The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas
The Battle of Van Buren, Arkansas
Much of the scene of the Battle of Van Buren is publicly accessible. The battle began when Federal troops pursued Crump's
retreating Texas cavalrymen right down the main street of the town. The battle then evolved into an artillery exchange with
Confederates on the opposite shore of the Arkansas River. Several key sites of the battle are well marked. To see larger
versions of the photographs below, please just click on the image.
retreating Texas cavalrymen right down the main street of the town. The battle then evolved into an artillery exchange with
Confederates on the opposite shore of the Arkansas River. Several key sites of the battle are well marked. To see larger
versions of the photographs below, please just click on the image.
| When the Federals reached the crest of the hill overlooking Van Buren, they could see steamers getting underway on the river. |
| This is a second view from Log Town Hill in Van Buren looking down the Arkansas River. Confederate steamboats tried to escape down stream, but the Federal cavalry pursued them along the left bank and forced them to shore with small arms fire. |
| From Log Town Hill, the Federal cavalry charged after Crump's men and chased them right down the main street of the town. Citizens, who had no idea a battle was about to begin, were going about their daily activities when the Civil War eruped in their midst. |
| The Crawford County Courthouse in Van Buren faces out onto the scene of the chase down the main street. School children of the city still reenact the battle here in front of the courthouse each spring. |
Photographic Tour
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| When the Federals reached the riverfront, they saw Crump's cavalry escaping ahead of them on a ferry boat. Opening fire with their howitzers, they did some damage to the boat and killed a horse. Most of Crump's men, however, got away. |
| As the afternoon progressed, Confederate troops brought artillery to the riverbank opposite the town and launched a heavy bombardment. At least one civilian was hurt and Federal officers reported that numerous buildings were damaged. |
| When the Confederates opened fire from across the river, the Federals responded with guns of their own from the heights overlooking the town. Fairview Cemetery is one of the locations from which they are said to have fired. |
| This view looking across Fairview Cemetery shows the rising nature of the ground. The view from here to the river was much more open in 1862. Ironically, the tall monument on the right marks the grave of Van Buren founder John Drennan. He was Vice Chairman of the convention that made Arkansas part of the Union in 1836. |
| The Confederate section of Fairview Cemetery includes the remains of men who died as a result of the Battles of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove and Van Buren. |
| The graves of several of Lieutenant Colonel Crump's men can be found at Fairview. Some probably died in the fighting of the 28th and others died from other causes. Their service records are largely incomplete. |
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