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