Springfield to Fayetteville Road--Elkhorn Tavern Segment, AR
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 36° 27.241 W 094° 00.899
15S E 409047 N 4034786
From the Missouri Border to the Elkhorn Tavern
Waymark Code: WMN88V
Location: Arkansas, United States
Date Posted: 01/18/2015
Views: 2
County of site: Benton County
Location of site: Old Wire Rd (or Telegraph Rd.) from Missouri Border to Elkhorn Tavern, Pea Ridge National Battlefield, Garfield
The photos I will have are of the road, small segment, the road at Elkhorn Tavern southern end), a segment through the wood with bridge over a creek, and the road in front of the Ray House just north of the northern end of this segment
Marker at southern end:
Marker erected by: National Park Service
Telegraph Road
Along it --
Cherokees moved in forced migration to Indian territory, 1837-39.
Butterfield Overland Mail coaches sped toward California, 1858-61.
A telegraph line was stretched in 1860.
Union and Confederate troops marched just prior to battle on March 7-8, 1862.
"The Springfield to Fayetteville road segment near Elkhorn Tavern close to Pea Ridge was the supply link between Springfield, Missouri and Fort Smith Arkansas before the Civil War. In 1838, it carried more than mail and goods, as thousands of Cherokee were marched along the road. Today, visitors to Pea Ridge can see part of the path the Cherokee took and learn more about the march west on the park’s auto tour route. Some Cherokee who traveled west on the Trail of Tears returned to fight at Pea Ridge during the Civil War. Other trail locations feature portions of the Memphis to Little Rock Road, along which the Cherokee traveled. Some intact segments are visible today at Village Creek State Park, near Newcastle, Arkansas, or on Henard Cemetery Road, near Zent, Arkansas" ~ NRHP Nomination Form