Important Arkansas historical events and significant anniversaries for March 16, 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.
1822 — Steamboat disaster at Helena. A steamboat named Thomas Jefferson reportedly struck a snag and sank at Helena (Phillips County) on March 16, 1822, one of many early river-traffic losses documented for Arkansas waterways.
1864 — Sterling Price takes command in Arkansas. During the Civil War, Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price replaced Theophilus H. Holmes as commander of Confederate forces in Arkansas on March 16, 1864, a leadership change that set the stage for the 1864 campaigns tied to the Red River/Camden operations…