MISSOURI CIVIL WAR HISTORY, FORT DAVIDSON AND
THE BATTLE OF PILOT KNOB
The
towns of Pilot Knob, Ironton and Arcadia are rich in MO Civil War
lore. Because of its strategic importance as the southern terminus
of the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad, Union soldiers occupied
Pilot Knob and the Arcadia Valley throughout the war. Fort Davidson,
the target of the Battle of Pilot Knob in 1864, is a hexagonal earthwork
constructed by the Union Army and stands 300 yards from the base
of Pilot Knob Mountain. The assault on Fort Davidson by Confederate
troops left 1,500 soldiers dead or wounded. The fort and site are
listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Fort
Davidson State Historic Site serves as a memorial to those who gave
their lives on the battlefield, and the Visitor's Center provides
detailed information about the battle through the use of artifacts,
a diorama, and film. Additionally, a self-guided driving tour around
the Arcadia Valley directs visitors to some of the most significant
points on the battlefields. Each stop is marked by a red granite
monument. Maps for this tour are available at Fort Davidson State
Historic Site.
Every
third year a full-scale re-enactment of the Battle of Pilot Knob
is staged, attracting tens of thousands of spectators to the Valley.
Be sure to make your plans now to attend the next two
re-enactments scheduled during the Civil War Sesquicentennial celebrations;
they are: September 25-26, 2010 and September 27-28, 2014.
The
Iron County Courthouse, built in 1861, still bears the mark of a
cannon ball fired on its roof during the battle. Both the courthouse
and a gazebo on the lawn are listed in the National Register of
Historic Places. In 1861 Ulysses S. Grant received his commission
as a Brigadier General at Ironton and a monument at the nearby Catholic
church marks that location.
The
2007 Reenactment was held on September 22-23.
