DH and I are planning a trip to cover the "western theater" of the Civil War in June. We'll start in Myrtle Beach (home base) and plan to first stop in Asheville, NC (because we love the area!) up to 3 days there, then travel west through Tennessee (might do Nashville) and then to get to see Shiloh National Military Park. Need suggestions where to camp in those areas. From there, probably to Memphis, then down along the Mississippi River to Vicksburg. Also would appreciate ideas on camping on that leg of the trip. Also, "must sees" and "don't bothers" would be helpful. From Vicksburg, across to Chattanooga (again, suggestions!!), down to the Atlanta area, (yes, please help again!), then go with Sherman and "march to the sea" and Savannah - then home to Charleston and MB. Have never been to most of these areas so any ideas or experiences you can share would be a huge help. Thanks. We'll be traveling in a 34' MH with a toad - just the 2 of us. We have almost a month to enjoy ourselves!! Don't have to be back to MB until June 27th!!!

I can offer suggestions for two of your stops.Memphis--- Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis, Arkansas. Just across the bridge that dumps into Beal Street. Inside the levee on the West bank of the river. Relax for a couple of days and watch the tow-boats work up and down the river just feet from your window. I don't have the phone number handy, but it is on their website (along with a link to check the river stage, although that is usually only a concern in the Spring.)Charleston --- John's Island County Park. Very nice and reasonably convenient. Contact Charleston County Parks Dept for info.

Allworth wrote:I can offer suggestions for two of your stops.Memphis--- Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis, Arkansas. Just across the bridge that dumps into Beal Street. Inside the levee on the West bank of the river. Relax for a couple of days and watch the tow-boats work up and down the river just feet from your window. I don't have the phone number handy, but it is on their website (along with a link to check the river stage, although that is usually only a concern in the Spring.)What are the odds, two people from orlando recommending the same place. Be sure to call a couple days ahead so you can get a site on the river.

I have to chuckle because there are civil war sites much further west. All the sites you have mentioned are in the east to me. There were civil war battles in New Mexico and Arizona. The battle of Picacho Peak in Arizona I think is the furthest west battle of the war. There was a battle at Glorieta Pass just east of Santa Fe, NM. There were many battles in Missouri because it was a border state and was wanted very badly by the Confederates and the Union was determined to old it. The skirmishes' alone the Missouri and Kansas border actually started in 1855. Missouri, supposedly a slave state, had individuals trying to influence the vote in Kansas to make it a slave state also. This started the Kansas/Missouri border war and made Quantrill famous.Sorry for the diversion from your original question. Vicksburg Battlefield Kampground right near the Battlefield National Park. Exit 4 on I-20. While in Vicksburg be sure and visit the Corp of Engineers water experiment station. It is very interesting.

dbbls wrote:I have to chuckle because there are civil war sites much further west. All the sites you have mentioned are in the east to me. There were civil war battles in New Mexico and Arizona. The battle of Picacho Peak in Arizona I think is the furthest west battle of the war. There was a battle at Glorieta Pass just east of Santa Fe, NM. There were many battles in Missouri because it was a border state and was wanted very badly by the Confederates and the Union was determined to old it. The skirmishes' alone the Missouri and Kansas border actually started in 1855. Missouri, supposedly a slave state, had individuals trying to influence the vote in Kansas to make it a slave state also. This started the Kansas/Missouri border war and made Quantrill famous.Sorry for the diversion from your original question. Vicksburg Battlefield Kampground right near the Battlefield National Park. Exit 4 on I-20. While in Vicksburg be sure and visit the Corp of Engineers water experiment station. It is very interesting.My first reaction was the same, o boy, I get hear about some of those Civil War sites in Missouri, Kansas and other states west of those states, but was disappointed when I read about those East of the Mississippi as being Western.

