After threatening Little Rock, the Union Army of the Southwest marched east toward Helena. On July 7, 1862, three miles north of here, around 1,000 Confederates of the 12th and 16th Texas Cavalry attacked Union soldiers protecting the main force after crossing the Cache River. The Texans fought around 600 troops from the 11th Wisconsin and 33rd Illinois Infantry for hours before Union reinforcements drove them from Parley Hills plantation. Union losses were 6 killed and 57 wounded. The Confederates lost 245 men, with at least 123 dead.