Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

October 21, 1861

Howell A. “Doc” Rayburn joined the Confederate army when he enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Texas Cavalry. The regiment moved to Des Arc (Prairie County) in March 1862 and prepared to board steamers that were to carry them to Mississippi. When the regiment departed, they left Rayburn behind with a fever. In 1863, after a long recovery from his illness, he began recruiting local youths to form a guerrilla band. For the next two years, Rayburn and his band were a nuisance to Union military authorities, attacking scouting and foraging parties. In at least one such attack near West Point, Rayburn’s men donned Union uniforms and took their enemy by surprise. Numerous expeditions were mounted to capture Rayburn, but none were successful.

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German POW Camp

During World War II, in an attempt to alleviate the overcrowding of prisoner-of-war camps in Great Britain, more than 400,000 German and Italian prisoners were sent to 500 camps located in the southern and southwestern parts of the United States. Approximately 23,000 prisoners were sent to Arkansas, housed in three main camps located in Pulaski, Sebastian, and Chicot counties. An additional thirty branch camps, such as this one near Murfreesboro (Pike County), were operated in the state. By the summer of 1946, the camps were dismantled and the prisoners released and sent home.

 

During World War II, in an attempt to alleviate the overcrowding of prisoner-of-war camps in Great Britain, more than 400,000 German and Italian prisoners were sent to 500 camps located in the southern and southwestern parts of the United States. Approximately 23,000 prisoners were sent to Arkansas, housed in three main camps located in Pulaski, Sebastian, and Chicot counties. An additional thirty branch camps, such as this one near Murfreesboro (Pike County), were operated in the state. By the summer of 1946, the camps were dismantled and the prisoners released and sent home.

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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, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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