Battle of Fayetteville (1863) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Fayetteville Action at Fayetteville
Part of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
Union headquarters during the action at Fayetteville (present-day Washington County Historical Society).
Date April 18, 1863 (1863-04-18) Location Fayetteville, Arkansas
Belligerents
United States	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Col. M. La Rue Harrison	Brig. Gen. W. L. Cabell
Units involved
Post of Fayetteville 1st Arkansas Cavalry 1st Arkansas Infantry	Cabell's Brigade Monroe's Regiment Carroll's Regiment Dorsey's Squadron [John F.] Hill's Battalion (less three companies) Hughey's Battery
Strength
300–400 troops	900 cavalry 2 guns
Casualties and losses
4 dead and 77 wounded or missing	~ 20 dead and 50 wounded or missing

The Battle of Fayetteville, also known as the Action at Fayetteville, was a fight during the American Civil War. It happened on April 18, 1863, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This battle was part of the larger conflict in the Trans-Mississippi Theater.

What Caused the Battle?

In April 1863, Confederate General W. L. Cabell led about 900 cavalry troops from Ozark, Arkansas. His main goal was to take back Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Union Army had taken control of Fayetteville. They had won a big victory there a few months earlier at the Battle of Prairie Grove.

The Battle Begins

On the night of April 17, Cabell's soldiers approached Fayetteville from the south. They captured nine Union guards, called pickets, near West Fork, Arkansas. The next morning, Cabell's plan for a surprise attack failed. His men got into a small fight with Union pickets in east Fayetteville.

The Confederates then climbed East Mountain. Their artillery, called Hughey's Battery, started firing cannons at the Union forces. Union Colonel M. La Rue Harrison quickly sent three companies of the 1st Arkansas Infantry. Their job was to stop the Confederate attack.

Fighting in the Town

Around 6:00 AM, General Cabell ordered his troops to charge into the city. He hoped to capture the Union commanders. They were staying at a place known as the Tebbetts house, which was their headquarters. The attackers paused, waiting for their cannons to force the house to surrender.

Confederate Colonel J. C. Monroe then led a side attack on the city. His troops managed to take control of the Baxter House. The Confederates kept moving into Fayetteville. They captured Union soldiers and destroyed a supply train. However, the Union forces finally regrouped. They stopped any further Confederate advances into the town.

The Battle Ends

Colonel Harrison ordered his Union troops to attack the Confederate cannons on East Mountain. At the same time, Colonel Monroe led his cavalry down Dickson Street. This was one last try to capture the Union headquarters. But the gunfire was too heavy for them. Monroe had to pull his men back.

The Confederate cannons on the mountain were now under attack. They also ran out of ammunition. General Cabell had to order his men to retreat. This brought the battle to an end. The battle was considered a draw. However, Cabell had failed to achieve his main goal. The Union troops kept control of Fayetteville.

Aftermath of the Battle

The Battle of Fayetteville was a tactical win for Colonel Harrison and the Union forces. This means they held the battlefield. But it was a strategic win for General Cabell and the Confederates. Even though the Unionists held the town, they felt unsafe. About a week later, they left Fayetteville. They moved back into Missouri. Union troops did not return to Fayetteville until September 1863.

Battlefield Today

The building that served as the Union headquarters during the battle is still standing. It is also known as "the Colonel Tebbetts place." Today, it is home to the Washington County Historical Society.