Ah, yes, it’s that time again. The fergit-hell crowd is ready for a double-barreled memorial to the traitorous Arkansan hanged for spying on Union forces in Little Rock back in the day. A loving advance article appeared today in the Lost Cause’s newspaper of record. More coverage is surely to come in the days ahead.

There’ll be no trooping to cemeteries or memorial services for William J. Franks, though he’s more deserving than the criminal “boy martyr,” David O. Dodd. Franks entered the Navy at DeValls Bluff in 1864, on the side of the Union. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for bringing a howitzer to defend Yazoo City, Miss. Despite fierce rebel attacks, he and his crew were never driven from the cannon.

Advertisement

Check out a few more men with Arkansas ties who don’t receive the turncoat’s annual canonization. And read on for a yet another Arkansan more deserving than the little spy.

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article What we’re reading Next article Bush by the numbers