Battle of Brownsville, Arkansas

rdf:langString Battle of Brownsville, Arkansas

rdf:langString Battle of Brownsville, Arkansas

rdf:langString John Marmaduke

rdf:langString Washington Geiger

rdf:langString Battle of Brownsville, Arkansas

rdf:langString the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the

rdf:langString near present-day Lonoke, Arkansas

rdf:langString Union victory

rdf:langString The Battle of Brownsville was fought on August 25, 1863, near what is now Lonoke, Arkansas, between Union forces led by Colonel Washington Geiger and Confederate troops under Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke. Union forces commanded by Major General Frederick Steele were advancing from Helena, Arkansas, towards Little Rock, the state capital of Arkansas. Confederate Major General Sterling Price ordered cavalry led by Marmaduke and Brigadier General Lucius M. Walker to Brownsville in response to the Union advance. Marmaduke's men defended a forward position, while Walker's remained to the rear in some woods; the plan was for Marmaduke to draw Union troops into an ambush. However, Walker did not come to Marmaduke's aid when a Union brigade commanded by Geiger advanced. Geiger's men drove the outnumbered Confederates from their first position. Reforming, Marmaduke attempted to form another line further to the west, but retreated again after delaying the Union advance. Union troops pursued until nightfall. The campaign against Little Rock continued, and the city was taken on September 10.