Civil War Officer Selfridge Commands Arkansas River Patrol Leading to Town Destruction

Several articles highlight pivotal moments and artifacts from American military history. Thomas O. Selfridge Jr., a U.S. Navy officer during the Civil War, played a significant role in naval operations around Arkansas, including commanding early ironclads and contributing to Union assaults on Confederate positions along the Mississippi River. The Whitney Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket, produced just before the Civil War, became a symbol of pre-war tensions as many were captured by Confederate sympathizers and used in early conflicts like the Baltimore riots. Additionally, flintlock rifles from the American Revolution are featured in a museum exhibit, illustrating their dual role as both practical weapons and symbols of colonial resolve in battles such as Kings Mountain and Cowpens. These historical narratives collectively underscore the evolution of American military technology and strategy from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War era, reflecting broader social and political struggles of their times.