Ku sii qor faqradan - Burburkii Vicksburg July 4, 1863 waxaa xoraysay ciidamo Federaal ah oo ku filan in ay isku dayaan qabsashada Little Rock. Bishii Agoosto 1863, Major General Frederick Steele wuxuu ku soo ururiyey laba qeyb oo ciidamada lugta ah Helena, Arkansas halka Brigadier General John Wynn Davidson uu u dhaqaaqay koonfurta Missouri isagoo wata qeybta fardaha 6,000 oo nin. Bishii Ogosto 18, Steele wuxuu isku daray 13,000 oo askari (oo dhowaan lagu xoojiyay 14,500) iyo 57 xabbo oo qoryaha ah ayaa gaadhay DeValls Bluff. Major General Sterling Price oo ka tirsan ciidamada Confederate-ka ayaa difaacay Little Rock isaga oo wata 7,749 askari. Ka dib markii ciidankii fardooleyda ee Davidson ay ka gudbeen webiga Arkansas ayna ka adkaadeen ciidankii fardooleyda ee Confederate-ka dagaalkii Bayou Fourche
Bishii Sebtember 10, 1863, Price ayaa ka tagay Little Rock ciidamada Steele ayaana gudaha u galay magaalada.