FT. DAVIDSON - PILOT KNOB
Iron County, Missouri

 

Ft.DavidsonHist.Marker.gif (29913 bytes)

FORT DAVIDSON STATE HISTORIC SITE
Major Missouri Civil War battle took place here at this earthen fort on Sept. 27, 1864. Over 900 soldiers, mostly Confederates, were killed & buried here. Washington County in the Civil War - Part II includes an account of this battle.  Photographed: 1980's

 

Ft. Davidson Monument.JPG (19820 bytes)

  

CannonsFt.Davidson.JPG (21218 bytes)

Monument on southwest side of fort where mass burial site is:"WHERE VALOR & DEVOTION MET NORTH & SOUTH SEPTEMBER 26 - 27, 1864" Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

  

Cannons at entrance to Ft. Davidson.  Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

 

Pilot Knob Mountain.JPG (15943 bytes)

Shepard Mountain.JPG (12190 bytes)

Prior to the attack on Ft. Davidson a battle occured on Pilot Knob Mountain (east of the fort) during which Union officer, Maj. James Wilson, was captured.  He was later executed.  For more details see "Reprieve & Reprisal".   Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

Shepard's Mountain in background southwest of the fort. Confederate cannons on this mountain fired upon the fort.   Picture taken from north  wall of fort & showing opposite southwest wall.  Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

 

Powder Magazine.JPG (17574 bytes)

  

Imanuel Church.JPG (14851 bytes)

On the night of Sept. 27, about an hour after Union troops accomplished a daring escape from the fort, a squad that had been left behind blew up the powder magazine containing 20 tons of ammunition which left a small crater in the center of the fort.  The explosion shook the earth & was distinctly heard 30 miles away. For more details see "Flight in the Night".  Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

  

Immanuel Lutheran Church was built in 1861 & served as a Union hospital during the Battle of Pilot Knob. Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

 

Confederate Cannon.JPG (9648 bytes)

Union Cannon.JPG (19927 bytes)

Confederate re-enactor cannon. Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

Union re-enactors firing Union cannon.
Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

 

Confederate Troops 1.JPG (13509 bytes)

Confederate Troops 2.JPG (12529 bytes)

Confederate re-enactors

Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

 

Confederate Camp 1.JPG (19988 bytes)

Confederate Camp 2.JPG (15744 bytes)

Confederate Camp

Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

 

Union Camp 1.JPG (19589 bytes)

Union Camp 2.JPG (9851 bytes)

Union Camp

Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

 

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Emmet Taylor.JPG (14743 bytes)

Cavalry re-enactors photographed:
4 Nov. 2000

Re-enactor Emmet Taylor of Billy Yank Camp, St. Louis.  He recognized the Daughters of Union Veterans badge I was wearing & stopped & talked to us for a few minutes. Photographed:
4 Nov. 2000

 

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widow.jpg (14116 bytes)

Undertaker (Union re-enactor J.D. Avery of Manchester, Mo.) & 1860 hearse. Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

Widow & wooden casket. Photographed: 4 Nov. 2000

 

 

Iron County Sites Index

Southeast Missouri Sites Index

 

IRON COUNTY LINKS:

Link to Ft. Davidson