Battle of Van Buren marks 150th this week

Crawford County Courthouse

December 28th will mark the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas. The Battle of Dripping Springs, a preliminary action, was fought on the same day, 150 years ago this week.

Over the next few days, I will post on the 150th anniversary of the Union capture of Van Buren, culminating of course with the actual anniversary on Friday.

In December 1862, Van Buren was - as it is today - the county seat of Crawford County, Arkansas. The town had served as the launching point for General Thomas C. Hindman's Prairie Grove Campaign at the beginning of the month and was the point to which the Confederate army returned after that bloody stalemate in Northwest Arkansas.

Both armies had been badly bloodied at the Battle of Prairie Grove, but it was the Confederate army that suffered most as its poorly equipped men limped back over the Boston Mountains to the Arkansas River Valley. The Southern army had been loosely and quickly organized to begin with and their inability to defeat the Union Army of the Frontier at Prairie Grove had taken, at least temporarily, the fight out of the men. They came back south suffering from hunger, cold and a shortage of ammunition and other supplies. Demoralization and sickness stalked their ranks during the days and weeks after the battle.

Van Buren from the Heights

The Union army had also suffered heavily at Prairie Grove, but found itself in possession of the field when the Confederates withdrew during the night of December 7, 1862, giving up their commanding position because they didn't have enough ammunition to continue the fight. This increased the morale of the Federal troops while their counterparts in the Confederate army were suffering a decline at the same time.

Despite the best efforts of General Hindman and his staff, it was the Union army that rebounded from Prairie Grove first. By the last week of December 1862 he knew his men were once again ready for action and he decided to lead them over the Boston Mountains to Van Buren. If he could take the city, he could push the part of Hindman's army not already south of the Arkansas either into or across the river and free - at least temporarily - his position in Northwest Arkansas from any threat of attack for the duration of the winter.

I will continue to post on the Van Buren 150th over coming days, but until then you can read more at http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1.html.

Interesting Account of the Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas

The following is a report on the Battle of Van Buren (December 28, 1862) that appeared in a Maine newspaper just four days later. The speed with which reports of battles in western Arkansas reached newspapers in the far Northeast is remarkable when it is considered that just a few years before, it would have taken weeks for the news to arrive. The report was datelined Fayetteville, December 31, 1862:

January 1, 1863
Portland (Maine) Daily Advertiser, page 2.

Additional particulars of the raid to Van Buren have been received. Our army was 10 miles this side of Van Buren yesterday, and would bivouac on the mountain top last night, and expected to reach Prairie Grove again today. Gen. Schofield joined them a few miles beyond the foot of the mountain. The steamers violet, Rose Douglas, Frederick Mortrede [Nortrobe], Erie, No. 6, and Van Buren, with their cargoes of grain and provisions for the rebel army, were burned, also a large amount of army stores. The rebels burned their arsenal and ferry boats at fort Smith, to prevent them from falling into our hands; also a large quantity of provisions on the opposite bank of the river. A general conflagration was in progress when our forces left.

The raid on Van Buren clearly demonstrated the shattered condition of the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi, despite the fact that it had fought a superior Union force to a draw at the Battle of Prairie Grove just a little mor than two weeks earlier. The capture of the Arkansas River town was a major blow to the prestige of Confederate forces in the area, although the Federals were unable to permanently exploit their ability to cross the mountains and withdrew back to their camps in Northwest Arkansas for the winter.

To learn more about the Battle of Van Buren, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1.

The Battle of Van Buren - December 28, 1862

The sharp fight at Dripping Springs on the morning of December 28, 1862, opened the door to the port of Van Buren on the Arkansas River for the Union Army of the Frontier.

Pursuing Crump's retreating cavalrymen, the Union cavalry pushed south into the River Valley. There was some skirmishing as the pursuit neared Van Buren, but Crump and his men turned in force only once, on Logtown Hill on the northern edge of the town. The area is now part of the growing city. The Confederates were again driven back and the Federals advanced to the crest of Logtown Hill, which gave them a spectacular view of Van Buren and the Arkansas River below.

Below they could see the retreating Confederates as well as several steamboats either already moving or preparing to make way on the river. The Union horsemen stormed down the long slope of the hill on the heels of Crump's men, charging right down the main street of Van Buren. The sudden appearance of the blue uniformed troops in their midst stunned the people of Van Buren, who watched them go by from the sides of the street.

