 Later, the town became a major service center for area planters, merchants and professionals.Following the capture of Little Rock by the Union Army in 1863, the pro-Confederate States of America state government moved the state government offices to Hot Springs for a short time, then ultimately based the state government out of Washington, making it the (rebel) state capital until 1865.Albert G. Simms (1882–1964), a United States Representative from New Mexico, was born here.