JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 3, 2019 – Join Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site staff as they present the first annual Retracing General Ewing’s Retreat Auto Tour from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sept. 28.
After the Battle of Pilot Knob between 12,000 Confederates and 1,500 Union Troops on Sept 27, 1864, Union forces made a near superhuman trek covering 66 miles in 39 hours, fighting a rear guard battle for most of the trek. This feat was even more impressive considering they were bringing along civilian refugees.
Site staff will host a special auto tour retracing the steps the night the Union forces slipped out of Fort Davidson and eluded the Confederate attackers making a daring escape to the north.
Interested persons can follow along as staff take you to several waypoints along the route and interpret the actions of the Union and Confederate forces. A 10-person van for seniors or others who would like to attend but are not able to drive the tour themselves will be available.
Participants must register for the event. If planning to ride in the van, please make park staff aware during the registration process.
Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site is located at 118 E. Maple, Pilot Knob, in southeast Missouri. For more information or to make a reservation, please contact the site at 573-546-3454 or email bryan.bethel@dnr.mo.gov.
For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit the web at https://mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.