Fort Davidson, Pilot Knob
Army post, Pilot Knob, Missouri.
- Side
- Union
- Kind
- Army post
- Where
- Pilot Knob, Missouri
- Years
- 1861-1864
- Today
- State historic site
FORT DAVIDSON
Hexagonal earthwork built by Union soldiers in 1863 at the base of Pilot Knob to protect the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad and the local iron deposits. On September 27, 1864 its 1,456 men repulsed Sterling Price's assaults, then blew up the magazine and abandoned the site.
Then
Pilot Knob was one end of the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad. Union soldiers built Fort Curtis there in 1861 and then Fort Davidson in 1863, a hexagonal earthwork at the base of Pilot Knob placed to protect the railroad and the local iron deposits.
On September 27, 1864 the Union force of 1,456 under Brig. Gen. Thomas Ewing Jr. repulsed Sterling Price's assaults, then blew up the fort's magazine that night and abandoned the site.
Now
State historic site
The Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site preserves the fort walls and the crater left by the magazine, with a visitor center and museum.
The nearest railroad in service today is a line owned by Union Pacific, about 0.3 miles away.
Served by
Nearby
- 0 miPrice attacks the Iron Mountain railhead at Pilot KnobSeptember 27, 1864, Fort Davidson, Pilot Knob, Missouri
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