Fort Smith in Sebastian County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
The War Begins
Fort Smith National Historic Site
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Sandra Tidwell Hughes, September 14, 2025
1. The War Begins Marker
At the beginning of the Civil War, amid the firing of cannons and the cheers of the people, a local newspaper reported that the Arkansas State Militia raised the Confederate flag and took control of Fort Smith on April 23, 1861.
With the Confederate victory in South Carolina at Fort Sumter, the U.S. War Department ordered all southern forts abandoned. Despite pleas of concerned citizens, U.S. troops (later called Union troops) left Fort Smith just an hour before the state militia arrived. The transition took place without conflict.
While Arkansas militia troops controlled the fort, citizens of Fort Smith and the surrounding region remained deeply divided. Many pro-Unionists kept silent, suppressed their loyalties, or left town. After the Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg in July 1863, followed by the Confederate defeat at Honey Springs west of Fort Smith, Union forces reclaimed Fort Smith in September 1863.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 23, 1864.
Location. 35° 23.275′ N, 94° 25.833′ W. Memorial is in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in Sebastian County. It is on Garrison Avenue. Touch for map
this page online
Regionally, this memorial is in the Arkansas River Valley, in the Cherokee Heritage Region, and in Osage Territory. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Defending Freedom (here, next to this marker); Fort Wall (a few steps from this marker); The Officers Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Executions at Fort Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Boom! (within shouting distance of this marker); The Gallows (within shouting distance of this marker); Confederates Occupy The Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); At the Edge of Indian Country (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Smith.
Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, September 14, 2025
2. The War Begins Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2025. This page has been viewed 58 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on September 28, 2025. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 27, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
