Battle of Massard Prairie Anniversary is Monday

Monday, July 27th, is the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Massard Prairie, Arkansas.

Fought on a broad prairie that was then on the outskirts of the important western Arkansas city of Fort Smith, the battle involved one of the last great open field cavalry charges in American history. It also marked one of the few occasions during the war that Union soldiers were documented as having scalped and mutilated Confederate dead.

The battle took place when a large Confederate force commanded by Brigadier General Richard L. Gano, who previously had served as an officer under the noted Southern cavalry leader John Hunt Morgan, stormed down from today's Fianna Hills ridge and swept across the open ground of Massard Prairie. The dramatic open field charge caught a full battalion of the 6th Kansas Cavalry and several companies of Union cavalry from Arkansas completely by surprise.

The Arkansas Feds, as they were called then, fled precipitately ahead of Gano's charge, but the troopers of the 6th Kansas tried to make a stand. Quickly surrounded, they bolted to the north in a dramatic effort to escape. The fight continued for nearly two miles across the open prairie before the main body of the Union troops surrendered. Virtually an entire battalion from the 6th Kansas Cavalry was captured, killed, wounded or scattered.

I'll take a closer look at some of the more interesting aspects of the battle over the next couple of days, but if you would like to read more, please consider my book The Battle of Massard Prairie. You can also order at www.amazon.com or learn more about the battle by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/massardindex.

If you are in the area, this weekend would be a great time to take a few minutes and walk the battlefield at Massard Prairie Battlefield Park, located near the intersection of Morgan and Red Pine in Fort Smith.

Battle of Arkansas Post - Part Seven

When the smoke cleared, Fort Hindman was wrecked. Union troops spend the next several days demolishing what remained of the fort. The site, shown here, has since been submerged by the waters of Post Bend.

Union losses in the battle were estimated at 134 killed, 898 wounded and 29 missing. Confederate losses were in the range of 60 killed, 80 wounded and 4,791 captured.

In addition, Union artillery fire had set what remained of the town of Arkansas Post aflame. Even the hospital was struck by shells and burned to the ground.

On January 12th, the prisoners were loaded on transports and sent off to Northern prison camps. It was the largest haul of Southern troops captured by U.S. forces west of the Mississippi during the entire Civil War.

McClernand proposed a movement on up the Arkansas River to Little Rock in the days after the victory at Arkansas Post, despite the fact that his campaign was supposed to be moving against Vicksburg and not Arkansas. General Grant, however, quickly brought any such ideas to an end and ordered the troops to return to the Mississippi River in anticipation of his Vicksburg Campaign.

Although Fort Hindman itself has long since disappeared beneath the water of Post Bend, the areas of the heaviest ground fighting can still be seen. The barely visible line of the Confederate breastworks winds through the woods of Arkansas Post National Memorial and can be accessed via a short paved walkway. The site of the old town itself has also been preserved and interpretive signs point out the original locations of buildings, including the old bank building or hospital destroyed in the battle.

The Visitor Center at the park offers outstanding museum displays that include a model of Fort Hindman, details on the history of the site and artifacts from the battle as well as other eras of the post's occupation. Among the more fascinating items on display is the original flag of the Austin Rifles, also known as the Travis Rifles, a Texas unit that fought at the Battle of Arkansas Post as Company C, 6th Texas Infantry. The flag was captured in action by Corporal Ira B. Whitney of the 127th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

For more information on Arkansas Post National Memorial and its rich history, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/arkansaspost.

Battle of Arkansas Post - Part Six

The morning of January 11, 1863, found the Confederate forces concentrated in a line stretching across the peninsula from Fort Hindman to Post Bayou.

Time has softened the traces of war at Arkansas Post National Memorial. The Southern rifle pits, seen here, are barely visible today, even on the ground at the site. This photograph was taken standing directly on top of them and they run away from the camera through the middle of this photo, but have been so weathered by more than 100 years of rain and wind that they are all but gone.

