Battle of Fort Smith

Battle of Fort Smith
Part of American Civil War
Commissary building of Fort Smith
Date July 31, 1864 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

1. Civil War Timeline - Encyclopedia of Arkansas
2. Civil War at Fort Smith AR
3. Action at Fort Smith
4. Battle of Fort Smith, Arkansas