In early May 1863, Union troops left Helena to disrupt Confederate troops and destroy supplies and forage. General John S. Marmaduke's Confederates confronted them at Taylors Creek on May 11, and after an hour-long skirmish the outnumbered Union troops fell back to the L'Anguille River. Confederate troops attacked a second Union detachment at Mount Vernon, near Forrest City, on the same day, but the Unionists fought them off. U.S. losses were 2 killed and 18 wounded, while the Confederates lost at least 5 dead and 3 injured. Tons of supplies were destroyed.