JACKSONPORT - One hundred fifty years after a Confederate captain fired shells at enemy troops at Jacksonport, the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission and the Jackson County Historical Society will dedicate a marker commemorating the event.
The dedication will be held at 4 p.m. today at the Jacksonport State Park, said Betsy Watson, president of the county’s historical society.
The event coincides with the actual date in 1862 when Capt. Joseph Fry of the Confederate Navy piloted his ship, the Maurepas, up the White River to capture or destroy Union supplies. Fry fired shells at the occupying 9th Illinois Cavalry in Jacksonport and west of town, said Mark Ballard, Jacksonport State Park superintendent.
The Northern troops did not fire back at Fry so as not to injure civilians who lived in the town, Ballard said.
Fry’s men also destroyed large amounts of cotton and sugar, which were stored at the Jackson County town.
The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Historical Marker Program intends to place markers in each of Arkansas’ 75 counties. Sixty-three markers have been approved. Commission members will work with local sponsors to ensure information on the markers is accurate, Ballard said.
Those seeking more information about today’s event can call Ballard at the state park at (870) 523-2143 or e-mail him at mark.ballard@ arkansas.gov.
Arkansas, Pages 15 on 06/02/2013