Hurricane Mayor Scott Edwards (left) poses with historian and author Philip Hatfield.

The Civil War Trails network lists over 1,500 stops in six states in which markers document the story of that which unfolded on that spot more than 160 years ago. Thanks to the efforts of historian and author Philip Hatfield, a marker is now located at 1165 Midland Trail (ShotFire Fitness) to tell the story of what happened at Hurricane Bridge on March 28, 1863. Hatfield contacted Civil War Trails six years ago and tapped the Putnam Chamber of Commerce for funding and pushed the City of Hurricane for support.

Hatfield was on hand at the unveiling of the marker on Friday, November 14, to tell the story of the Battle of Hurricane Bridge. It is a story that Hatfield has more fully told in “The Battle of Hurricane Bridge.” The book, published in 2019 by 35th Star Publishing, is rich in detail and available on Amazon.

Prior to Hatfield’s book, the most complete history of the 1863 event was the late Okey Miller’s “Skirmish at Hurricane Bridge” which was published in the Centennial History of Hurricane. Miller’s 1988 article can be found on Page 9.

The historic marker is located at a spot from where Confederate sharpshooters fired upon the Federals unfinished fort (present day location of Pendleton Woods subdivision). Confederate forces also fired upon the Federals from the hillside of what is now Lower Coach Road.

Hatfield announced that he is initiating an effort to add Winfield to the Civil War Trails network with a marker for the 1864 Civil War battle fought there. He will need support from the City of Winfield to make it happen.