Scatterville, Arkansas facts for kids

Scatterville was a small community in Clay County, Arkansas, United States. Today, only a cemetery remains. It was located about 2 miles (3 km) northwest of Rector, Arkansas. Scatterville was important during the American Civil War because of its location on Crowley's Ridge. Both Union and Confederate armies often mentioned it in their reports.

History of Scatterville

Scatterville was one of the first communities in Clay County. It was named because its few stores and cabins were "scattered about over the hills." Early families like the McNiels, Allens, and Mobleys settled there.

Most families were subsistence farmers. This means they grew just enough food for themselves. Some families brought enslaved people with them from Kentucky and Tennessee. Before the Civil War, cotton was grown mainly for making clothes at home. A cotton gin in Scatterville helped remove seeds from the cotton. After the war, cotton became a cash crop, grown to be sold.

In 1855, the first horse-powered sawmill arrived in Scatterville. This helped with building. A school building was put up in 1859. That same year, a new steam-powered sawmill started working. Other businesses included a tanyard for making leather for shoes and a hand-powered mill for making sorghum syrup.

Scatterville During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, both Union (Northern) and Confederate (Southern) soldiers were active in the Scatterville area. The community's location made it a key spot for military movements.

• March 23, 1862: A Union officer reported about 1,000 Confederate soldiers near Scatterville. They were spread out to find food.
• March 24, 1863: Another Union report mentioned 400 to 700 Confederate soldiers scattered from Chalk Bluff to Scatterville.
• March 28, 1863: Union cavalry rode through Scatterville. They were chasing a Confederate group of about 400 men.
• July 21-22, 1863: Confederate reports noted a Union force of 350 soldiers camped near Scatterville.
• January 6, 1864: A Union officer reported that "Williams Guerillas" were active near Scatterville. Guerrillas were small groups of fighters not part of the main army.
• May 21, 1864: A Union captain was shot and wounded by guerrillas while camped near Scatterville.
• March 5, 1864: A Union captain reported that a Confederate colonel was at Scatterville. This colonel was gathering scattered Confederate groups.
• June 1864: A Union general reported that the Confederate colonel was still at Scatterville with 300 men, recruiting more soldiers.
• July 7, 1864: A skirmish (a small fight) happened at Scatterville. Four Confederate soldiers died, and one Union soldier was wounded.
• July 28, 1864: Union soldiers fought with guerrillas in Scatterville. They killed one rebel officer and captured another. They also burned houses that the guerrillas had used to fire from.

Scatterville Cemetery

Since no old buildings remain in Scatterville, the Scatterville Cemetery is an important link to this early community. The cemetery covers about two acres and is surrounded by oak and hickory trees. A large metal marker was placed at the entrance in 1973 by the Arkansas History Commission.

Many of the gravestones are small, narrow marble slabs. Some have fallen or moved, and the writing on many is hard to read due to age. There are also some larger, more decorative markers. For example, the Allen and McNiel families have four-sided monuments with tall stone pillars called obelisks. Some of these have been damaged. The largest gravestone belongs to Nancy McNiel. There is also a stone for three members of the Cook family, shaped like an open Bible. Other interesting stones include a horizontal cylindrical marker from 1870 and a rectangular monument from 1902 with an open Bible and a draped cloth.

There is a story about twenty Civil War soldiers being buried in the southeast corner, but this has not been proven. It is known that some enslaved people were buried at the nearby Mobley family cemetery.

A modern pink granite marker at the cemetery entrance says:

"The privilege of caring for this forest shrine was accepted by the Methodist Youth Fellowship of Rector in 1963. We bequeath its perpetual care to our successors."