Prairie D'Ane Battlefield facts for kids
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Prairie D'Ane Battlefield
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 Location in Arkansas
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| Nearest city | Prescott, Arkansas |
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| Built | 1864 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000481 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 22, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | April 19, 1994 |
The Prairie D'Ane Battlefield is a special place in Arkansas. It was the site of a big battle during the American Civil War in 1864. This battle was part of a larger plan by the Union Army called the Camden Expedition.
Today, the battlefield is recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Later, in 1994, it became part of the Camden Expedition Sites National Historic Landmark. This means it's one of the most important historical places in the country.
In 2018, a large part of the battlefield, about 800 acres, was acquired by the Nevada County Depot and Museum. The American Battlefield Trust helped make this happen. The museum plans to make the area a place where people can visit and learn about history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Camden Expedition
The Camden Expedition was a major military operation in 1864. The Union Army had a plan to push Confederate forces out of southwestern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. They also hoped to move into Texas.
The Union's Plan and Confederate Defense
Union Major General Frederick Steele led his troops from Little Rock. His goal was to meet up with another Union general, Nathaniel Prentice Banks, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Meanwhile, the Confederate government in Arkansas had moved to Washington.
Confederate Major General Sterling Price ordered his general, John S. Marmaduke, to slow down the Union army. Marmaduke's job was to stop them from crossing the Little Missouri River.
Union soldiers crossed the river on April 3, 1864. They fought with Confederate defenders in the Battle of Elkin's Ferry. The Confederates were outnumbered and had to retreat. General Price then set up a new defense. He built small dirt walls, called earthworks, on the edge of Prairie d'Ane. This prairie was a wide, open grassy area surrounded by forests.
General Steele waited until April 9 for more troops to arrive.
The Battle and a Change of Plans
On April 10, Steele's army started fighting Price's forces. Both sides brought in more soldiers. The fighting continued into the night, stopping the Union advance.
The next day, Union troops marched across the prairie in a long line. But it was late in the day, so a full battle didn't happen. The Union soldiers returned to their camps. That night, General Price moved most of his army further away. He left only a small group to guard the earthworks.
On April 12, the Union army advanced again. The remaining Confederate guards also pulled back. Union cavalry chased them for a short time.
At this point, General Steele had a problem. His soldiers were running low on food. He decided he needed to get more supplies. Instead of going to Washington, he turned his army toward Camden. Camden was a town held by the Confederates, but Price had moved many of its defenders to Washington.
Confederate troops chased the Union army. They fought a small battle near a place called Moscow. Steele faced more supply problems in Camden. Because of this, he eventually led his army all the way back to Little Rock.
Exploring the Battlefield Today
The main battle at Prairie D'Ane happened over a huge area. It covered about 5,000 acres. This is where the city of Prescott later grew. Much of this land is now used for farming. It still looks mostly undeveloped.
Some modern things have been built there, like railroad tracks and Interstate 30. However, the Moscow area, where the last fight happened, is still very much like it was. The Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery was there during the battle. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Protecting History: The Battlefield Land
In 1994, over 2,600 acres of the battlefield became part of the Camden Expedition Sites. This is a National Historic Landmark District.
In 2018, the Nevada County Depot and Museum announced they had acquired 800 acres of the battlefield. They plan to make it a place for "heritage tourism." This means people can visit and learn about its history. The American Battlefield Trust, a group that saves battlefields, bought the land. They then gave it to the museum. The museum also plans to include 412 acres of the nearby Elkin's Ferry Battlefield in its visitor plans.
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