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Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas
This Day in Arkansas History
August 9, 1861
Benjamin Mayberry Prentiss was promoted to brigadier general in the Union army and was ordered to take command of an area in northern Missouri. Prentiss most notably served as the Federal commander at the 1863 Battle of Helena. After his successful defense of Helena (Phillips County), Prentiss was not given a new command when Federal forces in the Mississippi River Valley reorganized that autumn. Ordered to report to Washington DC to await an assignment, he instead resigned his commission.
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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.
Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics, and more!
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