The Battle of Palarm (Brooks-Baxter War)

The origins of the Brooks-Baxter War, and subsequently the Battle of Palarm, has its roots in the election of 1872. In this specific election the seat for governor was on the ballot for Arkansans to vote on. During this time the Republican party in Arkansas split into two factions: the Minstrels and the Brindletails. Joseph Brooks ran under the title of a Reform Republican (also known as Liberal Republican), which meant he wanted to reduce taxes, stop the discrimination against former Confederates, and limit the power of governor. Those who supported him were known as Brindletails. Elisha Baxter, on the other hand, was more of a classic Republican, and wanted to support more of the Republican party on the national level. Those who supported Baxter were known as Minstrels.

The election was marked by great turmoil and chaos: including allegations of voter fraud. Baxter and his supporters were accused of controlling much of the election process and declaring Baxter the winner instead of Brooks. As a result, Brooks and his supporters appealed the election and refused to accept the results for the next year and a half. At the beginning of April 1874, the Pulaski County Circuit Court finally ruled in Brooks’ favor and issued a writ that gave him the position of governor. Upon hearing the news, Brooks stormed the State House with armed men and demanded Baxter leave immediately. This day started the downward spiral of the Brooks-Baxter War.

During the brief duration of the war the whole region of Central Arkansas was subjected to the effects of the constant attacks of each side. The groups fought from counties like Pulaski and Lonoke all the way to Washington County. One of the last skirmishes occurred in Faulkner County, next to Pulaski County, right on the Arkansas River. Hallie was a service steamboat that sailed up and down the Arkansas River. In early May one of Baxter’s generals ordered Hallie to sail upriver from Little Rock to stop a shipment of Brooks’ weapons sailing down from Washington County. However, Brooks’ forces learned of this plan and sent over two hundred men to wait and take position at Palarm Creek, right on the banks of the Arkansas River. The Battle of Palarm started when each side opened fire on the other, killing and wounded several men. 

Just a few days after the Battle of Palarm took place the steamboat Hallie sank in the Arkansas River due to one last raid by supporters of Baxter. Additionally, President Ulysses S. Grant ended the war when he issued his support for Elisha Baxter to be the governor, and on May 19 Baxter returned to the State House. The two year long issue was finally put to rest. The Brooks-Baxter War and the Battle of Palarm are representative of the era of Reconstruction in Arkansas and the turmoil that plagued Arkansas politically after the Civil War. The Battle of Palarm is an important event in Arkansas history and contributed to the Reconstruction Era ending in the state.

Christ, Mark K. "Battle of Palarm." Encyclopedia of Arkansas, June 20 2019. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/battle-of-palarm-reconstruction-13555/.

Christ, Mark K. "Hallie [Steamboat]." Encyclopedia of Arkansas, November 12 2019. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/hallie-steamboat-14578/.

Moneyhon, Carl H. "Brooks-Baxter War." Encyclopedia of Arkansas, January 10 2019. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/Brooks-Baxter-War-2276/.

"The Second Fight." Arkansas Gazette, May 9 1874. P. 1. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/media/article-about-the-steamboat-hallie-14506/