Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park

Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park preserves part of the battlefield where the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry was fought on April 30, 1864, during the final phase of the Camden Expedition. After abandoning Camden, Major General Frederick Steele's Union army reached the flooded Saline River and began crossing near the historic Jenkins ferry while Confederate forces closed in from the south.

In rain-soaked and difficult terrain, Union troops fought repeated Confederate attacks long enough for much of Steele's army and equipment to cross the river and continue toward Little Rock. The engagement was the last major battle of the Camden Expedition and brought an effective end to the Union effort in southern Arkansas. The battlefield is included among the Camden Expedition Sites designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Visitors today find a peaceful riverside state park with outdoor interpretive exhibits, historical markers, picnic areas, a pavilion, and river access. Because portions of the historic road and ferry landscape remain tied to the setting of the battle, the park offers a strong sense of place and provides a natural conclusion to a driving tour of the campaign's three Arkansas battleground state parks.