DuVall's Bluff was first occupied by the Federal army and navy (I believe) January 13th, 1863 following the Battle of Arkansas Post. While this occupation was only temporary (only about 24 hours) they destroyed most of the facilities that were of use to the Confederates. Duvall's Bluff became untenable as base of operations due to the distance after the destruction of its railroad facilities and after that was basicially abandoned, other than as a cavalry picket post like Clarendon.

Clarendon was occupied many times during the summer of 1862 and again during 1863. But its position being close to the Confederates at Pine Bluff proved to be a poor position from which to mount an attack on Little Rock without attracting a flanking counter attack on the union columns from Pine Bluff. Thus it was that the Confederate plan always was to force any attack on Little Rock to come from the Northeast by way of DuVall's Bluff.

This plan worked well for the Confederates and defeated General Steele's attempt to capture Little Rock, until Steele decided to abandon his attempt to capture Little Rock and his lines of march and communications to Duvall's Bluff and his supply lines and move across the Arkansas River with plans to go on Pine Bluff as he reestablish his supply lines with the Mississippi river and recieve reenforcements from Vicksburg per his September 1st telegraphs to the War department in the OR's.