140 years ago today on May 13, 1874, a skirmish was fought between opposing units of Arkansas State Militia loyal to two opposing claimants to the officer of Governor. This event was part of the conflict known as the Brooks-Baxter War.
In the state election of 1872, Joseph Brooks represented the Liberal Republicans and Elisha Baxter represented the old Radical Republicans. In a contested election, the legislature reviewed the returns and declared Baxter the winner, but on April 12, 1874, over a year after Baxter took office, a state judge declared Brooks to be the winner. Governor Baxter was forcibly evicted from the Statehouse by Brooks and an armed group of supporters.
In the confusion that followed, both "Governors" called on the Arkansas State Militia for support, and both received it. The pro Baxter militia forces were led by former Confederate General Robert C. Newton. Pro Brooks militia forces were led by Former Union General Officer Robert Francis Catterson and former Confederate General James Fleming Fagan. Brooks maintained control of the Statehouse, and Baxter established a headquarters nearby in the Anthony House. One man was killed in fighting that erupted along Markham Street on April 16, 1874. Baxter managed to raise over 1,300 troops, while Brooks secured more than 2000 rifles for his supporters.
With orders from Washington to prevent a clash, Colonel Thomas E. Rose, commander at the Little Rock Arsenal, deployed U.S. regulars from the Sixteenth Infantry plus two pieces of artillery on Markham Street between the parties. As violence continued, Federal Troops erected a barricade along Markham Street between the warring factions to prevent further encounters.
Hostilities quickly spread to other parts of the state. Nine Brooks supporters were killed and thirty wounded in an ambush set by Baxter forces at New Gascony in Jefferson County, south of Pine Bluff. Engagements between the two sides also occurred on May 1 in Lincoln and Arkansas counties, and two days later, they fought another battle near Arkansas Post (Arkansas County), killing five more men.
On May 8, Brooks men ambushed a steamboat, the Hallie, and a company of pro-Baxter militia near Palarm Creek, south of present day Mayflower, on the Arkansas River. The boat was captured by Brooks forces but was eventually sunk by Baxter supporters.
Baxter forces occupied Argenta (present day North Little Rock) across the river from the Statehouse and kept up a steady stream of sniper fire on Brooks forces at the Statehouse. Brooks forces eventually declared that unless the sniping was stopped, they would shell the city of Argenta with the cannon present at the Statehouse.
On May 13, 1874, a four-hour skirmish was fought near the site of the present state capital. Pro-Baxter militia had arrived by steamboat from Fort Smith and they were intercepted by pro-Brooks forces. The number of casualties from this engagement is unknown.
Both sides appealed to President Ulysses S. Grant for aid and on May 15, 1874, Grant recognized Baxter as the governor and ordered all "turbulent and disorderly persons to disperse and return to their homes". By May 16, Brooks supporters disbanded and began returning home. The total number of casualties in the Brooks-Baxter War is estimated at above 200.