The Second Arkansas Infantry of African Descent only consisted of four companies on July 4, 1863 when they were called into line to help hold the trenches along the lower Little Rock road entering Helena from the south. Their position supported artillery and to their front was a large Freedmen’s camp consisting of many women and children. Most of their officers had not joined the still forming unit so the men loaded their weapons and waited. Soon they could see a Confederate regiment off to their right moving toward Battery D. Then Confederate cavalry approached and into the Freedmen’s settlement. Horrific cries emerged from the camp as rebel cavalrymen set fires and captured those people they could to be carried back into captivity. Although moved by these events the men of the Second held their trenches because they knew the rest of the union army was at risk if they charged out. The Battle of Helena raged all around them and shots raked their position, but the Second held. Then it was over. After four hours, the Confederate army under General Holmes retreated. The Second had several men severely wounded, but none killed. Hundreds of Confederates were dead or captured, but the Federals had won a major victory. This was all on the same day that Vicksburg fell and Gettysburg was coming to an end in Pennsylvania. The four companies of the Second would later move to Pine Bluff and Little Rock where they would join others to create a regiment. The Second was formally mustered in on September 4, 1863 and spent the winter at Little Rock as part of the city’s garrison. On March 11, 1864 the regiment received a new designation as the 54th United States Colored Infantry. Eventually the regiment was ordered west to Fort Gibson in present day Oklahoma and was engaged at the Second Battle of Cabin Creek on September 19, 1864. They would later fight in several other battles before the war ended. The 54th was then moved back to Little Rock where it would remain until being mustered out in late 1866.
