Important Arkansas historical events and significant anniversaries for August 14, with notable births and deaths of people with Arkansas connections for this date. Information is drawn from state archives, historical societies, contemporary newspapers and other media archives, and legal records. Much of this information comes from the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, an online publication. ChatGPH has collected this data.
1835 — Albert Pike called for an Arkansas prison. Writing in the Arkansas Advocate, Pike argued that Arkansas needed a penitentiary rather than relying primarily on corporal punishment, fines and local jails. His August 14 article became part of the debate that preceded creation of the state penitentiary after statehood.
1864 — Federal troops abandoned another effort to trap Confederate Gen. Joseph O. Shelby. After skirmishing near Searcy, Union commander Brig. Gen. Joseph R. West learned on August 14 that only Confederate stragglers remained west of the White River. He ended the expedition and began returning to Little Rock, marking the failure of another attempt to neutralize Shelby’s cavalry…