Near Talihina in Le Flore County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
Military Road of 1832
Legacy of the Pick and Shovel
Photographed By Jason Armstrong, September 18, 2021
1. Military Road of 1832 Marker
Early Hollywood images of the cavalry charging to the rescue paint an exciting picture of U.S. Army life in the 1800s. However, soldiers posted at frontier garrisons were more likely to wield picks and shovels, than guns and sabers. Road building was an important military duty - a chore for which soldiers received an extra gill of whiskey (equal to a half cup) and 15 cents a day.
The Military Road is one of many roads constructed by "pick and shovel" soldiers. During the exceptionally wet spring of 1832, a detachment of soldiers labored in rain and mud with hand tools and mule-drawn scrapers to carve the 150-mile route over Winding Stair Mountain. This road connecting Fort Smith and Fort Towson, was built to defend the frontier, and also used to relocate the Choctaw Tribe to Oklahoma.
Caption: Mule-drawn scrapers were used in early road construction. Photo courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society.
Erected by US Forest Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.
Location. 34°
Photographed By Jason Armstrong, September 18, 2021
2. Old Military Road Picnic Ground Information stand
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Ft. Smith -- Ft. Towson Military Road (within shouting distance of this marker); First Military Road (within shouting distance of this marker); The Choctaw Nation (approx. 2.7 miles away); On a Clear Day (approx. 2.7 miles away); Deadman Vista (approx. 4.2 miles away); B-29 Crash Near Talihina (approx. 6.6 miles away); Old Lenox Mission (approx. 6.9 miles away); Lenox Mission (approx. 8.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Talihina.
Photographed By Jason Armstrong, September 18, 2021
3. Start of the Old Military Trail
The trail was built along part of the old road.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2022, by Jason Armstrong of Talihina, Oklahoma. This page has been viewed 107 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 29, 2022, by Jason Armstrong of Talihina, Oklahoma. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
