JeffFromSyracuse Does the Trans-Mississipi

[JeffFromSyracuse]

I'd like to share a few of my pictures and experiences from my last couple of days. Flying in to Kansas City, I drove more than 600 miles and visited 6 battle sites plus one fort.

My first stop was Carthage. I was rather disappointed - no interpretation. It's only a two acre plot and is only part of a rolling battle. But still, it's called Battle of Carthage State Park. I digress.

A drive an hour to the east took me to Wilson's Creek. Here, my expectations were met! By coincidence, it happened to be the anniversary of the battle and big ceremony was about to take place when I arrived. I'm not one for speeches, so I went straight to the tour.
@Buckeye Bill said in another thread said the battlefield is one of the most beautiful he's visited. I have to agree - and I hope my pictures do it justice.

The first picture is stop 5, where Sigel's column did damage before being pushed back by a Confederate counterattack.

Next, I went to Bloody Hill, the focal point of the battle. Not as steep as I was expecting, but still a formidable position.

I also visited Lyon's death marker. Not a great picture, but have to share because I find this funny. The stone marker is nearly 100 years old and proclaims that Lyon died near that spot. The modern park marker (looked to be 5 years old or less) basically said "actually, he probably didn't die at this spot."

My next stop was Dug Spring, which is commemorated by a marker in a school parking lot. I didn't take a picture, but I did pet two dogs while I was there, so it was a successful visit!

More from my travels in a bit.

 

[JOHN42768]

Thanks for posting

 

[lupaglupa]

Great pictures - looks like you had perfect weather. Thanks for sharing these.

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

After Wilson's Creek, I carried on to Pea Ridge. I'm a brisk walker, so it works for me to have a such aggressive itinerary.

Pea Ridge has some breath taking vistas, and a lot of work is being done to modernize the park. However, I found interpretation and trail maintenance to be lacking. Still, I made the best of it!

Here's the field where much of the Leetown fight occurred and where both McCullogh and McIntosh were killed, throwing the Confederate advance into disarray.



The vista from the overlooks on Pea Ridge itself is incredible.

Now, here's something I don't understand. Interpretation around Elkhorn Tavern is focused around the tavern itself, while the trail that went to the Tanyard was not in great shape.

Also, there's not much interpretation at the Clemens' House site, which is surprising because this was the location of some of the most intense fighting at the battle. (I took a picture but can't get it to upload properly.)

Finally, the park was nice enough to arrange for the cannons on the Union gun the second morning of the battle for me in this pleasing manner. (This is my favorite picture so far.) I couldn't have asked for better weather.

 

[jackt62]

As I have not been to any of those sites, the photos provide a very useful look.

 

[121st PA Vols]

Beautiful photos and day. Thanks.

 

[Pollaco]

I was there (Pea Ridge) a little over 25 years ago,thanks for the memories.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Awesome!!!

Bill

 

[donna]

Great photos.

 

[W Charles Young]

Good stuff! Thank you for posting.

 

[Philip Leigh]

Don't overlook the federal fortifications along Little Sugar Creek where the union army was initially located on the evening before the first day of fighting and facing the Confederates across the creek.

When you're done at Pea Ridge don't forget Prairie Grove State Park. You get a good look at almost the entire battlefield from the ridge where the Confederates were located.

If you're interested in the American Civil War influence on the Indian nations of Oklahoma you may wanna consider a trip to Tahlequah, the capital of the Cherokee nation. it was also the closest town to the farm boy who raised two bloodhounds for hunting raccoons in the novel titled "where the red fern grows."

 

[JeffFromSyracuse]

Don't overlook the federal fortifications along Little Sugar Creek where the union army was initially located on the evening before the first day of fighting and facing the Confederates across the creek.

When you're done at Pea Ridge don't forget Prairie Grove State Park. You get a good look at almost the entire battlefield from the ridge where the Confederates were located.

I made it to the works on Little Sugar Creek! I tried to take a picture to send to my wife that adequately reflected the grade I had to climb. Photography on an iPhone does no justice.

I also made it to Prairie Grove. Pictures pending .

 

[lupaglupa]

I'm a brisk walker

A true New York native!