On July 4, 1863 Drake was on the sick list with all of the other staff officers during the Battle of Helena Arkansas. Although the staff officers were too sick to take part, the regiment—led by Captain Martin Varner (CO. A) as well as company officers and non-commissioned officers—played a key role in repulsing three dismounted enemy cavalry brigades under overall command of Major General John S. Marmarmaduke, and consisting of Joseph (Jo) Shelby's "Iron Brigade," a second brigade under Colonel Colton Greene and a third brigade commanded by Brigadier General Lucius "Marsh" Walker. The rebel brigades attempted to seize Battery A--one of four huge reinforced redoubts armed with heavy siege guns along the crest of Crowley's Ridge, immediately west of the town of Helena.
On July 4, 1863, during the Battle of Helena Arkansas, Drake was among the sick staff officers. Despite their illness, the regiment, led by Captain Martin Varner (CO. A), along with company officers and non-commissioned officers, successfully repelled three dismounted enemy cavalry brigades under Major General John S. Marmarmaduke's command. These brigades included Joseph (Jo) Shelby's "Iron Brigade," another brigade commanded by Colonel Colton Greene, and a third led by Brigadier General Lucius "Marsh" Walker. The rebels attempted to capture Battery A, one of four heavily fortified redoubts with heavy siege guns on Crowley's Ridge, west of Helena town.