Fort Smith National Cemetery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Smith National Cemetery
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Fort Smith National Cemetery in 2011
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 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 522 Garland Ave. and S. 6th St., Fort Smith, Arkansas |
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| Area | 21.7 acres (8.8 ha) |
| Built | 1867 |
| MPS | Civil War Era National Cemeteries MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 99000578 |
| Added to NRHP | May 20, 1999 |
The Fort Smith National Cemetery is a special burial ground in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It's a United States National Cemetery, which means it's a place where military veterans and their families are laid to rest. This cemetery covers about 22 acres and is the final resting place for over 13,000 people.
Contents
The Story of Fort Smith Cemetery
How Fort Smith Began
Fort Smith started as a frontier fort way back in 1817. Major William Bradford built it to help keep peace. It was meant to stop fighting between the Cherokee and Osage Native American tribes.
But the fort faced a tough challenge. By 1824, many soldiers got sick, and some even died. Because of this, the army decided to close the fort. The first people buried here were those who passed away during this early period.
A New Fort and a Growing Cemetery
In 1838, a new fort was built on the same spot. This new fort was much better. General Zachary Taylor, who later became a U.S. President, even lived here from 1841 to 1845. During this time, the old burial ground was fixed up and made larger.
The Civil War Years
When the American Civil War began in 1861, the U.S. Army left Fort Smith. Soon after, soldiers from the Confederate army took over. During their time there, almost 400 Confederate soldiers died. They were buried in the fort's cemetery.
In September 1863, Union forces took the fort back. After the war ended, in 1867, the cemetery officially became a National Cemetery. Many soldiers who had died in nearby battles were moved here. The cemetery has over 1,400 graves that don't have names on them. Many of these belong to Union and Confederate soldiers.
Important Memorials
Honoring the Fallen
The cemetery has special monuments to remember those who served.
- Unknown Confederate Dead Memorial: This marble memorial honors Confederate soldiers whose names are not known. It also remembers two generals: Brigadier General James M. McIntosh, who died at the Battle of Pea Ridge, and Brigadier General Alexander E. Steen, who was killed at the Battle of Prairie Grove.
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Built in 1998, this memorial is made of granite and bronze. It honors the brave people who served in the Vietnam War.
Famous People Buried Here
Many notable people are buried at Fort Smith National Cemetery.
- W.H.H. Clayton (1840–1920): A well-known lawyer and judge in Arkansas after the Civil War.
- Brigadier General William Orlando Darby (1911–1945): A hero from World War II who led a famous group called Darby's Rangers.
- Jack Fleck (1921–2014): A World War II Navy veteran and a professional golfer.
- Richard C. Gatlin (1809–1896): A Confederate general during the Civil War.
- James M. McIntosh (1828–1862): A Confederate brigadier general who died in the Civil War.
- Isaac C. Parker (1838–1896): A U.S. representative and a frontier judge. He was known for being very strict in his court.
- Hal Smith (1931–2014): A United States Air Force veteran and a professional baseball catcher.
- Alexander E. Steen (1827–1862): A Confederate general from Missouri who died in the Civil War.
