Little Rock Surrenders

City of Little Rock around the time of the Civil War.

Steele’s larger army took the city by strategy, rather than by force of arms. It was impossible for Price’s small command to guard every avenue of entrance. He made the best disposal of his forces that he could, creating a line of defense at Bayou Meto, and a second one extending from Big Rock along what is now Park Hill.

But Steele, though checked at Bayou Meto, found a way around the Confederate lines. Marching swiftly down the river, he overcame a detachment sent to stop him at Ashley’s Mill, and effected a crossing on pontoons. Price withdrew to avoid capture, Mayor C.P. Bertrand surrendered the city, September 10, 1863.

The state capital had already been moved to Washington, in Hempstead county, where it remained until the war ended. It was difficult to carry on governmental functions, with half the state under federal control. To aid elections, a law was passed allowing 10 refugees to assemble in a precinct and conduct the balloting. Soldiers in camp were permitted to vote, too.

As indicating the growing disorder, with the progressive breaking down of civil authority, the legislature after assembling in Washington, extended the death penalty to about 15 crimes. They included horse stealing, burglary, and counterfeiting.

One dramatic event during Steele’s occupation of Little Rock sent a shock through the state. It was the execution of David O. Dodd, as a spy.

The boy, for he was only 17k at the time of his sad fate, was born in Texas. His family had emigrated to Arkansas when he was quite young. Living for a period in Little Rock, the family had moved to Camden, and young David had come up to the capital city to look after some business for his father. That was in the early winter of 1862 – 1864.

David was then a stoutly-built, manly lad, determined and dependable, yet full of gay boyish spirits. There was intelligence in his brown eyes, and character in his firm chin and mouth and in the set of his square shoulders. He had great fun in Little Rock over the Christmas holidays, visiting with friends and joining in the parties that not all the rigors of war had shut out of a generous people’s life.