After getting his force organized, McClernand moved up against the Confederate infantry line and a sharp battle erupted. At the same time, Admiral Porter resumed his attack against Fort Hindman with help from Federal land artillery landed on the opposite bank of the river.

After three hours of tremendous bombardment, the Federals finally achieved their goal of silencing the guns of the fort. McClernand then prepared for his final assault on the Southern breastworks. The two forces had been heavily engaged on the left flank of the Confederate line and the fighting had spread to points all along the breastworks, with the Texas troops in particular fiercely resisting and inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking Union soldiers.

As McClernand prepared to launch a final assault, however, white flags began to appear in spots along the Confederate line. The surrender remains controversial to this day. General Churchill denied that he had authorized it and many of the Texans were outraged, wanting to fight on. The Union troops had occupied sections of the line, however, and there was nothing Churchill or his men could do to alter the outcome. The Battle of Arkansas Post was over.

Our series will continue. To learn more about Arkansas Post National Memorial before the next post, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/arkansaspost.

Battle of Arkansas Post - Gillett, Arkansas

Next weekend will mark the 146th anniversary of the 1863 Civil War engagement remembered today as the Battle of Arkansas Post.

A preliminary episode to Grant's Vicksburg Campaign, the battle was controversial even in its day. A massive Union force turned west from the Mississippi River to assault the Confederate post of Fort Hindman or Arkansas Post on the Arkansas River. The two day battle was fierce and involved both land and naval forces.

Beginning with the next post, I will begin a series retracing the history of this significant battle in the Arkansas Delta. Be sure to check back over coming days for the latest posts. In the meantime, you can always learn more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/arkansaspost.

Battle of Prairie Grove Anniversary Events

Events commemorating both the 146th Anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the battlefield park will begin tomorrow (Friday) at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park.

The park is located on U.S. Highway 62 only about 10 miles southwest of I-565 at Fayetteville.

Admission to the park, reenactments and other events will be free for the weekend, but there will be a $4 parking fee for all vehicles.

Here is the official release from the park outlining times and events:

Prairie Grove Battlefield Historic State Park will host the 2008 Battle of Prairie Grove Reenactment Special Event on December 6th and 7th, with approximately one thousand living historians on hand to interpret the life of soldiers and civilians during the Civil War. On December 7, 1862, about 22,000 soldiers fought an all-day battle at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, with casualties reaching 2,700. Everyone is invited to see the battle demonstration each day at 1:00 p.m., held on the actual battlefield near the historic Borden House. During the reenactment weekend there will be many activities, including guided tours through the Union, Confederate, and civilian camps, various military drills, cooking, spinning and lace making demonstrations, along with other living history programs. “Sutlers Row” will feature a number of vendors selling 19th century reproductions, books and other supplies throughout the weekend. Prairie Grove Boy Scout Troop #48 will have concession stands in the park. There is a cost of $4.00 for parking.

146th anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove will be celebrated with the unveiling of a new original oil painting by Andy Thomas, who will be onsite to sign limited edition prints of the painting. The unveiling will take place at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 6th, during the Battle Re-enactment This is the second painting of the Battle of Prairie Grove; “They came like demons” is set on the western side of the battlefield at the Morton House with an emphasis on the Confederate troops. The first painting focused on the eastern side of the battlefield at the Borden House with an emphasis on the Union troops.

The battle demonstrations begin at 1:00 p.m. each day, and features charges and counterattacks by Union and Confederate infantry and cavalry. A number of cannons will be positioned in support of the two armies firing loud, smoky rounds of black powder. The sights, sounds, and feel of a Civil War battle are brought to life through this event. Afterwards, the wounded are gathered and taken for medical treatment. The battle demonstration will be fought in the same direction as the original battle along the Prairie Grove ridge, with enough room for everyone to see what is taking place during the conflict. Remember to bring chairs. Activities start at 8:00 a.m. when Hindman Hall opens to the public with its exhibits, video programs, diorama of the Prairie Grove battle and gift shop. The soldier and civilian camps open at 9:00 a.m. with guided camp tours at posted times. These tours take visitors through the various camps and talk about the life of the common Confederate and Union soldiers, as well as the impact of the Civil War on civilians. Visitors are encouraged to wander the grounds and talk with reenactors. Visitors will be able to visit the medical department where soldiers would have been treated for a variety of ailments. Ladies will be demonstrating the art of spinning, lace making, and cooking over a fireplace throughout the weekend. Additional living history programs include training sessions for soldiers in all three branches of army service—the infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The only charge will be a $4.00 parking fee during the re-enactment weekend. Hindman Hall Museum & Visitor Center entry is free of charge during the reenactment weekend, open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact the park: Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, 506 E. Douglas Street, Prairie Grove, AR 72753; or call (479) 846-2990, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.; e-mail prairiegrove@arkansas.com.

