During the American Civil War, Union forces left Helena, Arkansas, to move against the Confederate-held state capital of Little Rock.

Union attacks on August 27 succeeded in pushing Marmaduke's men back across the bayou, but were unable to break the Confederate line.

[5] Price responded to the Union movements by ordering cavalry commanded by Brigadier Generals Lucius M. Walker and John S. Marmaduke to gather at Brownsville, which was on the road to Little Rock.

He was aware, though, that his position was only really tenable if the Union attacked head-on, which was unlikely, as the Arkansas River could easily be crossed at many places downriver from the city.

[7] The Confederate position at Fort Smith on the Arkansas on the western side of the state was also threatened, and Price began removing stored materials from Little Rock and preparing to evacuate.

The next day, Marmaduke and Walker fell back to the far side of the Bayou Meto River, which was 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Little Rock.

[9] The action began when part of the 10th Illinois Cavalry Regiment ran into Confederate soldiers 5 miles (8 km) from the bayou.

The Illinois cavalrymen forced the Confederates to retreat for 2 miles (3 km), and then the rest of Colonel John Montgomery Glover's brigade was deployed.

[13] The historian Albert E. Castel writes that Price forfeited his best opportunity to defeat Steele by withdrawing from the Bayou Meto line.

Marmaduke fought the Battle of Bayou Fourche against Davidson that day, buying Price time to withdraw from the city, which was surrendered to the Union by its civil government at 19:00.