Buffalo City to be represented in THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN simulation

I previously mentioned the possibility of Buffalo City being added to THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN strategic map (See Previous Post on Buffalo City )  The historic Buffalo City was on the opposite side of the White River from its current location. It will be entering a revised campaign map and have a victory location (replacing Rand's Ford, which was a non-historic location).

A map from the 1850s shows a road link between Buffalo City and North Fork. This will be represented. The same map shows a road from Buffalo City apparently heading straight to Yellville. A freight road between the two towns is also noted in The History of Marion County.  This will be represented, as well as a road north from Buffalo City to Flippin Barrens. The road to the south will go through Big Flats, which will be represented on the map and had a post office represented in a map from the 1850s.

Here are some screenshots from the TC2M map (under construction) that will represent Buffalo City and the White River.

Talbot's Ferry: Historical Accounts and WIA4 Map Preview

This is a historical account of a skirmish at Talbot's Ferry, taken from  The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture:

The Skirmish at Talbot’s Ferry (also known as Talbert’s Ferry) in Marion County was one of many skirmishes associated with General Samuel Curtis’s campaign in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas in 1862. The fighting was concentrated around a Confederate saltpeter manufactory located along the White River at Talbot’s Ferry near Yellville (Marion County).

On April 19, 1862, a detachment under the command of Captain James T. Drummond of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry crossed the White River near Yellville with intentions of locating and destroying the Confederate saltpeter manufactory located eight miles south of Little North Fork—now part of Bull Shoals Lake—on the south side of the river. During his patrol, Captain Drummond captured three men thought to be Confederate pickets placed along the river. He ordered these prisoners to ferry eight of his men across the river in canoes to destroy the manufactory. The Union soldiers were successful in destroying the manufactory and setting fire to the surrounding buildings.

In the taking of Talbot’s Ferry, the Confederate guard—consisting of around fifty men—that was protecting the manufactory began firing on Company I, Fourth Iowa, from log cabins located along the opposite side of the river. The two forces exchanged fire across the river for some time until a Union howitzer began firing on the Confederate position, dispersing the guard.
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Here is another version of the event researched by Vincent Anderson. It is found The Baxter Bulletin from the Baxter County Historical Society:

On April 16, 1862, Union General Samuel Ryan Curtis met the 4th Iowa Cavalry at Forsyth, Mo., where he immediately ordered a review of his new regiment. According to the biographer, Lt. William Force Scott, “the men aligned themselves along the very muddy road in a prolonged and pouring rain. The companies were drawn up in parade line. The general and his large staff went splashing by at a gallop, both reviewers and reviewed being hidden in rubber ponchos and hardly able to see each other through the storm. That was the detachment’s introduction to General Curtis, and the work of the regiment was laid out at once.”

 

Detachments were sent east and south toward the White River with orders to destroy any saltpeter works operated by the Rebels at different places along the river. Capt. James T. Drummond’s command of the 4th Iowa Cavalry was temporarily placed under the command of Col. Lafayette McCrillis of the 3rd Illinois.

Union forces place target on Bean Cave

After a day’s march in the heavy rain, it was learned that work was going on at a nitrate cave on the White River near the mouth of Little North Fork, 18 miles farther south. This particular cave was known as Bean Cave, three miles above Talbot’s Ferry.

The ferry was named for the pioneer family of three brothers — Fed, Sim and Wat Talbert — and was one of the first, fairly well-known ferries in the Ozarks on the White River. It was a strategic point of access for the Union.

 

The Union detachments ordered in the attack of Talbot’s Ferry were commanded by Capt. Thomas C. Tullis, Lt. William A. Heacock, Lt. Jacob Hart and Lt. Orson N. Perkins. The decision was made by McCrillis to send Drummond with Companies Q and K of the 4th Iowa Cavalry to destroy the property.

 

The forced march was mired in a series of thunderstorms and the darkness of the night. Their destination was achieved soon after dawn. The trek took them from their station in Ozark, Mo., to current day Lutie, Mo. They discovered their assumed ferry crossing at Dubuque on the White River was hindered because the river was engorged from the recent rains.

