Sept. 21, 2025

Civil war battle site that is considered the most important one west of the Mississippi. It involved over 25,000 soldiers with a huge loss of life to both sides. The confederates surprised the union by flanking and attacking from the north. Even though the south captured the main supply station along Telegraph road (Elkhorn Tavern - the only building still standing), they lost three generals. The rebels occupied the area for about two weeks after the battle, then retreated and ceded the territory to the north. I drove the auto tour route with a few short hikes to see battle markers. Reminiscent of cannon fire, thunder was rumbling overhead. There were also two vultures hanging out on a rock overlooking the main battlefield. It started raining heavily right after I got done with the last short hike. Prior to the civil war, a main section of the Trail of Tears went through this location. It cannot be hiked as it is overgrown and not maintained.