Today: Prairie Grove is recognized nationally as one of America 's most intact Civil War battlefields. the initial battles in this area. visitor, this guide offers not only touring information and driving tours of sites associated with the campaigns that led Courtesy of Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. His richly textured account demonstrates that the Arkansas Ozark region has never been as monolithic or homogenous through the state's company, battle, and regiment flags. 65,000 men to serve in defense of the South, nearly its entire male population. Southern dead from the Battle of Prairie. Prairie Grove Battle Facts and Summary - American Battlefield Trust of conflicting images of the area, mostly by non-Ozarkers. aggressive nature seems to have failed him at this moment. The Union troops assaulted twice and were repulsed. When Hindman sent an advance detachment of cavalry under John Marmaduke through the mountains in late November, Blunt moved south and defeated Marmaduke in a minor engagement at Cane Hill. google_ad_width = 728; The Battle of Prairie Grove: Civilian Recollections of the Civil War (Teaching with Historic Places) This lesson is part of the National Park Service's Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) program. Battle of Prairie Grove: Confederate Order of Battle Herron arrived and attacked Hindman on December 7. The Battle of Prairie Grove was fought in December 1962, relatively early in the American Civil War. from the Borden House to the Morton House. They should research the event through online sources, text books, newspapers, or other resources at a library or local historical society. As a result of detailed research into Donations made to the CALS Foundation are tax-deductible for United States federal income tax purposes. with canister caused terrible damage to the unorganized Confederates and repulsed their attack. Of approximately 8,000 Union troops engaged in the battle, more than 1,200 were casualties. In the cellar there were barrels of kraut, cider and cider vinegar, apples and potatoes, four men, seven women, and eight children. The battle was a tactical draw, with the casualties about the same in each army. Schofield divided his Shea provides a colorful account of a grueling campaign that lasted five months and covered hundreds Have participants choose an important or controversial event that involved local residents. The officers took Grandma's house for headquarters so it was saved. Meanwhile, Blunt realized that Hindman had gotten past his flank and intercepted the Confederates lost 1,317. Hoping to destroy Brig. Confederate States, Hindman hoped to Hindman placed his large force between the two Union divisions, turning on Herron first and routing his cavalry. at an obscure Arkansas 1 In terms of the number of casualties relative to the number of troops engaged, Prairie Grove was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Families hunted safety in the cellars. cover of darkness back towards Van Buren, Arkansas. ISBN 978-0-8262-1806-3. THE BATTLE OF PRAIRIE GROVE Early on the morning of December 7, 1862, about one mile south of the Prairie Grove church, Confederate cavalry . and artillery repulsed the attack and darkness put an end to the fighting. From the Bonnie Blue Flag, the unofficial state flag of secession While tactically a draw, the battle was a strategic victory for the Union. As Hindman pursued the cavalry, he met Herron's . We were left with hundreds of wounded and dead. Furious, he ordered his men to march to the sound of the guns. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. For days, people hunted the battle ground for some of their missing people. The Rebels then established their line of battle on a wooded high ridge northeast of Prairie Grove Church. The Confederate cavalry skirmished with Herrons main army before falling back to the top of the Prairie Grove ridge, where the Confederate artillery and infantry were already in line of battle in the woods. This fighting continued until dark with no advantage gained by either side. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. These women experienced the Battle of Prairie Grove first-hand. google_ad_height = 90; Larger and bloodier Civil War battles dominated conversations in the North and South. The U.S. troops won the battle, preventing the Confederate army from invading northwest Arkansas and Missouri. Prairie Grove Campaign - Encyclopedia of Arkansas Not knowing the precise location of the fighting, the ISBN 978-0-313-20863-8. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 57,000 acres in 25 states! Please try again later. and the travel writer--a circumstance that has helped shroud its history in stereotype and misunderstanding. The South fell back during the night leaving on Herron's forces. For weeks following the battle, men from both sides tended to the dead and wounded. Mrs. Borden's pony stood hitched close to the cookroom, saddled, and was not hurt, and after the firing ceased, she with herchildren mounted the pony, passed the guards and rode to Mrs. Mock's in safety. All Rights Reserved. After a while one of them went up to the bed and said, "Old man, it's not your politics I care for, it's your money, and we're going to have it." Continued below. On Monday [December 8, 1862], we saw four houses burn to the ground that was set on fire by the Federal troops. Students should take notes during their interview, or if possible, record the audio of their interview so they can refer back to it. 2022 Battle of Prairie Grove Reenactment Schedule November 30, 2022 at 11:55 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 8 a.m.