Battle of Jenkins' Ferry Facts

April 30, 1864

Battle of Jenkins' Ferry facts, including dates, location, casualties, leaders, who won, and more interesting facts you might not know. This fact sheet provides a quick overview of the battle and is for kids doing research and students preparing for the AP U.S. History (APUSH) exam.

Portrait of Frederick Steele

The remnants of Major General Frederick Steele’s forces repelled repeated Confederate attacks during the Battle of Jenkins’ Ferry as they returned to Little Rock, Arkansas, at the end of the Camden Expedition. [Wikimedia Commons]

Date:

  • April 18, 1864

Location:

  • Grant County, Arkansas

Campaign:

Principal Union Commander:

  • Major General Frederick Steele
  • Brigadier General Samuel Rice

Principal Confederate Commander:

Union Forces Engaged:

  • Department of Arkansas

Confederate Forces Engaged:

  • Army of Arkansas

Estimated Union Losses:

  • 521 (63 killed, 413 wounded, and 45 missing) (incomplete reports)

Estimated Confederate Losses:

  • 443 casualties (86 killed, 356 wounded, and 1 missing) (incomplete reports)

Result:

  • Union Victory

Significant Event:

There are accounts that members of the 2nd Kansas Colored regiment shot some Confederate wounded near Rice’s line in retaliation for the murder of African-American captives at the Battle of Poison Spring and the Battle of Marks’ Mills.

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Article Title Battle of Jenkins' Ferry Facts
  • Date April 30, 1864
  • Author
  • Keywords jenkins' ferry, camden expedition, frederick steele, kirby smith, sterling price
  • Website Name American History Central
  • Access Date December 11, 2023
  • Publisher R.Squared Communications, LLC
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update August 10, 2023

Battle of Jenkins' Ferry Facts is Part of the Following on AHC