown area. The first railroad bridge opened in 1873, named after the bridge finance company, Baring and Company, and a cross from the family coat of arms of the president of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad. In 1877, a wooden deck, which was lowered to the rail level in 1886, was built on top of the bridge for regular traffic. A portion of the bridge, as shown here, was washed away in the Flood of 1927.

 

Spanning the Arkansas River in Little Rock (Pulaski County) is the Baring Cross Bridge, one of the six bridges in the downtown area. The first railroad bridge opened in 1873, named after the bridge finance company, Baring and Company, and a cross from the family coat of arms of the president of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad. In 1877, a wooden deck, which was lowered to the rail level in 1886, was built on top of the bridge for regular traffic. A portion of the bridge, as shown here, was washed away in the Flood of 1927.

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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, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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