Battle of Fort Smith

Battle of Fort Smith
	Part of the American Civil War
	; Fort Smith Commissary
Date	July 31, 1864
Location	Sebastian County, Arkansas35°23′11.7″N 94°25′57.6″W / 35.386583°N 94.432667°W
Result	Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
John M. Thayer	Douglas H. Cooper
Units involved
District of the Frontier	District of the Indian Territory
Strength
3 brigades	2 brigades
Casualties and losses
4 killed; 6 wounded; 11 captured	2 killed; 4 wounded

The Battle of Fort Smith was fought on July 31, 1864, in Sebastian County, Arkansas, during the American Civil War.

Background

In the wake of the failed Camden Expedition, areas of Arkansas lay prone to cavalry raids against Union outposts.^[1] One such raid occurred at Massard Prairie on July 27, 1864 where Confederate forces under Brigadier-General Richard M. Gano won a victory, encouraging further engagement.^[2]

Opposing Forces

Union

District of the Frontier – Brig. Gen. John M. Thayer
- 1st Brigade – Col. John Edwards
- 2nd Brigade – Col. James M. Williams
- 3rd Brigade – Col. William R. Judson

Confederate

District of the Indian Territory – BG Douglas H. Cooper
- 5th Texas Cavalry Brigade – Brig. Gen. Richard M. Gano
- 1st Indian Brigade – Brig. Gen. Stand Watie

Battle

Several days later Gano's superior, Brigadier-General Douglas H. Cooper, led a Confederate division several miles north to Fort Smith. Cooper's force consisted of Gano's brigade and Watie's brigade. Gano took position along the Indian Territory side of the Poteau River while Watie moved up from the south on the Arkansas side. Brigadier-General John M. Thayer commanded the town's defenses with three brigades. Watie's men made first contact with the 6th Kansas Cavalry of Colonel William R. Judson's brigade. Judson's men fell back from Fort No. 2 along the Texas Road, alerting the rest of the Union garrison of the Confederate arrival.^[3] Cooper's men began to shell the fort. Thayer responded by sending forward units from Williams' brigade, including the 6th Kansas Colored Infantry and two howitzers from the 2nd Kansas Battery. The Union artillery proved superior and soon drove off the Confederates.^[3] Cooper ordered a withdrawal, leaving snipers behind to cover the retreat.^[4]

Aftermath

Cooper took with him approximately $130,000 worth of Union arms and supplies.^[4] Thayer maintained control of Fort Smith for the duration of the war. Fort Smith is preserved within Fort Smith National Historic Site.

References

^ Jenkins, Josh (June 6, 2024). "Civil War Timeline". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Little Rock, Arkansas: CALS. OCLC 68194233. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
^ "Fort Smith in the Civil War". ExploreSouthernHistory.com. Dale Cox. 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Arey, Frank (August 30, 2023). "Action at Fort Smith". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Little Rock, Arkansas: CALS. OCLC 68194233. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Battle of Fort Smith, Arkansas". ExploreSouthernHistory.com. Dale Cox. 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2024.