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This Day in Arkansas History

July 6, 1864

The Skirmish at Benton took place. With the conclusion of the Camden Expedition, some Confederate units probed Federal lines around Little Rock (Pulaski County), to which Union forces responded by continuing patrols into the nearby countryside to break up possible enemy gatherings. The Skirmish at Benton resulted from one such patrol to disrupt Confederate preparations.

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Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing

Bill Moran Jr. is considered to be the father of the American Bladesmith movement and leader in the reemergence of forging Damascus steel. He began making knives as a young boy in the late 1930s, and, in 1976, he helped found the American Bladesmith Society. The Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing was founded in 1988 on the grounds of Historic Washington State Park in Hempstead County. Moran taught at least one class each year before his retirement in 2001. He is shown here (front row, with cane) with one of those classes.

 

Bill Moran Jr. is considered to be the father of the American Bladesmith movement and leader in the reemergence of forging Damascus steel. He began making knives as a young boy in the late 1930s, and, in 1976, he helped found the American Bladesmith Society. The Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing was founded in 1988 on the grounds of Historic Washington State Park in Hempstead County. Moran taught at least one class each year before his retirement in 2001. He is shown here (front row, with cane) with one of those classes.

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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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