 

While in Ozark County, they journeyed through Locust, Mo., then onward through Three Brothers on the old Salt Road, or Highway 5 North today.

 

After reaching the old Military Road at its junction with Tucker Cemetery Road in Whiteville, the detachments turned west and headed toward the Denton Ferry Road along the White River.

Meeting the 'Butternuts'

By the next morning, the Confederate saltpeter cave and powder works came into view on the hill rising from the present day Marion County bank of the White River. About 50 Rebel “Butternuts” guarding the place showed themselves boldly and indulged in very “saucy remarks” to “come over” and secure their nitrate.

 

According to Lt. William F. Scott of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, the term “Butternuts” was a good-natured attempt applied by Union soldiers to the countrymen of the Southwest. Almost without exception these southern soldiers wore clothes made of coarse homespun cloth dyed by the women from the bark of the butternut tree. The color was a dirty yellow or faded brown, often an amusing complement to “the sallow complexion and yellowish hair of the wearers.”

 

The Union companies did not find the Butternuts’ action and comments amusing. Neither did they find a ford across the swollen river and, therefore, supposed themselves to be safe on the Baxter County side of the White River. Orders were given by Drummond to temporarily commandeer some boats a few miles up the river. Forays of soldiers were set along the river to give a cover for the men in retrieval.

Next target is Talbot's Ferry

As three canoes were retrieved, successive fire from eight of the best riflemen along the river bank gave their comrades temporary safety. Once the canoes were brought down, the cover of fire was once again initiated as the command was given to cross the river to destroy the property.

The Confederate guard pulled away after a slight skirmish. The Federal soldiers attacked the property and burned some of the buildings. No one was hurt among Drummond’s men and he returned to the main column on Denton Ferry Road on April 19.

 

The same day, McCrillis ordered Heacock with his own company to march rapidly upon Talbot’s Ferry and seize it. Heacock marched his men three miles down the river from the Bean Cave and reached the ferry. Heacock discovered a company of armed Rebel Butternuts stationed on the opposite bank guarding the ferryboat anchored there.

 

The ferry was owned and operated by Capt. Jesse Mooney, C.S.A. Mooney’s ownership would prove a point of contention for the Union, and it placed a large target squarely on the back of Mooney for the duration of the Civil War.

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Screenshots from THE WAR IN ARKANSAS map of Talbot's Ferry:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flippin Barrens

Flippin Barrens is one of the small towns through which the Military Road passed and through which the Benge group passed during the Cherokee removal in 1838. It is west of White River and Talbot's Ferry (Johnsons), north of Crooked Creek and east of Yellville. Many antebellum communities disappeared after the war, but Flippin still exists today. It moved to its current location when a railroad was constructed nearby.

The following excerpt by Jean Marshall is from the The History of Marion County:

"In the early 1800's land was begging to be homesteaded and adventurers in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and the Carolinas were heading for Arkansas. John Tabor and the Magness families were already here. Mr. Tabor had plans to marry Betsy Magness; her family objected but love won out! They married and moved to a home he established on Fallen Ash Creek and he proceeded to plant a fruit orchard-the first in this area.

        Thomas J. Flippin succumbed to the urge to find new land and in 1820 he and several members of the Flippin family left Hopkins County, Kentucky, bound for Arkansas. It took several months to make the trip but in 1821 they settled near where the Marion County Airport is now located. As time passed, a town of sorts grew; there was a general store, flour mill and a cotton gin. A traveling salesman called the place Goatville, but the residents of the growing community thought it should be called Flippin Barrens (there were very few trees) to honor the early settler. The years following brought the families of: Pangle, McBee, McCracken, Huddleston, Alford, Wood, Marberry, Williams, Noe, Osborn, Barnett, Mears, Keeter, Fee, Musicks, Sanders and others, mostly from the southern states.

        Flippin Barrens barely lived into the 20th century for in 1904 the railroad came through fields almost a mile from the town. Mr. Lee Hayes soon moved his store from the old town to the railroad site and soon other businesses."

The tactical map representing Flippin Barrens in THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN is largely open (Flippin Barrens had "very few trees") with only a few hills. Flippin Cemetery is present, north of town. The Military Road is indicated on the tactical map, as well as a road leading south to Buffalo City (very likely to be included in the final campaign map).