Deadline approaching for Massard Prairie Christmas orders

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of The Battle of Massard Prairie: The 1864 Confederate Attacks on Fort Smith, Arkansas as a Christmas gift, please note that the printers have informed me they can guarantee delivery on orders placed before December 10th.

This book explores the history of the July 27, 1864, attack on the camp of the 6th Kansas Cavalry on the outskirts of Fort Smith. This engagement was significant because it was one of the few dramatic Confederate victories in Western Arkansas and because it involved one of the great open field cavalry charges of the war in the West.

For information to help you order online, please click here.

The book is also available in Arkansas at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Northwest Arkansas and at the Fort Smith Museum of History in Fort Smith.

If you would like to read more about the Battle of Massard Prairie, please click here.

Battle of Poison Spring, Arkansas - Part Three

When the Confederates began their main advance, the Union wagon train was in tight formation along the road (visible here beyond the interpretive shelter) and the Federal troops were positioned beyond the road to defend the train.

Maxey and Marmaduke's plan was to push against the main Union force to divert their attention while a surprise assault was launched against their right flank.

The flank attack was not really a surprise because Col. Williams and his men were able to see the Southern troops moving into position through gaps in the underbrush, but even so it proved highly effective.

As the firing between the two sides reached a peak, the Confederates moved forward. Williams estimated his effective force at the beginning of the battle at around 1,000 men and Maxey later reported that, although his command was much larger, only about 1,500 of his men were actually engaged. Much has been said about the overwhelming size of the Southern force during the Battle of Poison Spring, but in truth the forces actually engaged were closer in size than has generally been stated.

The Confederates did have a major advantage in field artillery during the battle and employed it to good use. The twelve Southern guns devastated the Union lines and had inflicted heavy losses on Williams' command even before the main attack began.

When the Confederates moved forward against their front and right flank, the Federals quickly realized that they were in serious trouble. Williams tried to bring forward additional men from his rear guard to help, but found out that the Southern lines were overlapping him in all directions.

He and his officers would later report that they beat back three distinct Confederate attacks, but the reports of Generals Maxey and Marmaduke do not agree. The Confederate generals describe one constant push that ultimately drove the Federals beyond their wagons and broke their lines.

Our series on the Battle of Poison Spring, Arkansas will continue. Until the next post, you can read more and see battlefield photos by visiting the new Battle of Poison Spring website at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/poisonspring.

Battle of Poison Spring, Arkansas

I hope you are having a good Labor Day.

Beginning tomorrow I'll start a series of posts on the Battle of Poison Spring, Arkansas. An important part of the Red River Campaign, this engagement was a controversial and bloody Confederate victory.

A portion of the battlefield is now preserved as the Poison Spring State Park near Camden and much of the rest is protected in a natural state.

Be sure to check in tomorrow for part one on this new series!

Cooper's Expedition to Fort Smith - Part Ten

Cooper's expedition against Fort Smith had been more successful than anticipated in achieving its goals. In the engagements of July 27th and 31st, more than 100 Union soldiers had been taken prisoner and dozens more were either killed or wounded.

In addition, the Confederates had seized hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of supplies, herds of cattle and horses, badly needed weaponry and literally driven the Union forces at Fort Smith into the fortifications of the town itself. Local pro-Southern families had been evacuated and Unionist families lost homes, property and - in at least one documented case - lives.

