The Battle of Cotton Plant was July 7, 1862 and about 40 miles east of the Camp Hope/Camp Nelson Area. The wounded from the battle was taken back to the Des Arc Hotel (hospital) by white topped wagons a make shift ambulance. After a few days some of the wounded were moved on to Little Rock and the make shift hospital at St. Johns College.
At this time Camp Hope/Camp Nelson was just a public campground (wagon park) on the Stagecoach Road. Although troops passed through the grounds and used the springs there as did everyone else traveling the road. Camp Hope/Camp Nelson did not have an earnest build up of troops and a permanent camp until August of 62.