June 1, 1864

Federal officials arrested composer Ferdinand Zellner and several other residents at his boarding house. They were taken to the Gratiot Street Military Prison and charged with being members of a secret society plotting the secession of Missouri. He was later released. Zellner lived in Fayetteville (Washington County) from 1852 until 1863 and wrote a piece of music called the “Fayetteville Polka,” which is believed to be the first Arkansas composition to be published as sheet music.