Feudin’and Fightin’ in the Ozarks

“Feudin’and Fightin’

in the Ozarks

”

A Civil War Tour to Southern Missouri and NW Arkansas

Thursday, April 5 – Saturday, April 7, 2018

Started off the night before turning my dog over to my son in Lincoln, IL (a halfway point).  Well it wasn't supposed to be this cold this time of year.  I was issued this name tag.

On the bus, Jeannie gave us the following quiz to loosen us up:
1.  The Lake of the Ozarks was created by damming what river
 2.  What city is the Missouri state capitol?
3. What would you call a person from Missouri?
4. In what Missouri museum would you find the world's larges pair of underwear?
5.  Mark Twain's boyhood hom is in what city?
6. What is the nickname for the state of Missouri?
7. Name tow food and or drink items invented at the 1904St Louis World's Fair?
8. Stubborn as a Missouri_______
9.  Invented in 1899 at St Joseph, Missouri...this food product makes it easy for people everywhere to have flapjacks and syrup for breakfast?
10. Missouri experienced a series of powerful earthquakes in late 1811 and early 1812.  What is the name of the fault along which these earthquakes occurred?
11.  How many states border Missouri?
12. Name them.
13. What are the large rivers flowing through Missouri?
14.  What Missouri city was the starting point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition? (actually IL)
15.  What types of attractions can be found in and around Hermann, MO?
I won't go on to the extra credit since this was only fun.

Our first stop was to pick up our local expert guide, Bill.

He also gave us an evening lecture in the hotel's conference room.  He would not take a stipend but rather asked for a donation to the park's restoration.

Wilson's Creek visitor's center:
  i  Field hospital "The soldier may forget the horror and blood of the battle but the cheerful happy scenes of the campfire he will never forget" ~ Private Carlton McCarthy, 2d company Northern VA.

 This was unusually embroidered Navy enlisted cap.

Anna Elizabeth Steele, John Ray's step daughter died by typhoid 1862.

I picked up a block of pressed tea brick in the gift shop.  It looks like the one on this site but was $32 instead of $36.  http://www.svtea.com/Teabricks/products/17/

Virtual tour (I wish I viewed this before the trip):
 https://www.nps.gov/wicr/learn/photosmultimedia/virtual-tour-stop-1.htm

Wilson's Creek in the spring lacked the leaves this time of year so it was much easier to see places that were pointed out to us.  Actually, we were told that many trees were invasive species and there would have been hardly any there having been used as building material and fireplaces.  There would have been cornfields.

Here's a picture of me at Bloody Hill at Wilson's Creek on stop number 6.  As you can see, this is the day that had the best weather.

Friday we headed for Pea Ridge (named after wild peas).  My phone was locked up so I didn't get many photos but wished I had gotten a picture of the reproduction 3/4 scale ambulance wagon in the visitors center like this one.

We were all grateful for Ranger Dave who took us through the park.  His description of what happened was easy to follow. He is a veteran of the Iraq War and still serves in the National Guard as a historian.

Here's a picture of me at stop number 5.

Here we are walking out to the east overlook of the battle field.  My pictures of the overlook seemed dark but you can click HERE to see better photos.

Here we are at the reconstructed Elkhorn Tavern. It was a focal point between roads and a section of the road was part of the Trail of Tears.   I'm next to the lady in pink on the right of this group photo.

This parking lot had only 2 memorials representing the union and confederates.  More pristine than Gettysburg with all the memorials.

Afterward we had lunch saw Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, AR.  It's mostly an art gallery but the guide knew our mission and catered a tour around early American.  Here she explained the hidden and political meanings of portraits.   I thought this was interesting picture of refugees.

 This painting was titled "War News from Texas" (click for background video) 1848 by Richard Caton Woodville.  She explained the hidden meanings.  I had to laugh when Francie thought there was a hidden meaning in the cup was a modern camera.  I didn't let her live it down. It even came up later when our reenactor at Pea Ridge had a cup hanging from his gear.

ceiling art.

 This art was huge and reminded me of the Colossal Colon only this was an alphabet.  It's called Alphabet/Good Humor  made of painted fiberglass and bronze (1975).

We also saw the Bachman-Wilson House there.  It's a Frank Lloyd Wright house much smaller than the one in Springfield.  Bedroom was so compact that it reminded me of a camper.  Our group admission sticker was good for 10% off in the gift shop ~ the most expensive gift shop I ever entered.  There was a fancy women's blazer with a tag of $1525.

Then went to the Cooper Chapel. Approaching the chapel gave me a dejavu moment like I'd seen this before.  Our guide explained there were others so maybe I saw on like it. The architect is Fay Jones and he built others.

 Here is Ann telling us about the history of the chapel.

 We had dinner at Fred's Hickory Inn.

Saturday morning we awoke to some snow on the ground at our hotel in Springfield, MO.  This is the view from the bus.  As we headed North-East on I-44, there was less snow.

 After a stop at Rolla we head for Arcadia, MO for lunch at the Abby Kitchen.  Oh and the smell from the bakery was wonderful.  This is a former Ursuline Academy turned bed and breakfast.  Very nostalgic.
https://www.arcadiavalleyacademy.com/
I notice that the stairway resembled a rectangular style known for pulling between the floors of stairs. I found an old function of that design HERE.   See the stairway at 2:42 on this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=153&v=m-WX3h8nVyY
Here's a history of the college.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHFw7dDzzTc
Afterward we went to Civil War Battlefield in Pilot Knob state park and earth works of Fort Davidson.

 Devil's Icebox is what the rock on the hill is called.  In the center of the fort is the crater made when the union left and blew up the remaining arsenal so that the confederates wouldn't get it.

 Our volunteer tour guide demonstrated his musket.  He explained that his love for this place goes way back to when he was a boy and played in this park. 

Our bus driver, Kevin, was excellent driver.  He was safe, had the latest technology, and made the best turns in places I never thought of.

I missed my little dog, Sophie, so my son sent me this photo.

I think she missed her little dog bed at his house that she usually falls over the edge (on purpose).