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This Day in Arkansas History

February 19, 1863

During the Civil War, the small town of Hopefield was burned by Union soldiers to counteract a local Confederate insurgency. The decision to burn the town had its roots in events initiated early the previous month, when, under orders from Trans-Mississippi Department commander Lieutenant General Theophilus H. Holmes, Captain James H. McGehee led his unattached company of Arkansas cavalry on an extended raid through Crittenden County with orders to scout the region, burn all cotton deemed vulnerable to capture, and generally annoy the Union enemy along the Mississippi River.

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Floyd Cramer

Born in Louisiana and raised in Huttig (Union County), piano player Floyd Cramer is credited with being one of the creators of the country music style known as the Nashville Sound. During his career, Cramer released fifty solo albums of instrumental music but is probably best known for his 1960 hit “Last Date.” Cramer, who died in 1997, is considered by many to be the most important pianist in the history of country music. He was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003.

 

Born in Louisiana and raised in Huttig (Union County), piano player Floyd Cramer is credited with being one of the creators of the country music style known as the Nashville Sound. During his career, Cramer released fifty solo albums of instrumental music but is probably best known for his 1960 hit “Last Date.” Cramer, who died in 1997, is considered by many to be the most important pianist in the history of country music. He was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003.

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African-American woman wearing dark colored dress with double strain shell necklace Daisy Lee Gatson Bates School Segregation and Desegregation, World War II to Faubus Era White woman talking to a group of Cuban men standing and sitting under a tree Cuban Refugee Crisis Modern Era White woman with black and white outfit and heavy eye makeup sitting at a wooden table holding a silver Fender Telecaster guitar Lucinda Williams Folk Hand drawn red yellow and black "KAAY 1090 Beaker Street" flyer with a bearded man holding radio vinyl records and ringed planet on it KAAY Radio steam ship with canons at the ready on river Steamboats Ships and Vessels Portrait middle aged white male seated smiling pin stripe suit tie curtains Arkansas flag behind Frank Durward White Governors White man smiling in judge's robe Thomas Arthur Glaze Judges White man in suit sitting at desk in House chamber talking to young white man Arkansas Boys State Educational Organizations and Programs Book cover "My Life Bill Clinton" with portrait white man with graying hair smiling wool jacket collar upturned Bill Clinton Executive Branch, Governors Group of white men and women sitting at tables with water bottles in large room with flag and brick wall behind them Arkansas Historical Association Historians and Historic Organizations Single-story brick house with carport and wheelchair ramp L. C. and Daisy Bates Museum Museums and Historic Sites, School Desegregation three black men and black woman looking off in the distance National Black Political Convention Modern Era airplane hangar labeled "Drake Field Fayetteville" with military airplane and helicopter Museums Educational Organizations and Programs, Museums and Historic Sites African-American woman with short hair in dress Mame Stewart Josenberger Business Leaders, Early Twentieth Century Airport buildings and hangar with town in the background Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport Air Three-story building with central tower and grounds with fence and power lines Henderson State University Four-Year: Colleges and Universities

About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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