View source for Prairie D'Ane Battlefield

{{for|the military conflict|Battle of Prairie D'Ane}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name                 = Prairie D'Ane Battlefield
| nrhp_type            = nhl
| image                = Prairie_De_Ann_Battlefield.jpg
| caption              =
| nearest_city         = [[Prescott, Arkansas]]
| coordinates          = {{coord|33|49|35|N|93|25|56|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin             = Arkansas
| map_caption          = Location in Arkansas
| locmap_relief        = y
| area                 =
| built                = 1864
| architect            =
| architecture         =
| designated_nrhp_type = April 19, 1994<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=896&ResourceType=District
|title=Camden Expedition Sites|date=2007-09-26|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| added                = March 22, 1974<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
| refnum               = 74000481
}}
The '''Prairie D'Ane Battlefield''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VXUeAQAAIAAJ&q=Prairie+De+Roan&pg=PA1725|title=Lexicon of Geologic name of the United States|work=United States Department of the Interior - R.T. Hill, 1888 (Ark. Geol. Surv. Ann. Rept. 1888, vol. 2, pp. 32-33, 46-47, 188)|year=1938}}</ref> also known as '''Prairie D'Ann Battlefield''' or '''Prairie De Ann Battlefield''' in anglicized forms, was the site of the Civil War [[Battle of Prairie D'Ane]], one of the engagements in southwestern Arkansas of the Union's [[Camden Expedition]] of 1864.  It was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1974, and, with other sites, is part of the [[Camden Expedition Sites|Camden Expedition Sites National Historic Landmark]].  It was declared part of the [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1994.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv">{{cite web|url={{NHLS url|id=94001182}} |date=November 29, 1993 |first1=Edward C. |last1=Bearss |first2=James H. |last2=Charleton |title=National Historic Landmark Nomination: Camden Expedition Sites |format=pdf |website=National Park Service}}</ref><ref name="nrhpphotos">{{cite web|url={{NHLS url|id=94001182|photos=y}} |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Camden Expedition Sites--Accompanying photos |format=pdf |date=1993 |website=National Park Service}}</ref>
In February 2018 the Nevada County Depot and Museum announced it was deeded an 800-acre tract of this battlefield, which it will improve for heritage tourism. The [[Civil War Trust]], a division of the [[American Battlefield Trust]], acquired the acreage. Note: The Trust's website shows the parcel as 811 acres.<ref>[https://www.battlefields.org/preserve/saved-land] Land Saved by the [[American Battlefield Trust]], accessed May 18, 2018; [http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/blog/celebration-planned-february-23-for-prairie-dane-battlefield-acquistion] "Celebration Planned Feb. 23 for Prairie D'Ane Battlefield Acquisition." Arkansas Historic Preservation Association, accessed May 18, 2018.</ref>
==History==
{{Further|Camden Expedition}}
The 1864 [[Camden Expedition]] was part of a two-pronged strategy by the [[Union Army]] to drive [[Confederate Army|Confederate]] resistance out of southwestern Arkansas and northern [[Louisiana]], and penetrated into Confederate [[Texas]].  Union Major General [[Frederick Steele]] led a Union force from [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]] on March 23, 1864, with the objective of joining forces with Major General [[Nathaniel Prentice Banks]] at [[Shreveport, Louisiana]].  Confederate forces in Arkansas were directed from [[Washington, Arkansas|Washington]], where the Confederate government of the state relocated after the fall of Little Rock.  Confederate Major General [[Sterling Price]] ordered Brigadier General [[John S. Marmaduke]] to harry the Union column and to prevent it from crossing the [[Little Missouri River (Arkansas)|Little Missouri River]] as it moved toward Washington. Advance Union forces established a beachhead on the south side of the Little Missouri on April 3, and clashed with Confederate defenders in the [[Battle of Elkin's Ferry]].  The outnumbered Confederates were forced to withdraw, and General Price established a defensive position, lightly fortified by earthworks, on the road between Elkin's Ferry and Washington at the western edge of the sparsely-populated Prairie d'Ane, a roughly circular area of prairie surrounded by woodlands.  General Steele delayed his advance toward Washington until April 9, awaiting the arrival of addition troops from [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]].<ref name="nrhpinv"/>
The leading edge of Steele's force began skirmishing with Price's force on April 10, and both sides brought up reinforcements, but the Union advance was halted by fighting that lasted into the night.  The next day Union forces advance across the prairie in a battle line in the afternoon, but the lateness of the march meant no general engagement took place, and the Union forces ended up returning to their camps.  That night Price withdrew most of his force further down the Washington road, leaving a small guard in the entrenchments on the prairie.  The Union again advanced on the 12th, prompting this rearguard to also withdraw, with Union cavalry giving chase for a time.  At this point, Steele, whose forces were on half-rations, decided it was necessary to resupply his army.  Instead of advancing further toward Washington, he turned toward [[Camden, Arkansas|Camden]], a Confederate-held town whose defenses Price had stripped to defend Washington.  Price advanced troops in pursuit of the Union army, engaging them in a rearguard skirmish near the hamlet of [[Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery|Moscow]] (now part of [[Prescott, Arkansas|Prescott]]).  Due to difficulties resupplying is force while in Camden, Steele ended up withdrawing all the way back to Little Rock.<ref name="nrhpinv"/>
==Battlefield==
The main battle took place over an area estimated to cover some {{convert|5000|acre}} in and around where the city of Prescott later developed after being established in 1873.  Much of this area has been cultivated for agriculture, and remains lightly developed. The only major intrusion constructed since the battle is a corridor containing railroad tracks and [[Interstate 30]].  The Moscow area, where the rearguard action took place, is relatively unaltered, with some development taking place outside the known bounds of the battle area.  The [[Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery]], a site which existed at the time of the battle, is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. (The current church is a 20th-century structure.) A land area of more than {{convert|2600|acre|ha}} was designated in 1994 as part of the [[Camden Expedition Sites]], a [[National Historic Landmark District]].<ref name="nris"/><ref name="nrhpinv"/>
In February 2018, the Nevada County Depot and Museum announced acquisition of an 800-acre tract of the battlefield and planned a celebration to accept the deed. It had conducted fundraising and was aided by a grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program of the [[National Park Service]]. The [[American Battlefield Trust]], America's largest non-profit battlefield organization, purchased the property and deeded it to the museum. (The Trust lists the parcel as containing 811 acres). The site will be prepared as a heritage tourism destination; the interpretive plan will include 412 acres of the nearby [[Elkin's Ferry Battlefield]].<ref>[http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/blog/celebration-planned-february-23-for-prairie-dane-battlefield-acquistion "Celebration Planned February 23 for Prairie D'Ane Battlefield Acquisition"], Blog: 14 February 2018, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program; accessed 27 April 2018; [https://www.battlefields.org/preserve/saved-land] Land Saved by the [[American Battlefield Trust]], accessed November 30, 2021.</ref>
==See also==
*[[List of National Historic Landmarks in Arkansas]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Nevada County, Arkansas]]
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{National Register of Historic Places|state=collapsed}}
{{Portal bar|American Civil War|Arkansas|National Register of Historic Places}}<!-- EDITORS NOTE: Please do not add "Portal:United States". Thank you. -->
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Prairie D'Ane Battlefield}}
[[Category:Arkansas in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:Battlefields of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War]]
[[Category:Camden Expedition Sites National Historic Landmark]]
[[Category:Conflict sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Arkansas]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Nevada County, Arkansas]]