Starting today, the 150th Anniversary of the fall of Little Rock to Union troops, two flags will be on display for the first time in Arkansas at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History (downtown Little Rock).

The regimental flag of the (U.S.) 3rd Iowa Cavalry along with the regimental colors of the (C.S.) 37th Arkansas Infantry (captured at Helena on 4 July 1863) are both on temporary loan from the Iowa Historical Society.

The 3rd Iowa Cavalry was among the first Federal troops to enter the city, with one company of riders dispatched to take control of the Confederate arsenal which now houses the MacArthur Museum. A second company occupied the Arkansas Capitol building, now called the Old State House.

Members of the 37th Arkansas Infantry who were not captured at Helena were part of Confederate forces positioned around Little Rock until all were withdrawn once the defense of the capitol city was deemed untenable.

The flags will be only be on display through Oct 19 before returning to Iowa.