Here are some screenshots from the Flippin Map for THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN:

The Army of the Arkansas cavalry division moves on the Buffalo City Road

 

Latham's Brigade deployed at Shawnee Spring

Strong's Brigade deployed near the Fee House

 The Federal cavalry division in Flippin Barrens town

 Dietrich's Brigade deployed near Union Church

 Miller's Brigade deployed at Flippin Cemetery

 Cavalry deployed in the Tabor Orchard

Brig. Gen. Delaney near the Flippin Post Office

 Bunn's Brigade at the John Tabor house

 Meaney's Battalion on the Military Road

 Binker's Brigade crossing Fallen Ash Creek

 Randall's Brigade at Fallen Ash Mills

Minimap for Flippen Barrens

Fall Foliage

THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN will be set in the fall. Some of the early modifications of TC2M maps for the campaign were very heavy on pine trees, which is probably more characteristic of the Ouachita Region than the Ozark Region. Additional deciduous trees will be added, although it is possible that there were more pines during the war period prior to cutting to support the construction of railroads.

Common deciduous trees in the region include:
Blackgum, Sweetgum,Hickory, Sassafrass, Maple, Flowering Dogwood and Red, White and Black Oak. They can be seen in the Ozarks Fall Foliage Guide.

Sprites in the WIA (War in Arkansas) mod include fall foliage in various shades of yellow and orange. Attempts will be make to represent the Ozarks fall foliage as seen in these photos:

 

The Military Road

The Military Road from Batesville to Fayetteville is a key road in THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN, which links Mt. Olive and Yellville via North Fork. This road was witness to one of the low points in American history; the Trail of Tears. The Benge Detachment of Cherokees, about 1,000 people, passed through Izard and Marion counties in December 1838 using the military road. They had been in Smithville on December12th 1838 and then travelled southwest to Batesville, arriving there on December 15th. From Batesville, Benge's ground traveled northwest through Izard county, passing through North Fork, Flippin and Yellville. 

During THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN, this road will be labeled as "The Military Road" on the tactical maps.

Entering the Ozarks.....

Four divisions (two per army) were transferred out of the WIA3 campaign theatre at the beginning of the simulation and saw no action in the campaign. These divisions will be joined by the Army of the Arkansas and Department of the Eastern Frontier cavalry divisions for a short pre-WIA4 test simulation called Entering the Ozarks.

A provisional corps from each army will enter the campaign theatre. Two players have volunteered to test the WIA4 and rules in this simulation, which will also help establish the opening positions for the WIA4 campaign. The test simulation is expected to start in sometime in June, and more information will be forthcoming.

Map Accuracy?

There are a number of maps of Arkansas from the 1850s and 1860s. I have wanted to make the roads represented in the campaign map of THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN as accurate as possible from period maps. As I got through the various maps though and look at the county borders and the road network, I have come to the conclusion that they were not 100% accurate. Even the town placement s sometimes off significantly on some maps. I have heard that sometimes map makers added fake places or changed a few things to detect plagiarism. Maybe that is the case on a few of them. Regardless, I think the final road network in THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN will be representative and a composite of several period maps.

Marion and Fulton Counties - Philadelphia Didn't Get the Memo

THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN command simulation focuses on Izard, Marion and Searcy Counties, with some movement allowed through surrounding counties, such as Fulton and Carroll. When Arkansas became a state in 1836, Marion and Fulton counties did not exist. Searcy County had different borders from its later configurations. The first general assembly of the new State of Arkansas declared that Marion become a county in September 1836, but maps failed to make the adjustment as late as 1839 and 1845.  It looks like some map makers didn't get the memo...

TANNER MAP: 1839
































MEYERS MAP: 1845

 

 
 



This Mitchell Map of 1849 reflects the early counties after statehood, although Marion County's eastern border would be moved slightly eastward in 1855.

MITCHELL MAP 1849

Buffalo City and Other Potential Changes

There are still several potential changes to THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN map prior to the command simulation being run. These include:

1. BUFFALO CITY: The additional of Buffalo City, which was a on the White River just above the Buffalo Fork and had a freight road to Yellville. This additional would depend on increased map modification to develop an appropriate TC2M to represent it in the simulation.

