Battle of Bayou Meto

The Battle of Bayou Meto (August 27, 1863), also known as the Battle of Reed's Bridge, was fought in Pulaski County, Arkansas, during the American Civil War.

Battle of Bayou Meto
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the
American Civil War
DateAugust 27, 1863 (1863-08-27)
Location
Pulaski County, Arkansas
Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
 Confederate States  United States
Commanders and leaders
John Marmaduke John Davidson
Units involved
Marmaduke's cavalry division, District of Arkansas Cavalry Division, Steele's Expeditionary Force
Casualties and losses
45 total
7 killed
38 wounded		 Unknown
Map of Bayou Meto Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program

Battle

On August 27, Union forces commanded by John Davidson attacked an entrenched Confederate position north east of the Bayou Meto. The Union attack successfully dislodged the Confederate forces from their initial positions. The Confederate forces retreated across the Bayou Meto, burned Reed's Bridge, and repulsed Union attempts to cross the stream. The battle continued as an artillery duel until nightfall, at which point the Union forces retreated. Bayou Meto was the last successful Confederate opposition to the Union Advance on Little Rock. After Bayou Meto, General Frederick Steele decided to advance on Little Rock from the south-east, leading to the Battle of Bayou Fourche on September 10 and the fall of Little Rock.

Aftermath

After the battle and as the culmination of previous disagreements, Confederate commander John Marmaduke asked to be removed from General Lucius Walker's command under threat of resignation. Thereafter, Walker challenged Marmaduke to a duel in which Walker was mortally wounded. The core part of the Bayou Meto Battlefield is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; part of it is preserved as the Reed's Bridge Battlefield Heritage Park.

See also

References

Further reading
  • National Park Service. "Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report: State of Arkansas" (PDF).
  • National Park Service. "Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields: State of Arkansas, Arkansas Post to Devils Backbone" (PDF).

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