Battle of Fayetteville
Part of theAmerican Civil War
Union headquarters during the action at Fayetteville (present-day Washington County Historical Society).
Date April 18, 1863 (1863-04-18) Location Washington County, Arkansas 36°04′00.4″N94°09′24.8″W / 36.066778°N 94.156889°W /36.066778; -94.156889 Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Col. M. La Rue Harrison	Brig. Gen.William L. Cabell
Units involved
Post of Fayetteville 1st Arkansas Cavalry 1st Arkansas Infantry	Cabell's Brigade Monroe's regiment Carroll's regiment Dorsey's squadron [John F.] Hill's battalion (less three companies) Hughey's battery
Strength
300–400 troops	900 cavalry 2 guns
Casualties and losses
4 dead and 77 wounded or missing	~ 20 dead and 50 wounded or missing

TheBattle of Fayetteville, also known as theAction at Fayetteville, took place during theAmerican Civil War on April 18, 1863, inFayetteville, Arkansas.

Confederate brigadier-generalWilliam L. Cabell departedOzark, Arkansas with 900 cavalry, intending to retake Fayetteville, Arkansas, which had been occupied by theUnited States Army after its victory months earlier at theBattle of Prairie Grove. Approaching the town from the south, Cabell's men captured a nine-man Federal picket nearWest Fork, Arkansas on the night of April 17. The following morning, Cabell lost the element of surprise when his men skirmished with dismounted Federal pickets in east Fayetteville. The Confederates climbed East Mountain andHughey's Battery opened fire on the garrison with its artillery. FederalColonel M. La Rue Harrison deployed three companies of the1st Arkansas Infantry to counter the threat.^[1]

At about 6.00 am, Cabell ordered a charge on the city, hoping to capture the Federal commanders at the Tebbetts place, where they made their headquarters. The attackers halted as they waited for their artillery to shell the house into surrendering. Confederate colonel James C. Monroe now led a flank attack on the city, managing to take the Baxter House. The Confederates continued into Fayetteville, taking prisoners and destroying a supply train. However, the Federal forces finally rallied and halted any further Confederate advances.^[1]

Harrison ordered an advance on the Confederate artillery upon East Mountain. Meanwhile, Monroe led his cavalry upDickson Street in one last attempt to capture the Federal headquarters. The crossfire was too heavy and Monroe withdrew his men. The Confederate artillery on the mountain was now both under attack and out of ammunition. Cabell reluctantly ordered his men to fall back and thus the battle ended in a draw. Nevertheless, he had failed in his objective and Federal troops retained control of the town.^[1]

The Battle of Fayetteville was a tactical victory for Colonel Harrison and the Union forces, but a strategic one for General Cabell and the Confederates. The Unionists held the field, but felt insecure afterward and a week later withdrew from Fayetteville and retreated into Missouri. Union troops did not return again to Fayetteville until September 1863.^[2][3]

Union headquarters during the action at Fayetteville, also known as ″the Colonel Tebbetts place,″ is home to the Washington County Historical Society.^[4]

• Arkansas in the American Civil War
• Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War

• Action at Fayetteville atEncyclopedia of Arkansas

• 1863 in Arkansas
• April 1863
• Battles of the American Civil War in Arkansas
• Battles of the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War
• Conflicts in 1863
• Fayetteville, Arkansas
• Union victories of the American Civil War

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