Crump and his men made the ferry across the river and it was able to make way before the Union troops could open fire. Most of the Confederates escaped across the river, but others - particularly a large number of sick and some wounded from the Prairie Grove Campaign - were taken prisoner. General Blunt and part of his force pursued steamboats that were trying to escape down river, firing on them from the riverbank and finally forcing one to surrender while another ran aground.

The rather odd and disjointed Battle of Van Buren intensified later in the day when a Confederate battery opened fire on the Federals from across the river, raining shells on the town and reportedly killing several civilians. Union casualties were light, as Confederate casualties had been. The Confederate guns were finally forced to withdraw when Federal artillerymen placed guns on the heights along the northern edge of Fairview Cemetery and returned fire. The superior weight and number of the Union cannon drove off the Confederate battery.

General Blunt crossed over the Arkansas River with a small detachment the next morning, become the first Union force to set foot south of the river during the war. But most of the Confederates from around Fort Smith were already gone. General Thomas Hindman had been in the process of withdrawing his army to Little Rock when the raid to the river took place.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1.

Fairview Cemetery - Van Buren, Arkansas

Confederate soldiers are buried in cemeteries across Arkansas, but one of the largest concentrations I have seen is at Fairview Cemetery in Van Buren.

The burial ground is located on a rise just north of downtown Van Buren and was in use at the time of the war. Soldiers buried here include men killed or mortally wounded at the Battles of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, and Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Cane Hill, Dripping Springs and Van Buren, Arkansas. Over 400 of the graves are of unknown soldiers.

The ridge along the northern edge of the cemetery was used as an artillery position by Union soldiers during the Battle of Van Buren on December 28, 1862. Rifled cannon placed here dueled with Confederate cannon firing on the town from across the Arkansas River.

Markers in the cemetery detail its history and a monument in its northeast corner pays tribute to the hundreds of Southern soldiers buried there. Other graves include a monument to one of the signers of the original Arkansas constitution and an unusual "mystery grave" that some claim was left behind by Hernando de Soto during the 1500s. It appears more likely, however, to date from the early days of the town's settlement as the form of the grave is similar to those found in other Southern graveyards from the same era.

To learn more about the Battle of Van Buren, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1. You can see additional photos of Fairview Cemetery in the "Online Tour" section.

Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas

Fought on December 28, 1862, the Battle of Van Buren was an important skirmish that was the last real fight of the Prairie Grove Campaign.

Three weeks earlier, Union and Confederate forces had battled to a stalemate during the brutal fighting at Prairie Grove. Union generals James Blount and Francis Herron had considered pursuing General Thomas Hindman's battered Southern army back across the Boston Mountains, but winter weather intervened.

Then, three weeks after the Battle of Prairie Grove, they received incorrect reports that Hindman was being reinforced for another attack over the mountains. In reality, his army was rapidly disintegrating as he struggled to hold it together in camps around Van Buren and Fort Smith. Hoping to avoid another surprise, Blount and Herron set out from their camps in Northwest Arkansas on December 27, 1862.

Moving across the rough mountains, they struck Crump's regiment of Texas cavalry at Dripping Springs north of Van Buren on the morning of December 28th. Crump's men briefly resisted, then fell back on the road to Van Buren, skirmishing with the oncoming Federals as they went.

The troops reached Van Buren so fast that there was no time to warn the citizens of the coming battle. The people of the town were going about their daily business along the main street when they were stunned by the sight of soldiers on horseback storming down the street.

Crump's men boarded a ferry on the Van Buren waterfront and most managed to escape, despite artillery fire from the Union troops. Fighting then spread to various points along the Arkansas River as the Federals moved to capture steamboats that were trying to escape down the river. Two boats were forced to shore, looted and destroyed. Three others were fired by the Confederates themselves to save them from capture.

At about 2:30 in the afternoon, Confederate forces opened fire on Van Buren with a battery of artillery placed on the opposite side of the river. The Union troops responded with a battery of rifled guns positioned at Fairview Cemetery. The exchange lasted for some time and it was estimated that as many as 100 Confederate shells fell on the town, killing and wounding a few soldiers and civilians and also doing damage to some of the homes and other structures.

You can learn more about the Battle of Van Buren by visiting our new pages that are now online at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1. The link will take you to a complete site on the Battle of Van Buren that includes photographs, transcripts of official reports and a detailed history of the battle.

