American Civil War FORUM
Best Battlefield in the Western Theatre
Jabberwocky
I've been all over the battlefields in and around Virginia (Antietam is probably my favorite), but I've never made it to any of the Western ones. I wondered if anyone had an opinions on which is THE one to visit?
Report offensive material
RESPONSES
| LawrenceCD |
1
My favorite Western Theater battlefield is Shiloh. It is the best preserved and one can really get into the feeling of the place without too many modern distractions.
Posted: 02-Jul-2008 19:18
Report offensive material
|
| karelia |
2
In March of this year it was my pleasure to visit the Chickamauga battlefield. I can't compare to Shiloh but this park, the first ACW park in the system iirc, is fairly comprehensive of the total battlefield, easy to navigate, has numerous signs and unit markers (which are an interesting story in themselves), loads of artillery as battery markers, and definitely has some knowledgeable staff on hand. There are some parts overgrown which were open in 1863 and development encroaches, but overall one gets a good sense of how this engagement played out. Read the Osprey title by Arnold for an introduction and then the books by Cozzens and Tucker. Give yourself a couple of days for a tour, grab one of the excellent $10 maps at the visitor center and enjoy.
Posted: 03-Jul-2008 16:36
Report offensive material
|
| deankal |
3
If you are interested in the Trans-Mississippi theatre (just to get away from Grant and Sherman), I would suggest Wilson's Creek near Springfield, Missouri and the nearby Pea Ridge battlefield just across the state line in Arkansas. Also near by in Kansas is Maris des Cygnes which both the site a 1856 Bleeding Kansas masacre and a 1865 battle.
Posted: 12-Jul-2008 13:15
Report offensive material
|
| general_btsherman |
4
If you visit the Far west battlefields (Pea Ridge and Wilson’s creek) don’t forget to visit Prairie Grove Battlefield and Fort Smith.
Posted: 04-Aug-2008 02:00
Report offensive material
|
| goose321 |
5
Hey guys, how about a true Western battle..........Glorietta, New Mexico??? That was the Gettysburg of the Trans-Miss!
Posted: 27-Dec-2009 12:11
Report offensive material
|