MISSOURI CIVIL WAR HISTORY, FORT DAVIDSON AND THE BATTLE OF PILOT KNOB

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The towns of Pilot Knob, Ironton and Arcadia are rich in MO Civil War lore. Because of its strategic importance as the southern terminus of the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad, Union soldiers occupied Pilot Knob and the Arcadia Valley throughout the war. Fort Davidson, the target of the Battle of Pilot Knob in 1864, is a hexagonal earthwork constructed by the Union Army and stands 300 yards from the base of Pilot Knob Mountain. The assault on Fort Davidson by Confederate troops left 1,500 soldiers dead or wounded. The fort and site are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Fort Davidson State Historic Site serves as a memorial to those who gave their lives on the battlefield, and the Visitor's Center provides detailed information about the battle through the use of artifacts, a diorama, and film. Additionally, a self-guided driving tour around the Arcadia Valley directs visitors to some of the most significant points on the battlefields. Each stop is marked by a red granite monument. Maps for this tour are available at Fort Davidson State Historic Site.

Full-scale re-enactments of the Battle of Pilot Knob are staged, attracting tens of thousands of spectators to the Valley. Be sure to make your plans now to attend the next re-enactment scheduled for September 27-28, 2014 commemorating the Civil War Sesquicentennial (150th Anniversary of the Civil War).

The Iron County Courthouse, built in 1861, still bears the mark of a cannon ball fired on its roof during the battle. Both the courthouse and a gazebo on the lawn are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 1861 Ulysses S. Grant received his commission as a Brigadier General at Ironton and a monument at the nearby Catholic church marks that location.