Battle of Fort Smith

Battle of Fort Smith
Part of American Civil War
Commissary building of Fort Smith
Date July 31, 1864 (1864-07-31) Location Fort Smith, Arkansas Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
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 a small battle fought in western Arkansas during the American Civil War.

Background

In the wake of the failed Union Camden Expedition, areas of Arkansas lay prone to Confederate raids against Union outposts.^[1] One such raid occurred against a Union camp at Massard Prairie on July 27, 1864. Confederate General Richard Gano won a significant victory there, which encouraged further operations in the area.^[2]

Battle

Several days later Gano's superior, General Douglas H. Cooper, led a Confederate division several miles north to Fort Smith. Cooper's force consisted of Gano's brigade and General Stand 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. 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 Union 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 Colonel James M. 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 Confederate artillery and the supporting cavalry.^[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.

Opposing Forces

Union

• District of the Frontier - General John M. Thayer
  • 1st Brigade - Colonel John Edwards
  • 2nd Brigade - Colonel James M. Williams
  • 3rd Brigade - Colonel William R. Judson

Confederate

• District of the Indian Territory - General Douglas Cooper
  • Gano's Brigade - General Richard M. Gano
  • Watie's Brigade - Colonel Stand Watie

References

Arkansas in the Civil War
1861	Seizure of Little Rock Arsenal Seizure of Fort Smith Ordinance of Secession
1862	Battle of Pea Ridge Battle of Whitney's Lane Battle of Saint Charles Battle of Cotton Plant Battle of Cane Hill Battle of Prairie Grove Battle of Van Buren
1863	Surrender of Arkansas Post Battle of Chalk Bluff Battle of Helena Battle of Devil's Backbone Battle of Bayou Fourche Evacuation of Little Rock Battle of Pine Bluff
1864	Execution of David O. Dodd Battle of Mount Elba Battle of Elkin's Ferry Battle of Prairie D' Ane Battle of Poison Spring Battle of Marks' Mills Battle of Jenkins' Ferry Battle of Old River Lake Battle of Fort Smith
1865	Battle of Dardanelle Battle of Ivey's Ford
Units	Arkansas Militia Provisional Army of the Confederate States United States Volunteers