Welcome to Poison Spring State Park , one of 52 beautiful,
historic state parks, each with their own special mission. The
other thing they each have is a geocache. This adventure is based
around visiting all 52 state parks. Each park cache has a clue that
you will need to find the final, 53rd cache located somewhere in
the state. Just download the clue sheet and start your adventure. We
encourage you to upload photos on the geocaching.com page when
you find one and also to tell us about your visit to the park on
the state park blog. As an extra incentive, For
a limited time you can pick up an Arkansas State Park geocoin at
the final location and send it on it's way to visit parks
throughout the world!
Poison Spring State Park
In the spring of 1864, three Civil War battles took place in south
central Arkansas that were part of the Union Army's "Red River
Campaign." Arkansas's three state historic parks that commemorate
these battles--Poison Spring, Marks' Mills and Jenkins' Ferry--are
part of the Red River Campaign National Historic Landmark. The
first battle occurred near Camden at Poison Spring on April 18 when
Confederate troops captured a supply train and scattered Union
forces. Arkansas was split in half with Union troops occupying
Little Rock, Fort Smith, and every other town north of the Arkansas
River. Confederates were encamped from Monticello to Camden,
Washington and beyond. An elaborate Union offensive was hatched
during the winter in Washington D.C. in order to capture the last
Rebel stronghold of the West--Texas. Standing in their way was
Shreveport, Louisiana, believed to be the front door to Texas. Thus
began what would become known as the Red River Campaign.
Twenty-three days after 12,000 men, 800 wagons, 30 pieces of
artillery and nearly 12,000 horses and mules left Little Rock, the
Union army under General Frederick Steele arrived in Camden. A
concentration of Confederates in southwest Arkansas had forced the
Union trek to the east. Heavy rain and mud were partially to blame
for the slow movement, which caused supplies to become dangerously
low. When the Federals arrived on April 15, they found the
Confederate troops had withdrawn. On April 17, General Steele
received word the Federal forces advancing northward in Louisiana
with needed supplies were retreating. Further complicating matters,
Steele also learned Confederate loyalists had either moved or
destroyed most of a massive stockpile of corn he'd planned to
ransack. The Union General then sent a force of 200 wagons, a
detachment of 500 African American infantrymen, 195 cavalry troops
and an artillery detachment to get what supplies remained. It
didn’t take long for a scout under Confederate Brigadier General
John S. Marmaduke, whose men were camped near Camden, to notice the
wagon train. Marmaduke suggested to his superior, Confederate
General Sterling Price, an ambush be set. During the night, the
Union wagon train was reinforced by 400 soldiers Steele sent from
Camden, as approximately 1,500 Confederates prepared to attack the
Union troops from both sides of the blocked road. The attack on
April 18 began near a place the locals call Poison Spring. When the
battle ended, the Union force of more than 1,100 had been reduced
to 800. Another 80 Federals were killed as they clawed their way
back to Camden through the bottomlands. Fewer than 20 Confederates
were killed in the victory that kept much-needed supplies from
enemy hands.
Poison Spring State Park features outdoor interpretive exhibits and
picnic sites. The historic site is located 10 miles west of Camden
on Ark. 76 Please check the park Web site for hours of operation.
Park Permit Number PT68-0001
Plan some time for each of the parks and enjoy your visit. Learn
about natural, cultural and state history. Take in a hike, a swim,
a boat ride. Go fishing, cycling or just relax. For more
information on geocaching in an Arkansas State Park visit our
geocaching page. For information on
geocaching throughout the Natural State visit Arkansas
Geocaching. Have a great time and we’ll see you in a
park!
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