stetwood wrote:dbbls wrote:I have to chuckle because there are civil war sites much further west. All the sites you have mentioned are in the east to me. There were civil war battles in New Mexico and Arizona. The battle of Picacho Peak in Arizona I think is the furthest west battle of the war. There was a battle at Glorieta Pass just east of Santa Fe, NM. There were many battles in Missouri because it was a border state and was wanted very badly by the Confederates and the Union was determined to old it. The skirmishes' alone the Missouri and Kansas border actually started in 1855. Missouri, supposedly a slave state, had individuals trying to influence the vote in Kansas to make it a slave state also. This started the Kansas/Missouri border war and made Quantrill famous.Sorry for the diversion from your original question. Vicksburg Battlefield Kampground right near the Battlefield National Park. Exit 4 on I-20. While in Vicksburg be sure and visit the Corp of Engineers water experiment station. It is very interesting.My first reaction was the same, o boy, I get hear about some of those Civil War sites in Missouri, Kansas and other states west of those states, but was disappointed when I read about those East of the Mississippi as being Western.Same here. I was even thinking about Pea Ridge in NW Arkansas. Not as far west as NM or AZ, but an important battlefield that had a lot to do with the CSA from making a strong move into Missouri. A very well preserved battleground.

CG suggestions for June trip - Civil War sites in the west

Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Nov 10, 2013
What an interesting trip.Hope you blog about it at some point (and send me the link.))
lfloom
Explorer
Nov 10, 2013
Not going to find much west of this place:Drum Barracks
Atlee
Explorer II
Nov 09, 2013
Historians generally consider Virginia, NC, MD, PA as eastern Theater. TN, MS, GA as Western Theater.

Any battles west of the Mississippi River were considered Trans-Mississippi.
padredw
Nomad
Nov 09, 2013
And outside Tyler is the remains of the largest POW camp west of the Mississippi (after the battle at Mansfield, La.).

One of my great grandfathers was in the battle of Mansfield; another served at Camp Ford (the POW camp mentioned above.) He was in a Texas Cavalry Unit

While I'm at it: Another Texas great grandfather was captured at the Battle of Chickamauga. The other of my great grandfathers came to Texas right after the war. He was a Captain in a Georgia Infantry Company which was among the troops who surrendered at Vicksburg--and, incidentally, who re-formed and kept on fighting.

Keeping score: three great grandfathers in Texas units, the other in a Georgia unit. I have visited the sites where each served--and many other Civil War Battlefields.
klm
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013
OP, you might want to add Andersonville - in GA - although not a battlefield, but a POW for Union soldiers, to your list.
kscaddo
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013
Well, here in Texas, at Sabine Pass, Dick Dowling and 48 drunken Irishmen defeated 5000 of the Yankee navy! Not much there now, just a statue and plaque. And outside Tyler is the remains of the largest POW camp west of the Mississippi (after the battle at Mansfield, La.).
RWDIII
Explorer
Oct 29, 2013
In Ariz and New Mexico both armys spent time fighting the Apaches.One was at Apache pass and at Dragoon stage station in Ariz.To a Westerner,its hard to think of the Mississippi as the West
2_Retired
Explorer
Oct 28, 2013
"Western Theater major battle sites (as various noted authors describe them) those would be Shiloh, Chickamauga, Vicksburg and Atlanta. There was a major battle at Franklin, Tenn. also. While there were other major actions in the Western Theater east of the Miss. these battles began the final death-knell for the Confederacy."

All these places are in our plans! Thanks for the help everyone. I know there were armed confrontations all over the country during the Civil War, but most Civil War historians do consider the fight for control over the Mississippi River as the "Western Theater) of the Civil War. That's why its the focus of our trip this time. When I am in Missouri, New Mexico, etc, even California, I will definitely make time for the Civil War sites there!
noe-place
Explorer
Oct 26, 2013
If it's your intent to visit the real Western Theater major battle sites (as various noted authors describe them) those would be Shiloh, Chickamauga, Vicksburg and Atlanta. There was a major battle at Franklin, Tenn. also. While there were other major actions in the Western Theater east of the Miss. these battles began the final death-knell for the Confederacy.
WE-C-USA
Explorer
Oct 25, 2013
I'm like others, IMO, the "Western Theater", starts at the Mississippi River.
Pea Ridge in NW Arkansas northward into Eastern Kansas & Western Missouri. All the way up to the I-70 and then some is loaded with battle sites.