Battle of Fort Sumter
Citizens of the county supported the Secession Convention to discuss secession from the Union in 1861 by an 80% to 20% margin. The anti-immediate secession delegates negotiated a compromise to put the question on the statewide ballot in August, but to remain in the Union. Following President Abraham Lincoln's request for troops following the Battle of Fort Sumter, citizens of several counties, including Arkansas County, formed a militia and stormed Little Rock to serve the Confederate government.