''Fort Hovey'' was a small

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

era earth-and-wood fort built on a hill overlooking the junction of the road running south out of

Ironton, Missouri Ironton is a city in Iron County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,475 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Iron County, and is located 12 miles south of Belgrade. History Ironton was designated county seat in 1857, soon a ...

and the road running east to

Fredericktown, Missouri Fredericktown is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Missouri, Madison County, Missouri, United States, in the northeastern foothills of the St. Francois Mountains. The population was 4,429 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census ...

. Fort Hovey was intended to help protect the

Arcadia Valley Arcadia Valley in Missouri is located 80 miles south of St. Louis in the St. Francois Mountains of the Ozark Plateau. The valley includes of the towns of Arcadia, Ironton and Pilot Knob, all founded in the 19th century. Arcadia Valley has be ...

and the iron mines located on Pilot Knob. The fort was located on ''Fort Hill'' near the town of

Arcadia Arcadia may refer to: Places Australia * Arcadia, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney * Arcadia, Queensland * Arcadia, Victoria Greece * Arcadia (region), a region in the central Peloponnese * Arcadia (regional unit), a modern administrative un ...

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

on the (then) property of the Fort Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, South and the present day

United Presbyterian Church. This fortification was named ''Fort Hovey'' in honor of the commander of the

33rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment The 33rd Illinois Infantry Regiment (nicknamed the Teacher's Regiment) was an infantry regiment from Illinois that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. A number of the soldiers were college students and graduates, and for a tim ...

(

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

Charles E. Hovey. The 33rd. Illinois was stationed there during the Autumn and Winter of 1861-62, at which time they built the fort. After the Union victory led by

Brig. Gen. Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

Samuel R. Curtis at the

Battle of Pea Ridge The Battle of Pea Ridge (March 7–8, 1862), also known as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern, took place in the American Civil War near Leetown, Arkansas, Leetown, northeast of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. United States, Federal f ...

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...

on March 8, 1862, Fort Hovey was renamed ''Fort Curtis'' in his honor. Fort Curtis was occupied until the

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

troops advanced into Missouri in 1864. The fort was then abandoned and the Union troops were relocated to Fort Davidson, about 2.5 miles north at the town of Pilot Knob. Fort Curtis was briefly used as an observation post by Confederate Soldiers just before, during and shortly after the

Battle of Pilot Knob A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and forc ...

. Today, the location of Fort Hovey/Fort Curtis is marked with a waymarker. Fort Curtis is also the name of a Union fort that existed in Helena, Arkansas during the Battle of Helena on July 4, 1863. Helena, Arkansas is located on the Mississippi River. A historic marker on Fort Curtis is located on Perry Street in Helena just 1/2 block east of the intersection of Perry and Columbia Streets. It was also named in honor of Brig. General Samuel R. Curtis.

Location

Located on Church Street in Arcadia, Missouri near the junction or Missouri State Highway 21 and Missouri State Highway 72. N37°35'25" W90°37'35" The site of Fort Curtis in

Helena, Arkansas Helena is the eastern portion of Helena–West Helena, Arkansas, a city in Phillips County, Arkansas. It was founded in 1833 by Nicholas Rightor and is named after the daughter of Sylvanus Phillips, an early settler of Phillips County and the n ...

is located on the block bound by the present day Perry Street (north side), Franklin Street (east side), Porter Street (south side), and Columbia Street (west side). The First Baptist Church of Helena and the Sidney H. Horner House now occupy the site.

Notes

External links

Southern Missouri Forts

Civil War Letters of John Follett
{{Missouri in the Civil War Missouri in the American Civil War Buildings and structures in Iron County, Missouri Hovey 1861 establishments in Missouri