helena confederate cemetery

The Confederate Cemetery is way back and up a steep little lane but once up there--- a hallowed place with several graves of Confederate soldiers. A huge monument to Gen. Claiborne, Helena, Arkansas favorite son. One cemetery spot is for six Confederate soldiers found just recently as the historical preservation folks were clearing away brush and such for restoring battery C of the Civil War battle in Helena that overlooks the city.

We went to the confederate cometary on the same day we visited fort Curtis the cemetery is very very deep into the cemetery. Keep driving and follow the signs it's at the top top top of a hill situated by itself. You can easily imagine it's the 1800s and you are visiting the graves of men who died on the battlefield but were left behind without any recognition. This little piece of the much larger cemetery explains the story of how these men should be remembered. There are signs posted around that talk about how the cometary came to be and he people who cared.

A place of reflection for these valiant men of the lost "War for Southern Independence". The most of these graves are from a battle 150 years ago. The "Battle of Helena" occurred July 4th 1863 when Confederate forces attempted to gain control of the Union stronghold at Helena. The Union forces had 3 batteries of artillery on the high ground, as well as, a gunboat controlling all traffic moving along the Mississippi River. 120+ fallen Confederate soldiers of that battle are buried here. Other Confederate soldiers, including General Cleburne were buried here later. On a personal note: My Great, Grandfather is buried here in an Unknown Confederate grave, a casualty of that 1863 battle.

Major General Patrick R. Cleburne, "Stonewall of the West", was killed in the Battle of Franklin TN, November 30, 1864, and initially buried nearby. Six years later his body was brought to Helena, his adopted home. Follow "Confederate Cemetery" signs up the hill at the north end of Maple Hill Cemetery to find the monument and the original burial headstone.

The only drawback to this Cemetery is the neighborhood. The neighborhood could be rough, especially if visited during the evening/night. Otherwise, it is a peaceful scenic drive through a well maintained cemetery with wonderful Confederate monuments and memorials. We were the only people in the cemetery on the Friday afternoon we visited, it allowed us to linger as long as we wanted. The total drive was 30 minutes, even with stops. A neat piece of Arkansas history contained here.