The inability of the Federals to secure their perimiters ended their use of Massard Prairie and adjacent grasslands to feed their herds of horses and cows. In short, Cooper had succeeded in confining the thousands of Federal troops at Fort Smith to their fortifications. This was to cause drastic consequences for the Union cause in the West over the next few weeks.

The expedition against Fort Smith was an important preliminary episode to the Second Cabin Creek expedition, a dramatic Confederate sweep up through what is now eastern Oklahoma that resulted in the capture of a massive Union supply train making its way from Kansas to Fort Gibson. Second Cabin Creek was one of the greatest and most successful feats of Southern arms during the war. Although it is little known today, it was one of the greatest supply seizures of the Civil War. It would not have been possible had not Cooper's expedition against Fort Smith been successful.

The Civil War in Fort Smith can be explored at several locations today. Among these are Fort Smith National Historic Site and the Fort Smith Museum of History in downtown Fort Smith and Massard Prairie Battlefield Park near the intersection of Red Pine and Morgan in the southeastern section of Fort Smith.

If you would like to learn more about the expedition, please consider picking up a copy of the book, The Battle of Massard Prairie: The 1864 Confederate Attacks on Fort Smith, Arkansas. It is now available in paperback at the Fort Smith Museum of History and at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Arkansas. You can also purchase the book online at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/dalecox.

Hardback copies are available for online order only by clicking here.

Independence Day - A Flashback to the American Revolution

The primary purpose of Arkansas in the Civil War is to focus on sites of Civil War interest, but in celebration of Independence Day, I thought it might be worthwhile to pause and visit the Arkansas site of the last battle of the American Revolution.

On April 17, 1783, long after all of the other supposed "last battles" of the Revolution, a force of British partisans led by James Colbert attacked the Spanish fort at Arkansas Post.

Spain had formed an alliance with the fledgling United States and fought in a number of battles of the American Revolution, including the ones at both Pensacola and Mobile. Their fort at Arkansas Post, however, had not come under attack during the war until Colbert led his command across the Mississippi River and into the swamps of the Delta.

Moving into position in and around the adjacent village of Arkansas Post, Colbert's men struck the fort at dawn on the morning of April 17th. Rounding up the civilizians and seizing Spanish cannon, Colbert attacked the walls of the fort shortly after 6 a.m. The garrison held out, however, and a sharp battle opened that continued for about 3 hours.

Even though he had only 14 soldiers in the fort, Jacabo de Brueil decided to sally out and attack Colbert before his men could position artillery to bombard the fort. They were preparing for their attack when suddenly they saw a white flag approaching the fort with a demand to surrender. After reading the demand, he ordered the attack.

Yelling as loudly as they could to create the impression of a much larger force, the little band of Spanish soldiers and volunteers stormed out of the gates of the fort. The bold ruse worked. Thinking they were about to be slaughtered, Colbert's men broke and ran. The fort held and the Battle of Arkansas Post was over.

The last battle of the American Revolution was unique from a number of perspectives. It was a Spanish victory, it was one of only two battles fought west of the Mississippi River during the war, it resulted in the last loss of life of the Revolution and was noted for the death of an African American soldier who took up arms to defend the town when the British attacked. He was one of the last soldiers killed in the American Revolution.

The site of the battle is now interpreted at Arkansas Post National Memorial. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/arkansaspost.

Please have a Happy and Safe Fourth of July!

Arkansas Post, Part Seven

This is part seven of a series on Arkansas Post National Memorial.

When the Navy resumed its bombardment of Fort Hindman at 1 p.m. on January 11, 1863, the Union army pushed forward against the line of Confederate rifle pits. The Federal soldiers immediately ran into sharp resistance from the Confederate defenders, who opened on them from their entrenchments with musket and field artillery fire.

Union troops came within 100 yards of this section of the Confederate lines, but were driven back twice by intense Southern fire. At 3 p.m. the 120th Ohio was ordered to storm Fort Hindman itself. The soldiers advanced to within pistol shot of the fort only to find themselves pinned down for more than one hour by troops firing from the earthworks.

