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Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Arkansas Civil War 150- Gaze and Graze 32

 After our trip to Prescott, we went to Old Washington State Park.  We had a blast here.  We found out that Old Washington was the Southern capital of Arkansas from 1863-65.  Also, Washington is the only city we visited that was NOT on water.  When Andrew asked about this our guide told us that the road/path that runs through Old Washington is a road that the Indians used that goes from south of St Louis to Chihuahua, Mexico. It is called the Southwest trail.  Davey Crocket traveled on this road.

In February of 1820, Washington was authorized to have a post office.  It is in operation today and is the oldest continuous use post office west of the Mississippi.  Washington became a city on George Washington's birthday in 1824.

Below is a magnolia tree.  Did you get that? 'A' tree.  It is the oldest magnolia in Arkansas.  It was planted in 1839. They say there is a bigger one in Texarkana- it must be really, really big!

Look how tiny we look under this tree!
This building looks just like the courthouse in Jacksonport.  

 Andrew and I enjoyed the weapons museum.
 The flags in front of buildings denoted that that building was open for touring.
 We ate lunch in the Tavern.  Highly recommend this.  Good home cooking.  They offer a regular plate and a small plate.  We got the small plate because we had big supper plans.  Some of the other diners were concerned that we would not have enough food when they heard what we ordered.  We were full and they provided Andrew and I with a laugh.
 The Blacksmith was my favorite stop.  He knew his history about knives and other stuff he was smithing.  He was making S hooks while he talked to us- hence the blur.  We learned that there is a Bowie Knife at the Historical Arkansas Museum in downtown LR that was made for Jim Bowie.
 Jim Bowie was a large man so his knife was large.  The handle was huge!  The US government has knife rules and what constitutes a good knife.  It must pass these tests- cut the hair on your arm, cut a rope-with no weight at the bottom- that is hanging, cut through a 2x4, cut the hair on your arm again and then be put in a vise that bends it 90 degrees without it breaking.  The Smith above has made several knives that have met these standards.  He showed us several Bowie knives.  The point of a Bowie knife is not in the center but lower.  There is curve in the blade as well.

The Smith said that the Union troops were afraid that every confederate soldier had a Bowie knife.  In the surgeon's report from Pea Ridge, he reported that he had more blade injuries that gun shots.  A gun might misfire but a knife never does was the motto of those folks that carried them.

After a wonderful visit at Old Washington we drove to White Oak Lake State Park.  This was the stamping site for Poison Springs.  There is a wonderful visitors center and great bathroom.  Lots of camp sites.  No cel service.  It was also interesting to note that there was no leaf change here yet.

General Steele and his men camped here on their way to Camden.


 The engagement at Poison Springs was interesting.  Union General Steele had sent our soldiers to forage the country side for food.  Confederate General Price had his men around Camden on high alert and they discovered the movements.  The Union soldiers didn't have a chance.  They lost 4 cannon, 170 wagons and 1200 mules, 204 killed or missing, 97 wounded.  The Confederates lost 13 men, 81 wounded and 1 missing.  The signs around the park do a great job retelling how it all happened.
 Here we are in a field where some of the battle took place.
 Lots of trails around the site.  Andrew walked a few, not me, they looked snakey to me.

 Some of the best signs of the whole trip.  I really understood what happened.
 Another picture by the sign.
 These next few pictures are in and around Camden.  Andrew had really done his research and knew where other skirmishes had taken place.


 We ate supper that night in Camden at the Postmaster's Grill.  Here is my napkin, darling, wouldn't you say?!?
 Our service was so bad at this restaurant that I wrote them a letter.  The food was outstanding but the terrible service was so glaring that we hardly noticed the food.  The owner wrote me a note thanking me for writing.  My note from the owner told me that bad service was never acceptable.  They were sorry for my experience.  Before the note I would say, don't go, but now I would be willing to try them again.
Bad weather was in Arkansas that night but it passed right over us but would affect our next days visit is several ways.  Stay tuned...

1 comment:

Andrew said...

Mother, I am really enjoying these blog posts. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip with you.

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