The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas - Part Seven

As darkness fell on December 28, 1862, cannon fire again erupted along the Arkansas River.

The fighting this time took place at Strain's Landing, a few miles downriver (east) from the Van Buren riverfront. Confederate Gen. Hindman reported that his forces engaged in an exchange with Union forces on the opposite bank of the river. Gen. Blunt confirmed this in his report of the expedition, indicating that he had shelled Confederate encampments on the opposite side of the Arkansas from a point about five miles below Van Buren.

The artillery exchange continued for about 2 hours before the firing finally died off for the night. Total casualties are unknown, but appear to have been light.

Gen. Blunt sent a dispatch north to his commanding officer, Gen. Samuel Curtis, that night, reporting the events of the day and indicating that unless the Confederates withdrew from opposite him, he planned to cross the Arkansas River the next morning and engage them. How serious he was about this is not known. Crossing the wide river under Confederate artillery fire would have been an extremely risky operation, but Blunt was a bold and capable commander.

The fight on the Fort Smith side of the river never materialized, however. During the night, Gen. Hindman withdrew from his encampments around Fort Smith. His army was so battered following the horrific fight earlier in the month at Prairie Grove that it was literally falling apart on him. He pulled out heading east for Clarksville, leaving his sick and wounded behind at Fort Smith.

Because he had no established supply lines, Blunt did not attempt to occupy Fort Smith, but instead withdrew back across the Boston Mountains to Northwest Arkansas. His Van Buren expedition had been a startling success, carried out in the middle of winter in extremely difficult conditions.

Union casualties during the expedition were extremely light considering the nature and size of the engagement. Hindman did not report Confederate casualties, but they do not appear to have been heavy.

This concludes our series on the Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas. To read more and see additional photographs, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1.

The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas - Part Six

When the Confederates opened fire with cannon from the opposite bank of the Arkansas River, the Federals pushed forward rifled cannon to the heights overlooking Van Buren.

The location where they placed the guns is now part of Fairview Cemetery, located just north of the historic downtown area.

General Herron described the scene as the Union artillery began to duel with the Confederates across the river:

General Blunt and myself made a narrow escape. We soon hurried up a long range battery, and drove them off. The transaction was diabolical, to say the least of it, the town being full of women and children. At least 100 shells were fired into the houses, doing great damage, only one citizen being hurt that I know of.

A lull in the fighting followed the artillery exchange and the Federals set about consolidating their position in Van Buren and collecting or destroying all the supplies they could confiscate. Captured Confederate supply wagons were loaded with sugar to be carried back across the Boston Mountains when they withdrew. The men and horses were fed and an estimated 15,000-20,000 bushels of corn were destroyed.

Fighting would resume as darkness fell and I will have more on that in the next post. Until then, you can read more about the Battle of Van Buren by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1.

The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas - Part Five

This is a view of the Arkansas River at Van Buren. When the Union cavalry charged up to the river bank on December 28, 1862, they could see three Southern steamboats trying to make way across and down the river.

Opening fire on the boats with small arms, the Union horsemen began chasing them down the river (to the left).

The first of the boats was forced to return to shore about one mile downstream. The other two were pursued for ten miles in a cavalry vs. steamboat fight and finally forced to shore as well. They were found to be loaded with corn, supplies and men. All three were destroyed.

At about 2:30 p.m. (the battle began around noon), the Confederates advanced a battery of field artillery to the opposite bank seen here and opened fire on the Union troops in Van Buren. General Herron called the action "diabolical" and noted that the community was filled with civilians at the time. One of the Union soldiers were killed and five wounded. A citizen was also hurt as the Confederate gunners fired over 100 shot and shell into the town, damaging a number of buildings.

Our series on the Battle of Van Buren will continue. To read more before the next post, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1.

The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas - Part Four

The Union troops poured down from Logtown Hill and onto the main street of Van Buren.

This is a modern view of the street. If the scene looks familiar to you, there is a reason. The downtown district in Van Buren is a well-known movie location. It served as a duplicate for World War II era Biloxi, Mississippi in the popular movie Biloxi Blues.

The Union troops stormed down the street seen here in pursuit of the retreating Confederates. Their arrival was so unexpected that citizens of the town were on the wooden sidewalks and in the street, going about their normal business. Union soldiers wrote numerous accounts of the scene, describing how amazed the citizens were as they suddenly charged through their midst.

The soldiers did not hesitate, however, but continued directly down the street past the old courthouse building to the riverfront.