Finally, to break the stalemate, Union officers ordered forward field artillery and began to shell the shallow Confederate rifle pits. The Union gunboats soon joined in the bombardment of the infantry positions and The men in the right or east section of the line began to surrender. Colonel James Deshler's Confederates along the sector stretching from the center to Post Bayou, however, refused to give in.

While a Union landing party, including Admiral Porter himself, took position of the wrecked Fort Hindman by climbing through an embrasure, Deshler continued to hold his position and even argued face to face with Union General Steele who was demanding his surrender. It was not until Churchill appeared in person and ordered Deshler to surrender that the Alabama colonel and his Texas troops gave up the fight. His stand was one of the most impressive of the war and would lead to his promotion to brigadier general after he was exchanged later in the year.

Brigadier General James Deshler was killed by an artillery shell during the Battle of Chickamauga. He was 30 years old at the time of his death.

The surrender of Deshler's men ended the Battle of Arkansas Post. Fort Hindman was in ruins and the town of Arkansas Post was in flames. The strongly built old bank building, used as a hospital by the Confederates, had been demolished by artillery fire.

The Union forces lost 138 killed, 898 wounded and 29 missing. The Confederates suffered a loss of 60 killed, 80 wounded and 4,800 captured, as well as the loss of the fort.

Although his claimed victory, Union General John A. McClernand drew the wrath of his commander, General Ulysses S. Grant, for taking 32,000 men off into the Arkansas swamps on what Grant considered a "wild goose chase." McClernand was demoted following his victory at the Battle of Arkansas Post.

Our series on Arkansas Post National Memorial will conclude tomorrow. Until then, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/arkansaspost to read more.

Arkansas Post Battlefield

One of the most historic spots not just in Arkansas, but in the nation, can be found at Arkansas Post National Memorial in eastern Arkansas.

Not only was this the site of historic French, Spanish and American settlements, it was the location of the last battle of the American Revolution and also the scene of a major Civil War engagement.

Beginning this weekend I will start a series of posts on Arkansas Post. I hope you will take some time to check them out.

Battle of Cane Hill, Part Two

This photograph shows the historic Cane Hill College building. Although the surviving structure is of post-Civil War construction, the college was an important landmark of the community in 1862 and had been for more than thirty years.

The presence of a thriving college on the eve of the Civil War is just one of the indications that Cane Hill (sometime spelled Canehill) was a prosperous antebellum community. This was also noted by Confederate Major General Thomas C. Hindman:

Cane Hill is a ridge of perhaps 8 miles length and 5 miles width, in the southwest part of Washington County, Arkansas, just beyond the north base of the Boston Mountains. Three villages are built upon it (Russellville, Boonsborough, and Newburg), which almost blend with each other, covering a distance, as the road to Fayetteville runs, of 3 or 5 miles….

The pre-war economic prosperity of the community had made it a focus for the transportation network of southern Washington County. It was the point at which several key roads united after crossing the Boston Mountains. Anticipating a planned movement of his army up from the Arkansas River valley, Gen. Hindman sent a cavalry force of 2,000 men under Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke to occupy Cane Hill.

Marmaduke moved up in late November of 1862 and positioned his brigades camps stretching along the Cane Hill ridge. Although they comprised only a small part of Marmaduke's force, the presence of Captain William C. Quantrill's guerillas at Cane Hill is an interesting footnote to the battle. This was the organization that produced the notorious post-war outlaws Jesse James, Frank James and Cole Younger. Jesse was not present, but Frank and Cole may have been.

Marmaduke's pickets skirmished with Federal scouts in the vicinity on November 25, 1862, and all signs soon pointed to a looming battle.

Our series on the Battle of Cane Hill, Arkansas will continue. Until then, you can read more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ArCaneHill.

General Stand Watie at Fort Smith

Brig. Gen. Stand Watie, the only Native American to be commissioned as a general by the Confederacy, played an important role in the war along the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.

