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This Day in Arkansas History

September 1, 1863

The Action at Devil’s Backbone during the Civil War was fought in Greenwood (Sebastian County) between Union and Confederate forces. The conflict lasted three hours before Union forces prevailed and Confederate soldiers retreated, leaving their dead behind. Union troops moved on to Fort Smith to take control of the fort there. The battlefield is now one of several historical attractions of Greenwood, which has boomed in recent years, more than doubling in size between 1990 and 2010.

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World's Championship Duck Calling Contest

The World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest determines the World Champion Duck Caller each Thanksgiving in Stuttgart (Arkansas County). Seventeen contestants participated in the first contest in 1936. Shown here is a young participant calling the ducks in the 1946 competition. Among the many levels of the competition today is the Junior World Championship.

 

The World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest determines the World Champion Duck Caller each Thanksgiving in Stuttgart (Arkansas County). Seventeen contestants participated in the first contest in 1936. Shown here is a young participant calling the ducks in the 1946 competition. Among the many levels of the competition today is the Junior World Championship.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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