Helena , a town and the capital of Phillips co., Arkansas, on the right bank of the Mississippi river, about 100 m. E. by S. of Little Rock, and 80 m. helow Memphis, Tenn.; pop. in 1870, 2,249, of whom 1,109 were colored. It is the terminus of the Arkansas Central, the Helena and Iron Mountain, and the Mobile and Northwestern railroads, is rapidly improving, and is an important commercial point. It contains a court house, a jail, two daily and three weekly newspapers, four schools, and seven churches. - In the summer of 1863 Helena was held by a Union force of about 4,000, commanded by Gen. Prentiss, strongly intrenched, the river also being commanded by a gunboat. On July 4 an unsuccessful attempt to seize the place was made by a confederate force of about 7,600, under Gen. Holmes. The confederate loss in the engagement was officially reported as 173 killed, 687 wounded, and 776 missing, in all 1,636; but Gen. Prentiss reported that he had buried 300 confederate dead and made 1,100 prisoners. The entire loss of the Union force did not exceed 250 in killed and wounded, with no prisoners.

Helena #1

Helena , a town and the capital of Lewis and Clarke co., Montana, on the W. side of the valley of Prickly Pear and Ten Mile creeks, at the foot of the Rocky mountains, 15 m. W. of the Missouri river, and 110 m. N. of Virginia City; lat. 46° 35' 36" N., Ion. 111° 52' 45" W.; pop. in 1870, 3,106, of whom G41 were Chinese. It is the largest town of the territory, and is connected by stage with Virginia City and Corinne, Utah, on the Central Pacific railroad, 445 m. S. It is chiefly supported by the rich quartz and placer gold mines in the vicinity. The neighboring mountains are covered with forests of pine and fir, which supply several saw mills. The streams and mountain springs furnish abundant water. About 4 m. N. W. of the town are medicinal hot springs. A large portion of the buildings are constructed of brick, granite, and blue limestone, obtained in the vicinity. The town contains a court house, jail, almshouse, masonic hall, and the offices of the United States surveyor general, register and receiver of lands, collector of customs, and marshal.

There are 3 cabinet factories, 2 carriage factories, 1 foundery, 3 assay offices, 4 breweries, 1 distillery, 5 bakeries, 4 hotels, 2 national banks with a capital of $200,000, about GO stores, 4 schools, 2 daily and weekly newspapers, 6 religious societies, and 3 churches. Helena was settled in 1864. It has been visited by several conflagrations, the last and most destructive of which occurred Jan. 9, 1874.