A Cherokee warrior, Gen. Watie was the owner of a large plantation before the war. A long-standing opponent of the John Ross party that then help power in the Cherokee government, Watie sided with the Confederacy while many of his political opponents sided with the Union.

His reputation as a bold and fearless cavalry leader was well deserved and he achieved some of the most dramatic victories of the Civil War.

On July 31, 1864, Watie took part in a bold demonstration against the Union defenses of Fort Smith. Hoping to snap up Federal outposts and supplies and provide military protection for local Southern sympathizers who wished to evacuate the area, Confederate Gen. Douglas H. Cooper moved up the Fort Towson Road (today's Towson Avenue) against the southern defenses of Fort Smith at sunrise.

The advance was headed by Watie, who overran a Union outpost and then drove retreating Federals ahead of him all the way up to the earthworks that ringed today's downtown area. It was a bold and rapid attack, characteristic of the general.

Cooper's demonstration was never intended to be a full assault on Fort Smith, but he used Watie's bold attack and a subsequent show of force to intimidate the Federals long enough to inflict considerable damage and allow civilians wishing to evacuate the chance to do so.

Pea Ridge, Part Three - "Shooting Wagons"

As we continue our series on the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, please remember that you can access a map of the battlefield by clicking here.

The photo here shows the view from Tour Stop 4 on the tour road at Pea Ridge National Military Park. This was Foster's Farm at the time of the battle and was the scene where the Union cavalry collided with McCulloch's oncoming Confederates shortly before the action at Leetown (described in our last post).

After forming his division along a tree line, Col. Osterhaus sent forward his cavalry and three field guns to confront the Confederates and unveil the situation. As the Union horsemen emerged into the fields of Foster's Farm, however, they were stunned to see the 8,000 men under Gen. McCulloch advancing on across the same fields. The Union cannon opened fire, but McCulloch sent Gen. McIntosh sweeping around from his right to charge the severely outnumbered Federals. As the Confederate cavalry came storming down on them, the Federals broke and ran after a short fight and Southern troops overran their supporting cannon. The Confederates continued to advance and the battle moved into the phase that we described in yesterday's posting on Leetown.

Among the Southern troops that fought here at Foster's Farm was the Indian Brigade under Brig. Gen. Albert Pike. Composed of warriors from the Indian Territory (today's Oklahoma), this Native American Confederate force was involved in capturing Union artillery, called "shooting wagons" by some of the warriors. They also successfully ambushed two companies of Iowa cavalry.

After the battle, Union troops discovered the scene of this ambush. Among the bodies littering the ground they reported that they found the remains of 8 men that had been scalped and another 17 that had been mutilated. The U.S. Congress launched an investigation into the incident and leveled the blame on Pike and his Native American warriors.

It should be noted that scalping and mutilation of dead enemies held ceremonial importance among some Native American tribes during the 18th century. It was a way of assuring that enemies would be much weaker in the next world. It is also worth noting that early white officials in the Southeast encouraged some of these practices, often allying themselves with specific tribes and rewarding war parties for every scalp they brought back.

Our series on the Battle of Pea Ridge will continue. Until then, you can read more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/pearidgeindex.

The Battle of Pea Ridge, Part One

Today is the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. The major Civil War battle was found on March 7-8, 1862.

We are marking the 146th anniversary of the battle with a new series here at Arkansas in the Civil War. Over the next week, we will look in depth at the Battle of Pea Ridge (also called the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern) and explore some of the key sites on the battlefield.

The battle began on March 7, 1862, when the Confederate Army of the West, commanded by Major General Earl Van Dorn, launched an uncoordinated attack on the right flank and rear of the Union Army of the Frontier, commanded by Major General Samuel R. Curtis.

Pea Ridge was one of the few major battles of the Civil War in which the Confederate forces outnumbered the Union forces. Van Dorn brought an army of 16,000 men and 65 cannon into the fight, compared to the Union force of 10,500 men and 52 cannon.

