Confederate General Theophilus Holmes sought to retake Helena, a pocket of Union control in Arkansas, but his attack failed and ended in a decisive Union victory. Before dawn on Independence Day, a signal gun at Fort Curtis announced the Confederate advance against strong Union defenses that included Fort Curtis, Batteries A, B, C, and D on Crowley's Ridge, and the gunboat U.S.S. Tyler on the Mississippi River. Holmes ordered an attack at daylight, and at first light General James F. Fagan's Arkansas Brigade climbed toward Battery D, but felled trees, heat, and fierce Union resistance stopped the assault by midmorning. General John S. Marmaduke's artillery struck the Federal line while his men attacked Battery A, yet difficult terrain and stubborn Union defense halted that attack as well. After the attacks on Batteries A and D had already failed, General Sterling Price attacked Battery C. Tyler and Fort Curtis drove Price's Confederates back twice, but after three costly assaults they captured Battery C. As Battery B and the U.S.S. Tyler blasted Battery C, Confederate infantry charged down the slope and attacked Fort Curtis, but the assault collapsed. By noon the battle was over, and the Confederates, hindered by miscommunication, lack of information, rugged terrain, felled trees, heat, and determined Union resistance, retreated after gathering their wounded and falling back to the Alan Polk plantation.
