The Confederate Seizure of Fort Smith, Arkansas
Confederate Seizure of Fort Smith
A Vital Supply Depot
Confederate hopes of controlling
the Indian Nations of today's
Oklahoma depended on their
ability to move supplies through
Fort Smith.
Confederate hopes of controlling
the Indian Nations of today's
Oklahoma depended on their
ability to move supplies through
Fort Smith.
A Fort Unprepared for Battle
Despite the presence of artillery
and a partially completed stone
wall, Fort Smith was primarily a
supply depot in 1861 and would
have been extremely difficult to
defend.
Despite the presence of artillery
and a partially completed stone
wall, Fort Smith was primarily a
supply depot in 1861 and would
have been extremely difficult to
defend.
| Barracks Building Fort Smith, Arkansas |
In the spring of 1861, a significant
battle for control of Fort Smith was
narrowly averted when the old fort's
Union garrison slipped away just
hours ahead of a planned attack by
state forces.
Even so, the seizure of the fort was a
significant event in the history of the
Civil War in Arkansas and showed
that Southern troops were more than
willing to fight for control of the frontier.
To learn more about the taking of the
fort, follow these links:
battle for control of Fort Smith was
narrowly averted when the old fort's
Union garrison slipped away just
hours ahead of a planned attack by
state forces.
Even so, the seizure of the fort was a
significant event in the history of the
Civil War in Arkansas and showed
that Southern troops were more than
willing to fight for control of the frontier.
To learn more about the taking of the
fort, follow these links:
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The Battle of
Massard Prairie
Massard Prairie
by Dale Cox
The first full-length account of
the 1864 Confederate attack on
Fort Smith, Arkansas.
the 1864 Confederate attack on
Fort Smith, Arkansas.
$19.95
Proceeds benefit the Cane Hill Battlefield Driving Tour Project