2. FORSYTHE: THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN allows movement into and through southern Missouri in Taney and Ozark Counties. Along with the northern section of Marion County, this was an area where lead was found and mined. (Worth was also called Lead Hill.) Lawrence Mills is represented in Missouri north of Dubuque on the campaign map, because there were camps and activity there during the war, but the point on the map may be re-named to Forsythe, the county seat of Taney County.

3. LUNENBURG: This was a town east of Mt. Olive that may be added. There was a skirmish there during the war.

In this section of a Mitchel 1859 map, Buffalo City is shown. (It is incorrectly placed on several other early maps.) Dubuque does not appear to be in the correct location on this map. It was clearly on the White River.

THE HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY  has a section on Old Buffalo City by Mrs. Ray Blankenship, from which this excerpt is taken and quoted:
Old Buffalo City        (Page 348) Old Buffalo City grew to be a busy and important trade center from about 1850 until around 1902. It had its beginning like most of the towns and communities in the Ozark country. When white men first came to this region to hunt and trade with the Indians, they quickly recognized this to be truly a land of opportunity and it was not long until they were bringing their families and building log cabins on the most desirable locations. In the earliest times, they needed only enough tillable land for gardens and a cornfield for bread, but these hearty frontiersmen were soon clearing larger acreages and were growing other grain such as oats and wheat and planting orchards.
       These big-hearted, hard-working, trustworthy people had ability to over come the hardships which were sure to befall all those who came and stayed.
       No records are known to show people living in the Buffalo City community sooner than the 1820s, but from this time forward facts related to the town and its business establishments are numerous. Recently several letters were found by people of the county on file in the Arkansas Gazette's office which are very revealing about Buffalo City during early times as they were written by an intelligent young gentleman from Hartford, Connecticut, who had just located and gone into business here. The first letter which is headed Buffalo City, Sept. 22, 1848, is a source of the very finest information about the area. He goes into detail describing the country and the people to his mother and father.
       At this time the town had fewer than a dozen families living in it, but at least one family, the Morelands, had been living here since the late l820s and were holding most of the bottom land known later as the Buffalo City farm.
       It is not known when the first steamboat landed here, but Buffalo City was considered the head of navigation for these crafts for the greater part of the year. By the 1840s, many tons of supplies and goods were being delivered to this area by White River transportation. Much of it still was being delivered on the keel boats and the flat bottoms.
       The Independence County Chronicle, July, 1969, Vol. X, No. 4, says the first steamboat reached Batesville in 1831. It is reasonable to believe that they were reaching the important landings in this area soon after.
       This was long before cotton was grown as a cash crop and the people cashed in on the natural resources to provide for needs such as salt, coffee, sugar, and some clothing.
       Everard Dickenson, the earlier mentioned businessman, stated in his letter of Sept. 22, 1848, that peltery and bear oil were some of the things sold or traded for goods and he had taken in forty bear skins the day before. He was doing business in a log storehouse for which he was to pay $30.00 rent per annum. This letter also stated that he was being encouraged by Major Jacob Wolf to move his business down to Norfork and his letter dated June 22, 1849, (Page 349 Top) shows him set up in business at the new location. He indicated that men wore buckskin shirts and leather britches much of the time. He also said, "The girls in this country are the right sort for a poor man. They can all weave and make up their own clothing and most of them can make a good suit of clothes for a man and make the cloth too. One of the Major Wolf's girls made me a pair of homespun pants in about two-and-a-half hours that
       fit me first rate. Price of making them was fifty cents. I got another young lady to cut and make me a homespun coat for $1.25, so you see a man can live and dress cheap in this country."
       Another firm that was doing business at Buffalo City in 1848 was that of Hogan and Tunsells.

Buffalo City Boom
       As this region became more heavily populated, Buffalo City continued to grow as a business and trade center. In these early times, a road was used for the freight wagons called "the Buffalo to Yellville" road. Freight wagons pulled by oxen used this route for many years as supplies and goods moved from the steamboats across Marion and Boone Counties. John W. Olvey, now deceased, informed the writer of this and stated his people ran a freight line from Buffalo City to Harrison back in those days.