The series on the Battle of Van Buren will continue in the next post. Until then you can read more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1.

The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas - Part Three

This is the view from Logtown Hill, now part of the city of Van Buren.

In 1862, it loomed over the northern edge of the city, providing a spectacular view of the community below, just as it provides a view of the historic downtown today. The water visible in the photograph is the Arkansas River and the city of Fort Smith lies beyond.

When the Federals reached this position on December 28, 1862, they could see a beehive of activity below.

General Herron was among those looking down on the scene. He reported, "Arriving on the hill overlooking the town, we found three steamboats leaving the wharf and the ferry, making good time over the river."

The Confederates were trying to get across the river before they could be attacked again and also hoped to get their steamboats to safety.

Hoping to intercept the withdrawal, the Union generals ordered their cavalry to charge the town and bluecoated horsemen began to stream down the hill into Van Buren.

Our series will continue. To read more before the next post, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1.

The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas - Part Two

The community that the Union and Confederate soldiers approached on December 28, 1862, was a small but prosperous city.

Centered around a primary street that led from the hills beyond down to the banks of the Arkansas River, Van Buren was a center of commerical and political activity during the years leading up to the war.

The town's militia took part in the seizure of Fort Smith in 1861 and large numbers of the community's men and boys and marched off to fight for the Confederacy. Despite the fact that heavy fighting had taken place across the mountains at Pea Ridge, Cane Hill and Prairie Grove in Northwest Arkansas, most of the residents of Van Buren considered their community safe from attack in late December of 1862. Winter had settled across the region and it was not expected that combat would resume before the spring.

In fact, only a token force was maintained in and around the town by Confederate Gen. Thomas C. Hindman. Most of his army had crossed back over the Arkansas River and was camped in the area surrounding Fort Smith.

As the day warmed on the morning of December 28, 1862, the people of Van Buren were going about their business, shopping and gathering along the main street and at the old courthouse. The fighting would come upon them so quickly that most would not have a chance to flee.

Our series on the Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas, will continue. Until the next post, you can read more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1.

The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas - Part One

Following the massive fight at Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862, Gen. Thomas C. Hindman withdrew his Confederate army back across the Boston Mountains to Van Buren and Fort Smith.

Located on the north shore of the Arkansas River, Van Buren was then an important trading community and river port. Direct roads led over the mountains to connect the town with Washington and Benton Counties in Northwest Arkansas.

Determined to pursue Hindman, despite the cold weather, Generals Blunt and Herron set out across the mountains with thousands of Union soldiers in late December.

Advancing via the Cove Creek and Telegraph (Wire) Roads, they advanced into northern Crawford County, Arkansas on the night of December 27, 1862, and on the next morning struck an advanced camp of Confederate cavalry at Dripping Springs. The Battle of Dripping Springs was an overwhelming victory for the Federals and the Confederate horsemen fell back rapidly toward Van Buren, with Union horsemen hot on their heels. Skirmishing took place at several places along the road, but the advance took place so rapidly that the opposing forces reached the hills overlooking Van Buren before anyone in the town even knew that a battle was underway.

Our series on the Battle of Van Buren will continue. To read more before the next post, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/vanburenbattle1.

The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas

Beginning tomorrow I will be starting a new series on the Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas.

If you aren't familiar with this encounter, it was quite a fascinating event. Thousands of Union troops swept over the Boston Mountains in the dead of winter and surprised the Confederates at Van Buren in one of the most dramatic incidents of the Civil War in Arkansas.

In addition, Van Buren is one of the most charming and historic communities in Arkansas. I think you will enjoy the postings, so I hope you will check back with us starting tomorrow.

Fairview Cemetery - Van Buren, Arkansas

The Confederate Section of Fairview Cemetery in Van Buren was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

The cemetery contains the graves of more than 400 unknown Confederate soldiers, many of whom died from wounds received during the Prairie Grove campaign of 1862. Also buried here are a number of identified Confederate soldiers, some of whom were killed during the Battle of Van Buren in December of 1862.

During the battle, Union officers placed artillery on the ridge at Fairview Cemetery and used it to shell retreating Confederate troops as well as steamboats on the Arkansas River. The cemetery is today a somber place to walk and reflect on the horrible cost of the war and also provides interpretive markers outlining the role of the ground during the Battle of Van Buren.

If you would like to read more about the Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com and scroll down the page to the "Arkansas" section.