War Eagle Mill is a working gristmill in Benton County, Arkansas. A mill has been located on the site as early as 1832, but was destroyed three times, and last rebuilt in 1973. The mill currently operates as an undershot gristmill, and houses a store and restaurant. [1] The mill is located approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of the city of Rogers in War Eagle, Arkansas.
Sylvanus and Cathryn Blackburn moved to the War Eagle Valley in 1832 and built a mill next to War Eagle Creek. [1] In 1848 a flood pushed the mill into the river, washing it downstream and completely destroying it. [2]
The Blackburns rebuilt the mill and expanded it to include a sawmill. Business prospered as the local population increased. [1] After 1860, with the Civil War, northwest Arkansas residents were caught between strongly Confederate Arkansans to the south and Union-supporting Missourians just a few miles north. The Blackburns' five sons enlisted in the Confederate Army, while the Blackburns took the rest of their family to Texas, returning four years later. [1] [3]
In 1862, the Union Army moved into northern Arkansas and the War Eagle Valley, and used the mill to grind grain. As the Confederate Army advanced into the area, the Union Army concentrated near Pea Ridge, Arkansas. Confederate soldiers used the mill for two days, but burned it down to prevent it from being used again by the Union. [4] After the Battle of Pea Ridge, the surrounding country was laid waste by the retreating Confederates and bands of looters. [5] Many residents abandoned their homesteads and fled.
After the war ended in 1865, the Blackburn family returned to find only their house still standing. Sylvanus' son, James Austin Cameron (J.A.C.) Blackburn, reconstructed the mill again by 1873. [5] J.A.C. decided to expand mill production by adding a more powerful grinding machine run by a turbine engine instead of a water wheel. Their sawmill, reportedly the largest in Arkansas, led J.A.C. to become known as the "Lumber King" of northwest Arkansas. [5] Lumber cut at the War Eagle sawmill was used to build much of Fayetteville, Arkansas—including Old Main on the University of Arkansas campus. After winning a seat in the Arkansas Senate, J.A.C. sold the mill to the Kilgore family who operated it until 1924 when the mill burned down. [1] This fire left only the foundation and remnants of the building.
In 1973, Jewel Medlin purchased the property. His wife Leta and daughter Zoe Medlin Caywood found blueprints and rebuilt the mill for the third time. [1] The design was modified slightly to bring back the undershot water wheel that had been used over 100 years earlier. [1] War Eagle Mill is the only working watermill in Arkansas, and is powered by an 18-foot cypress water wheel. [1] Organic grain, cereal and flour products are milled and sold commercially on site.
A watermill or water mill is a mill that uses hydropower. It is a structure that uses a water wheel or water turbine to drive a mechanical process such as milling (grinding), rolling, or hammering. Such processes are needed in the production of many material goods, including flour, lumber, paper, textiles, and many metal products. These watermills may comprise gristmills, sawmills, paper mills, textile mills, hammermills, trip hammering mills, rolling mills, and wire drawing mills.
The Battle of Prairie Grove was a battle of the American Civil War fought on December 7, 1862. While tactically indecisive, the battle secured the Union control of northwestern Arkansas.
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Watson's Mill is an historic flour and gristmill in Manotick, Ontario, Canada. It is the only working museum in the Ottawa area and one of the very few operating industrial grist mills in North America. Watson's Mill still sells stone-ground whole wheat flour which is made on site. The mill is also well known for its ghost Annabelle. The legend is that Ann Currier, wife of Joseph, haunts the mill, following her death in a tragic accident there in 1861. Watson's Mill is Manotick's most recognized landmark. Its image is used as a symbol for the village.
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During the American Civil War, Arkansas was a Confederate state, though it had initially voted to remain in the Union. Following the capture of Fort Sumter in April 1861, Abraham Lincoln called for troops from every Union state to put down the rebellion, and Arkansas along several other southern states seceded. For the rest of the civil war, Arkansas played a major role in controlling the Mississippi River, a major waterway.
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USS Rodolph was a steamer commissioned by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She served the Union Navy during its struggle against the Confederate States of America, both as a tugboat and a minesweeper, as well as a gunboat when the occasion demanded. Just as the war was ending, Rodolph struck a mine and sank, with four of her crew killed and a number of others wounded.
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War Eagle is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. It is the location of War Eagle Bridge, which carries CR 98 over War Eagle Creek and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Pigeon Forge Mill, commonly called the Old Mill, is a historic gristmill in the U.S. city of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Located along the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River, the mill complex currently consists of a millhouse, breastshot wheel, and milldam, all of which are operative. The mill is the only structure in Pigeon Forge listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A gristmill grinds cereal grain into flour and middlings. The term can refer to either the grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist is grain that has been separated from its chaff in preparation for grinding.
The War Eagle Bridge is a historic bridge in War Eagle, Arkansas, United States, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, also known as the "Northwest regiment", was an infantry formation of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It was originally formed as the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Battalion. After receiving the requisite ten companies, the battaltion was redesignated as the 21st Arkansas Infantry Regiment. Upon discovery that there was already another "21st Arkansas," the Northwest Regiment was again redesignated as the 15th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. This was the third Arkansas regiment to bear the designation "15th Arkansas." The others are Johnson's and Josey's Arkansas infantry regiments. Members of the Northwest Regiment fought both west and east of the Mississippi River before participating in the Vicksburg campaign, surrendering at Vicksburg in July 1863. After being paroled and exchanged, the regiment was consolidated with other state units to form the 1st Consolidated Arkansas Infantry Regiment.
The Nathan Cooper Gristmill is a historic gristmill on the Black River located at 66 NJ Route 24 in Chester Township, Morris County, New Jersey. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1976 for its significance in industry.
The Watermill at Opwetten is a watermill along the river Kleine Dommel, located on the Opwettenseweg 203 in Opwetten, Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten, in the province of North Brabant, Netherlands. First mentioned in the 11th century, the watermill burned down and was rebuilt in 1764.
The 4th Missouri Infantry Regiment was formed on April 28, 1862, and served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The infantry regiment did not see action at the Battle of Farmington on May 9, and the Battle of Iuka on September 19 despite being part of the Confederate force present at those battles. As part of Brigadier General Martin E. Green's brigade, the regiment participated in three charges against Union lines on October 3, 1862, during the Second Battle of Corinth. The following day, the regiment, along with the rest of Green's brigade, attacked the new Union lines. Despite initial success, the attack was repulsed by a Union counterattack. The regiment ceased to exist as a separate unit when it was combined with the 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment on November 7, 1862, to form the 1st and 4th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Consolidated).
