Trail of Tears

Butterfield Overland Mail

Civil War

Rhea’s Mill

Rhea’s Mill, five miles northwest of Prairie Grove, takes its name from William Rhea, a prosperous merchant and miller.

During the Civil War, William Rhea’s mill was taken over by both Confederate and Union troops–control of the mill changed hands seven times during the war. Rhea was decidedly pro-Confederate: he charged Confederates two and a half cents per pound for flour, while Union soldiers were charged twice that.

Rhea kept a careful record of the valuation of goods and services used by the Union soldiers:

Detachment 1st and 2d Indian Regiment — 200 men — under command of Lieut. Robb — camped on my premises, used the following:
5000 lb Flour @ 5 250.00
Corn meal, 2000 lb @ 2 40.00
Pork Killed, 200 lb @ 5 100.00
Rails for fuel, 2 cords 7.00
2 Turkeys 2.00
1 Man’s Saddle 25.00
Burning house 250.00
674.00

Team to haul to Cincinnati and driver 7.50

Returned next day under command of Col. W.A. Phillips detachment of Indians and Howitzers. Run the mill day and half night. Took away:
8000 lbs Flour @ 5 400.00
Killed 30 head Hogs, 4000 lbs @ 5 200.00
600.00
1281.50

On the morning of the 28 November the Army of the Frontier under Gen. J.G. Blunt come by my place:
killed 40 head hogs, 2000 lbs @ 5 100.00

They returned the next day, one Brigade under Gen. Salomon, took up quarters on my premises, killed Hogs and Chickens, used Forage.
100 Head hogs, 5000 lbs @ 5 250.00
200 Bu. Corn @ 1$ 200.00
1000 Bu. Bran @ 20c 200.00
10 Cord Rails @ 3 30.00
680.00
1961.50

After December 7, 1862 Genl. James G. Blunt with his whole Division fell back to my (premises and used):
100 Bu. Wheat @ 1.50 150.00
25 Bu. Shelled Corn 25.00
Used Mill 30 days 600.00
Occupied store house as Commissary 30 days 30.00
805.00
2766.50

Exposed stock of goods and caused to be stolen and damaged to amt of 2400.00
Killed 50 head Hogs, 2000 lbs 125.00
Used for the Battery horse trough 3000 ft of Lumber @ 2 60.00
Burned Lumber, 2000 @ 2 40.00
Burned 200 cord Rails and Wood 600.00
One Work Ox killed 30.00
Turned Orchards and destroyed Trees 200.00
6221.50

Left on premises dead Horse, some 100, which stagnated the air and caused or exposed my family to an epidemic 500.00
Used 200 Bu. Corn 200.00
Used 1000 Bu. Bran @ 20 200.00
Took 2 Log Chains 15.00
Took 2 pr. G–ans 10.00
Walnut lumber 200 ft 6.00
931.00
7152.50

In the fall of ’63 detachment of 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry took:
3 head Horses worth 150 each 450.00
20 Bu. Corn 20.00
470.00
7622.50

In 1957, the  fifty-five-foot-tall native stone chimney that was part of William Rhea’s mill was moved to Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park to serve as a monument to the men who fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove, December 7, 1862.