Buffalo City Boom. The Des Arc Citizen, September 28, 1859, pub. A letter from A. G. Cochran about the prospects of Buffalo City, a new town freshly laid out on the south side of White River one mile above the mouth of Buffalo River. The most impressive structure in the town, according to the Cochran letter, was a tavern called the Shoal House, which had a wide thirty-six-foot long porch, a smokehouse full of meat, and good stables for guests' horses. A warehouse had been built at the steamboat landing, and a steam grist mill was in operation. Among the town's pressing needs were a shoemaker, a druggist, a doctor, a blacksmith, and a preacher, not necessarily in that order. The letter ended: "Buffalo City will one day be one of the most flourishing towns in the State - the opinion of the Yellvilleians and Carrolltonites to the contrary notwithstanding."

       Although individuals were holding parts of the land by what was known as preemption rights, the abstracts of the farm and townsite show the first claim being filed at the land office in Batesville in 1844 by William F. Denton. This may be the Denton who was well known in the area of Batesville in the 1830s and 1840's as an owner of land and race horses.
       Others who were taking up lands who homesteaded parts of the Buffalo City farm in the 1840s were the Hogans and Tunsells. The abstract of the farm contains the record of a deed dated Dec. 6, 1858, which was made to James M. Tunsell giving him title to some lots in the townsite and it has this interesting stipulation. "With the distinct contract that the citizens of Buffalo City are not to be prohibited the use of any spring water on said land and the street immediately east of said Tunsell's still house shed which runs through said lands is not to be stopped up."
       From Civil War days until well into the early 1900s, virgin timber was being marketed and much of it was rafted down the river. Uncle Levi Cox, an oldtimer of this community, used to tell about this (Page 350 Top Photo: Turkey Mountain, Buffalo City, Arkansas in late 1800s [man plowing is not identified]) and he would mention the cedar log that he had hauled to the river at Buffalo City with two yokes of oxen. This log was seventy-two feet long and six inches at the top.
       Throughout this period cotton was the cash crop and hundreds of bales were ginned and shipped from this point down river on the steamboats.
       When the mining boom came to Marion County, Buffalo City flourished greatly. The mines in the area which milled and shipped ore were the Chickasaw and Bonanza mines on Cow Creek, the Lion Hill mine on Warner Creek, and the Dixie Girl on Boat Creek. An interesting advertisement in these days was as follows: Howard H. Gallup "Buyer and shipper of zinc ores and dealer in mineral lands. Buffalo City, Marion County, Ark."

The Colton Map - 1855

THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN map is based primarily on The Colton Map of Arkansas dated as 1855. Some changes have been made to the simulation campaign map to enhance the simulation. The Johnson and Ward map of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi has also be a reference.  The Johnson and Ward Map is a wartime map, that is sometimes dated 1862 and other times as 1864.

THE COLTON MAP:

THE JOHNSON AND WARD MAP:

THE WAR IN ARKANSAS IV: THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN map is an altered version of the Colton Map for the area covered in the campaign: Izard, Marion, Search, Fulton and parts of surrounding counties.  The following changes have been made and incorporated into the simulation's campaign map for gaming purposes:

 

1.       Marion County Border: Marion County was created in 1836 and had several border changes. In 1855, the eastern border (with Fulton County) was moved eastward and Rapp’s Barren became part of Marion County. This is not reflected in the Colton Map 1855, but has been adjusted in THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN MAP. Perhaps 1855 is the publishing date of the map based on survey work prior to the border change.  The post-1855 border with Fulton  County is clearly visible in the Johnson and Ward Map.

2.       Johnsons: The settlement appearing on the Colton Map as Johnsons has been re-named Talbot’s Ferry.  Talbot’s Ferry (also known as Talbert’s Ferry) was a more common name during the war. The ferry was operated by a Major Mooney in the war and was sometimes called Mooney’s Ferry and later Denton Ferry. The Johnsons had been a family that had settled the area. In the wartime Johnson and Ward Map, the location is marked with a circle, but is not labeled.

