Poison Springs Battleground State Park facts for kids
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Poison Springs State Park
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 Location in Arkansas
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| Location | Ouachita County, Arkansas |
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| Nearest city | Chidester, Arkansas |
| Built | 1961 |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000036 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 3, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | April 19, 1994 |
Poison Springs Battleground State Park is a special place in Arkansas. It's a state park near Bluff City. This park helps us remember an important event from the American Civil War.
The park is named after the Battle of Poison Spring. This battle happened in 1864. It was part of a bigger plan by the Union Army called the Camden Expedition. The Union soldiers wanted to take control of Shreveport, Louisiana and get into Texas.
On April 18, 1864, a big fight took place here. Soldiers from the Confederate side and Choctaw Native Americans attacked a supply wagon full of Union soldiers. The Confederates won this battle.
The name "Poison Spring" comes from an old story. People said that Confederate soldiers poisoned the water in a nearby spring. This battle was a big setback for the Union's Camden Expedition. It also became known for the sad fact that many Union soldiers from Kansas were killed, and the Confederate forces did not take prisoners.
This historic site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. It's also part of the Camden Expedition Sites National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important place in American history.
About Poison Springs State Park
The park covers about 85 acres (34 hectares) of land. You can find it on both sides of Arkansas Highway 76. It's about 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Camden. Highway 76 follows the same path that the Union supply wagons used during the battle.
What You Can See at the Park
The main part of the park has a picnic area and signs that explain the battle. This area is on the north side of the highway. The actual battle, however, happened over a much larger area. This area was more than 9,000 acres (3,600 hectares)!
Today, the land around the park looks much like it did during the Civil War. Areas that were once farms are now forests again.
Nature at the Park
Poison Springs Battleground State Park is heavily wooded. It has a small display that tells the story of the battle. There's also a shady trail where you can walk.
While walking, you might see deer and woodpeckers. The park is a great example of the Gulf Coast forest. Most of the trees are pines. But you'll also find some oak trees and dogwood trees growing underneath.
