Arkansas State Park Guide 2008 - (Page 64) Arkansas State Parks Four Parks. Four Stories. Red River Campaign Poison Spring GPS: 33° 38.3' 20.5" N / 92° 57.8' 50.2" W Marks’ Mills GPS: 33° 46.7' 47.9" N / 92° 15.3' 19.7" W Jenkins’ Ferry GPS: 34° 13.5' 34.7" N / 92° 32.9' 59.9" W Historic Washington GPS: 33° 46.4' 25.9" N / 93° 41' 2.5" W In the spring of 1864, three Civil War battles took place in south central Arkansas that were part of the Union Army’s Red River Campaign. The three state historic sites commemorating these battles—Poison Spring, Marks’ Mills, and Jenkins’ Ferry—and the 1836 Courthouse at HISTORIC WASHINGTON State Park which served as Arkansas’s Confederate capitol—comprise the Red River Campaign National Historic Landmark. The first battle occurred at POISON SPRING (April 18) when Confederate troops captured a supply train and scattered Union forces. On April 25 at MARKS’ MILLS, Confederate troops captured another supply train. With the loss of two supply trains and the onslaught of wet weather, the Union Army retreated toward Little Rock. On April 29 and 30, Union troops fought off an attack by the Confederates, and using an inflatable pontoon bridge crossed the flooded Saline River at JENKINS’ FERRY. The parks feature outdoor exhibits and picnic sites. Jenkins’ Ferry offers a pavilion (no electricity), swimming, and a launch ramp on the Saline River. Poison Spring is 10 miles west of Camden on Ark. 76; Marks’ Mills is at the junction of Hwys. 97 & 8 southeast of Fordyce; and Jenkins’ Ferry is 13 miles south of Sheridan on Ark. 46. Adjacent to El Dorado High School, this 13-acre site exhibits plants indigenous to Arkansas’s West Gulf Coastal Plain and exotic species including flowering azaleas and camellias. Operated by the South Arkansas Community College, the arboretum offers walking trails, a pavilion, restrooms, and parking. It is open daily from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. except for designated holidays. Guided tours can be arranged in advance with the college by calling: 870-862-8131, ext. 144. From Ark. 82B in El Dorado, turn north on Timberlane and go one mile. 64 A Walk in the Park South Arkansas Arboretum P Box 7010, El Dorado, AR 71731 .O. GPS: 33° 12.5' 35.9" N / 92° 41.2' 12.9" W http://www.historicwashingtonstatepark.com/ http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/poisonspring/ http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/marksmills/ http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/jenkinsferry/ http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/southarkansasarboretum/
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