3.       Cross Plain: Cross Plain has been moved slightly southward in the campaign map to be on the main between North Fork and Jackson. It was also made into a cross roads, with the north-south road to Athens which appears on the Johnson and Ward Map being included.

4.       Franklin: Franklin has been moved slightly north on the campaign to the cross roads of the North Fork – Jackson and the Pilot Hill – Wild Haws roads.

5.       Worth and Dubuque: In the northwest corner of the campaign theatre, Worth (also known as Lead Hill at the time) has been moved to the main road and Dubuque has been added to the map.

6.       Flippin Barrens and Newton Flat: Flippin was an early settlement in Marion County to the west of Talbot Ferry. It has been added to the map with Newton Flat, a settlement that was on the flats to the north along the west bank of the White River.

7.       Tomahawk – Rolling Plains Road: This road has been added to provide more strategic options and problems in the campaign.

8.       Mt. Pleasant: Mt. Pleasant has been slightly moved to the junction of roads leading to Yellville, Carrollton and Dover.

9.       Forest Home: Has been moved slightly east to a road junction.

10.   Rand’s Ford: The name Rand’s Ford has been given to the crossing of the Buffalo Fork of White River just west of Big Creek, so it could become a tactical map in the simulation.

11.   Harriet: The name Harriet was given to the junction of roads leading to Locust Grove, Lebanon and Wiley’s Cove.

12.   Lebanon: Lebanon has been shifted slightly northeast to where Bear Creek joins Buffalo Fork.

13.   Mt. Olive – Wild Haws Road: The roads from Athens to Wild Haws and Mt. Olive to Rocky Bayou were adjusted to make a Mt. Olive – Wild Haws Road via Rocky Bayou.

14.   Railroad: The railroad was removed on the campaign map.

THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN Command Simulation Map:

The Ozarks Campaign Map and Objectives

THE WAR IN ARKANSAS IV: THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN tentatively has nine objectives. Each will be worth one point each. At the end of each day of the campaign, points will be awarded for control of objectives. No points will be awarded for objectives that are unoccupied or contested.

The objectives are:

1. Athens: A town in Izard County that sometimes served as county seat.
2. Dubuque: A town that is the key crossing of the White River in the northern part of the campaign theatre. Dubuque was the end of the navigable portion of the river. The location of smelting works for the production of ammunition.
3. Lebanon: The county seat of Searcy County.
4. Locust Grove: A key intersection in the southern part of the campaign theatre.
5. Mt. Olive: The county seat of Izard County and a crossing of the White River.
6. North Fork: A town in Izard County.
7. Rand's Ford (fictional name for a historical crossing): A crossing of the Buffalo Fork of the White River.
8. Talbot's Ferry: A key crossing of the White River in Marion County and a location of salt peter caves for the manufacture of gun powder.
9. Yellville: The County Seat of Marion County.

The Army of the Arkansas will trace its supply line into Missouri via Franklin. The Department of the Eastern Frontier will trace its supply line back to Fort Smith via Forest Home.

Draft Manual for WIA4: The Ozarks Campaign

The draft manual for THE WAR IN ARKANSAS IV: THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN is available. This is a working draft. It will be tested in a test simulation prior to the commencement of THE OZARKS CAMPAIGN and will likely be revised prior to the WIA4 simulation.


Here is the link for the draft manual:
WIA4 Ozarks Campaign Manual Draft v. 20 May 2014

Working Title: The Ozarks Campaign

WIA4 is taking shape and the draft manual is almost done. It so far under the working title of THE WAR IN ARKANSAS IV: The Ozarks Campaign. The simulation is expected to run in fall 2014 and represent a fictional campaign taking place in October and early November 1864 using the WIA fictional armies: The Army of the Arkansas and the Department of the Eastern Frontier. The campaign will be centered on Izard, Marion and Searcy Counties, which includes the area covered by modern day Baxter and Stone Counties.  The draft manual will be available soon.

 

Coming Later This Year...

Rules, Maps and Orders of Battle for The WAR IN ARKANSAS IV (WIA4) Command Simulation are currently work in progress. The simulation will take place primarily in Marion, Izard and Searcy Counties. The simulation will take place sometime later this year, following a small-scale test.