Fort Smith was a beacon of light for the freedom of all men during the dark Civil War
years. The city deserves a place of honor that has heretofore not been bestowed on it
in the history of the United States of America.
It was in Fort Smith, October 30, 1863, that the first
meeting was held in any seceded Confederate state to attempt to bring that revolting
state back to the union.'
This mass meeting of Union
Sympathizers from twenty Arkansas counties took place after Fort Smith was recaptured'
by Union troops, September 1, 1863.
The story of the capture of Fort Smith started several weeks
earlier in August, 1863.
For the Union side with four thousand troops, Major
General James G. Blunt and his Army of the Frontier had been at Fort Gibson since early
June. In late August, dashing Colonel William Cloud left Fayetteville with fifteen
hundred light artillery troops and met with Blunt.
On the
Confederate side, General William L. Cabell had been directed by his superior
General William Steele on August 19th to move Cabell's.troops from the San Bois in Indian Territory to guard
Fort Smith from attack by the Federals. All total
there were approximately nine thousand Confederate troops in the Indian Territory and Fort Smith, led
by Generals Steele, Cabell, Douglas, Cooper and
Stand Watie.
As ordered, Cabell moved his troops to the Poteau
nine miles southwest of Fort Smith and began
blocking the roads to the fort. Ordinance stores of
all kinds, along with quartermaster and commissary
supplies were loaded in ox-drawn wagons ready to
be moved from the fort. On the 31st of August,
information led Cabell to abandon the fort. The
retreating supplies were sent down the south road
across the Devil's Backbone towards Waldron. At 9
P.M., the same day the retreat was given by Cabell
and the remaining troops deserted Fort Smith. Upon
fording the Poteau River, early in the morning of
September 1st, General Blunt discovered a great
deal of troop movement by the tracks which were
left by the retreating army. The 2nd Kansas, the 5th
Missouri State Militia Cavalry, and Colonel Cloud's
2nd Kansas "flying column" were sent to try to catch
up with Cabell's troops |
General Blunt came into Fort Smith and with the
1st Arkansas Union Infantry took the city without a
shot. The stars and stripes were raised in the
Garrison for the first time since April 23, 1861.
Colonel Cloud's troops raced on toward Waldron and clashed with General Cabell's troops. There was a running battle at the foot of the Devil's Backbone in south Sebastian County. That same day, Cabell was finally able to get his troops and supplies across the Devil's Backbone and on to Waldron. Colonel Cloud came back into Fort Smith, September 2nd, with thirty prisoners."
Colonel Cloud was put in charge of the fort as
soon as he returned from the foray as General Blunt
was too ill to command due to a reoccurring fever.
Lieutenant Colonel E. J. Searle was name Provost
Marshal.
There was a great deal of emotion as Fort Smith Union citizens welcome the soldiers and the return
of the glorious emblem of Freedom, Humanity and Justice proudly floating from the
flagstaff, where but yesterday was disgraced by the display of the ensign of foul
treason." It was evident the confederate flag was despised by the Union
population that had remained in Fort Smith under occupation.
Union troops were put in encampments in and around the city of Fort Smith. No officer or soldier was allowed to be in the town without a written pass.
The general populace of Fort Smith was in shambles. Everyone had dug deep to come up with supplies that were needed by the Confederate Army during the proceeding years.
Commerce had essentially stopped and those who were left on the home place and in the stores, were holding things together by shreds.
"Mountain Feds", who were Federal Arkansans who had fled to
the mountains rather than serve in the Rebel army, came pouring into Fort smith.
Union men had been forcible conscripted into the confederate Army, deserted that army
and came to the fort.
Other events in Arkansas were considerable improving for
the Union cause. Helena, on the Mississippi river, had fallen into Federal hands earlier. |