Marks Mill & Marks Barnett Cemetery

On April 24, 1864, a Civil war battle occurred in the area of the Camden, Pine Bluff and Mount Elba Roads in Cleveland County. (Presently, near the junction of highways 8 and 97 east of Fordyce). The site was near the John Harvie Marks plantation. Marks and his father-in-law, Nathaniel Barnett had come to Arkansas on an exploratory expedition in 1834, and bought land that composed three counties-Union, Dorsey (now Cleveland), and Bradley. Both built homes and operated large plantations. Marks home has since been destroyed by fire, but Barnetts home built in 1834 still stands.

General Steele's troops had been defeated at the Battle of Poison Springs and a large Union supply train had left Camden on its return to Pine Bluff. The train was camped outside Mark's home, where they took possession of the yard and intended to strip the place. The train included 240 government wagons guarded by 240 calvarymen and four pieces of artillery, and about 1600 men, not including the First Iowa Calvary which was not in the battle. About 9:30 a.m. the Confederates attacked the wagon train, in a battle that lasted five hours. They successfully subdued the two lead Union regiments, the rear guard, and scattered the 500 veterans of the 1st Iowa who were returning home on furlough. Union losses were estimated at 1300, with the majority being captured. Southern losses were less than 500 of the 2500 Confederates, including those wounded. The visitors found themselves with their spoils, the entire train of 1500 horses and mules, private vehicles, ambulances, four guns, and valuable official reports about Steel's army.

A marker, which is placed by the Department of Parks & Tourism, is at the junction of highways 8 and 97. The Marks and Barnett families have formed an association and have done extensive work to mark the historical area around the site of the Marks plantation and the site of the family cemetery. The homesite is marked as well as the old Camden-Pine Bluff Road and the road to Moro Bay. Near the cemetery, where Barnett's body lies under a slab of marble imported form Italy in 1855, are picnic pavillions and antique equipment and implements. The family has blazed a nature trail between the cemetery and the site of a springhouse. Each year on the third weekend in July, the descendants have a reunion at the site, where a pig is roasted overnight (the old time way) in a pit, while the family members make music and dance the night away. July 2001, will be the 125th consecutive reunion.

The City of Fordyce
101 S. Main Street
Fordyce, AR 71742
(870) 352-2198
(870) 352-8610 ( fax)
E-mail: cityoffordyce@alltel.net