Van Dorn's primary strategy was to sweep around the left flank of the Union army and surprise Curtis with a devastating attack on his flank and rear. The Union forces were then entrenched in a line overlooking Little Sugar Creek in northern Benton County, Arkansas. Despite severe cold and the exhausted state of his men, Van Dorn committed them to battle on March 7, 1862, without waiting for his supply trains to come up or for his forces to move completely into position. His attack was intended to encounter an invasion of Northwest Arkansas by Curtis, who had moved into the region in February and penetrated as far south as Fayetteville.

General Curtis was meeting with his subordinate generals behind his lines at Pratt's Store on the morning of March 7, 1862, when couriers reported that Confederates were present in force on the Ford Road just north of the little hamlet of Leetown. A second report soon indicated that more Southern troops were coming south down the Telegraph Road. All of these sites are now part of Pea Ridge National Military Park. Curtis sent Colonel Peter Osterhaus with his division to intercept the Confederates at Leetown, while Colonel Eugene Carr marched north with Colonel Grenville Dodge's brigade to unveil the situation up the Telegraph Road.

Osterhaus reached Leetown to find that the reports were correct and that a major Confederate offensive was sweepingdown on the Union right flank.

Our series on the Battle of Pea Ridge will continue later today. Until then, you can read more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/pearidgeindex.

The Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas

This week marks the 148th anniversary of the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. This massive engagement was found across thousands of acres of beautiful Ozark Plateau countryside in Northwest Arkansas on March 7-8, 1865.

Also called the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern, the Battle of Pea Ridge was one of the largest battles ever fought west of the Mississippi River and was also one of the largest battles of the first year of the Civil War. The site today is preserved at Pea Ridge National Military Park, an outstanding national park area in Benton County, Arkansas.

Beginning tomorrow, we will begin a multi-part series on the Battle of Pea Ridge. We will look at the strategy and tactics of the battle and share photographs of the battlefield as it appears today. Until then, if you would like to read more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/pearidgeindex.

Jenkins' Ferry - Part Five

We wrap up our series on the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry and Jenkins' Ferry State Park today with this view of the state park area.

Things are a little brown here (the photo was taken in late February), but the trees should be showing plenty of green soon.

The park is a very nice place to stop for an hour or so and reflect on the history of the area or to enjoy an afternoon in the sunshine. In addition to its historical significance, Jenkins' Ferry State Park offers picnic tables, a boat ramp and a "swimming hole." There are no facilities at the park, so keep that in mind.

After crossing the Saline River at the end of the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry, the Union army marched away across the ground seen here and continued their retreat to Little Rock. The withdrawal ended the last significant Arkansas action of the Red River Campaign.

To read more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/jenkinsferry1.

Jenkins' Ferry, Part Four

This photo gives you a good idea of the appearance of the actual battlefield at Jenkins' Ferry as it appears today.

This vast swampy scene of the battle is located across the Saline River from Jenkins' Ferry State Park and remains on private property. Access is restricted, so please respect private property rights.

At the time of the battle, as seen here, the white oak swamps bordering the Saline River were overflowing and the men of both sides fought in water, muck and mud. This contributed greatly to the inability of Confederate commanders to properly coordinate their attacks and proved an advantage to the Federals in defending their wagon trains until they could get them across the river.

If you would like to read more about the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/jenkinsferry1. I'll be adding other Arkansas sites from the Red River campaign over the next few weeks.

Jenkins' Ferry, Part Three

This is the monument erected at the Jenkins' Ferry battlefield in 1928 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The monument is to the left just inside the entrance to the state park.

Although estimates of casualties vary, the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry was extremely bloody for Confederate forces who hurled themselves repeatedly against the breastworks of the Union army. The Southern attacks were uncoordinated and hampered by flooding. As a result, the Confederate ranks experienced severe losses.

Although they were unable to carry the Union lines, the Confederates were able to hammer the Federals so hard that they withdrew from the battlefield in an extremely battered condition, bringing the Arkansas phase of the Red River Campaign to a close.

Our look at the Jenkins' Ferry battlefield will continue, but in the meantime you can read more by going to www.exploresouthernhistory.com/jenkinsferry1.