-5 p.m. - Hindman Hall Museum and Gift Shop open. At dawn on December 7th, Hindman Courtesy of Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. The Confederates responded to the Union advance on their left flank by skirmishing in the woods with the Federal troops until Blunt gave the command to fall back to his cannon line in the valley. brought to life in these pages. Outnumbered, the Federal soldiers fell back to a fence line in the valley, where they stopped another Confederate counterattack using Colt revolving rifles carried by the men of Companies A and K of the Thirty-seventh Illinois. The battle ended any serious Confederate threat to Missouri and opened the Union's path into Arkansas. catch the Union army in its divided state, destroy it in detail, and open the way for an invasion of Missouri. I can still hear them calling "help - help - help." We made bedding out of the cloth we salvaged after cleaning it. forces. The opponents called for a truce to care for the wounded and gather the dead. Chapel Hill: University of North Before the infantry advanced, the Union artillery pounded the Southern position on the ridge for about two hours. A system error has occurred. of several books, including Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West (UNC Press) and Vicksburg Is the Key: The Struggle for Blunt's forces and screen the main Confederate force. respectively, convincingly argue that the 1862 campaign for Pea Ridge (Ark.) While Blunt did not What are the limitations of oral histories? Part of a series of articles titled General Blunt however sent for reinforcements from General Herron in Springfield and on the morning of the 7th, Hindman and Herron collided near Prairie Grove. of Union lines, Confederate soldiers spontaneously pursued and attempt to break Herron's lines. Battle: Hindman's area have followed their own unique patterns of historical and socioeconomic development. Just when it looked as if the Rebel attack would roll up Herrons troops, Blunts men assailed the Confederate left flank. To use this feature, use a newer browser. And Sword: Arkansas, 1861-1874 provides a scholarly examination of just how the events of the Civil War and the Reconstruction Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. The homes belonged to Dr. Rogers, William Rogers, Arch Borden, and the White Taylor home. in March, to bolster the Army of Tennessee. 15 miles north of Van Buren, to which point the latter had retreated after the battle of the 28th ultimo. military study is virtually a model work of its kind. Death has reaped a terrible harvest to-day. three sides by Maramaduke and Brigadier General Francis A. Shoup. near the Borden house. today. This savage battle was probably the bloodiest day in Arkansas history. Then have them record an interview with a relative or neighbor who was involved in some way with this event. All the houses were filled with wounded men. 317 cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. study of the flags and the men who proudly carried them. and Confederate fortunes in northwest Arkansas declined markedly from that point on. (This Hallowed Ground: Guides to Civil War). google_ad_client = "ca-pub-2111954512596717"; Why Hindman changed his mind is not known, but it is believed that he began to doubt his initial strategy. that followed. Pea Ridge, and Prairie Grove: A Battlefield Guide, with a Section on Wire Road. the Mississippi River. problems associated with each battle as well as vignettes evoking for readers the personal experience of those who fought invasion of northern Arkansas with the aim of occupying the capital city of Little Rock. In Blunt did not fall back towards Missouri but instead set up defensive positions around Cane Hill to wait for Herron. Hindman ordered a counterattack, but it was repulsed with heavy loses. Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign. USA, Springfield, Homes throughout the area were used as hospitals. the first book to provide a detailed guide to these battlefields, takes the visitor step-by-step through the major sites of Walking trails, home tours and a self-guided driving tour begin at Hindman Hall, the park's visitor center. The following accounts are recollections from three white women who lived in Confederate territory. Following Pea Ridge, the victorious Union Maj. Gen. Samuel Curtis pressed his The combined forces met Confederates under Thomas C. Hindman at the Battle of Prairie Grove. The Federal cavalry retreated toward Fayetteville in confusion as the superior Southern force overwhelmed it. barrage on the Confederate position singling out individual Confederate cannon and concentrating on taking them out of action Hindman He planned to cross the Boston Mountains into northwestern Arkansas and then Missouri, but the Union Army of the Frontier, commanded by John Schofield, made a preemptive move to Maysville, Arkansas. began to doubt his initial plan to move on Cane Hill and instead continued north on Cove Creek Road with Marmaduke's men in They choked my mother for screaming and abused us for looking out of the window. social life, Blevins examines the development of agriculture, the rise and fall of extractive industries, the settlement of Give a donation in someones name to mark a special occasion, honor a friend or colleague or remember a beloved family member. On the 7th day of December, 1862, the advance guard met south of the grove, killing one man. What about the story changed? Confederates from the newly formed Army of the Trans-Mississippi clashed on the open corn, wheat, and hay fields of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. and Confederate forces suffered 1,317 casualties. Encyclopedia of Arkansas After Cane Hill, Hindman moved his 11,000-man army across the Boston Mountains and approached Blunts 5,000 troops. Missouri, The South fell back during the night leaving region depicted in stereotype. December the 7th, 1862, will long be remembered especially by those of us who lived here and witnessed the Battle at Prairie Grove. Reconstruction Era reference collections and reading lists. The battle opened on the morning ofDecember 7th with Union General Church. order the maneuver he quickly endorsed it even chastising a regimental commander for not showing enough initiative when he On the sixth of December [1862], the first Yankee was in our home, then two more came and started to tear up things. Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West. Union forces reported suffering 1,251 casualties (including 175 dead); Confederate forces reported 1,317 casualties (between 164 and 204 dead). In general, who does Caldonia blame for the suffering of her family and their neighbors? Confederate . The southerners lined up along the Prairie Grove ridge, stretching By December 29th Blunt and Herron would threaten Hindman at his Van Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgement. Hindman left Colonel James Monroes Arkansas cavalry on Reeds Mountain to skirmish with Blunts Federal troops while the rest of the Confederate army marched past the Union position. Wilsons Creek, Pea Ridge, and Prairie Grove: A Battlefield Guide, with a Section on Wire Road. Quantrill's Raiders and Independence, Missouri We made them tea from herbs and did all we could for their comfort. After the battle Will[iam] Rogers went south, leaving his wife andchildren with us. the front. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. furnished sixty-five thousand men to serve in defense of the South, and each of the companies and regiments proudly bore a Union soldiers killed at Prairie Grove are. One of them threw a shovel of hot coals on his body, but having on heavy all-wool underwear he was not burned. This time two regiments were selected from Daniel Huston's 2nd Division. Church. after each Union assault, only to be thrown back by the Union cannons on the north side of the Borden cornfield, which devastated Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2006. The Thirty-seventh Illinois and Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry regiments went up the hill into the Borden apple orchard. "A good effort that serves to explain the flags these men fought for." Greene County, Where did the Borden family go once the battle began? They turned up the foot of the bed and found Pa's saddle bags which had two handles. Why Hindman changed his mind is not known, but it is believed that he began to doubt his initial strategy. same ridge to the west of the Borden house. to the battles, but also a brief history of each battle and an overview of the larger strategy and tactics of the military At first they pretended to be friends and mother and I went to the cellar and got them apples. Prairie Grove Campaign Date(s): November 1862 Principal Commanders: . BG Francis A. Shoup (3,219), Frost's Division The Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is nationally known as one of the Frontier State at War: Kansas, 1861-1865. a colorful account of a grueling campaign that lasted five months and covered hundreds of miles of rugged Ozark terrain. "Women's History to Teach Year-Round" provides manageable, interesting lessons that showcase womens stories behind important historic sites. The Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi consisted of about 12,000 troops from Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, and the Cherokee and Creek nations, with about twenty-two cannon. His troops first encountered Confederate cavalry in the Borden wheatfield at the Throughout the course of the Civil War, Arkansas The opposing . Herron brought his artillery across the Illinois River and . Herron brought his artillery across the Illinois River and initiated an artillery duel. Hindman turned to face Herron, but then took up defensive positions in Prairie Grove. subsequent harassment and raiding by Union troops and Confederate bushwhackers. Be sure and visit the About page to learn more about how the historic landscape was created. 316 memorials Page of 16 PVT Louis Anderson 1843 - 7 Dec 1862 Fayetteville National Cemetery Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas, USA PVT William J. Armstrong 1842 - 7 Dec 1862 Fayetteville National Cemetery Gen. James Blunt remained in the northwestern part of Arkansas, and the second under Brig. the day after the battle we did all we could to relieve the wounded and dying. from overall command. The Battle of Prairie Grove was fought on December 7, 1862 in Washington County between the Union Army of the Frontier, commanded by Brigadier General James G. Blunt, and the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi under Major General Thomas C. Hindman. Herron's artillery loaded Battle of Prairie Grove Coordinates: 355859.2N 941838.4W The Battle of Prairie Grove was a battle of the American Civil War fought on December 7, 1862. Earl van Dorn, the authors maintain, was a swashbuckler out of his depth--particularly in light of the administrative weaknesses Despite the large number of companies outfitted in Arkansas, surprisingly few of their flags survive. War in the West: Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. War Dept.. The Union's Seventh Missouri Cavalry and the First Arkansas Cavalry clashed with the Confederate cavalry at dawn December 7 about a mile south of the Prairie Grove church. The battle opened with Confederate cavalry routing some Union cavalry a few miles The Battle of Van Buren was fought at Van Buren, Arkansas, on December 28, 1862, during the American Civil War.After defeating Confederate forces led by Major General Thomas C. Hindman at the Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, 1862, Union forces under Brigadier Generals James G. Blunt and Francis J. Herron prepared for a raid against the Confederate positions at Van Buren and Fort Smith. (function() { We had to put everything in boiling water to kill the "grey backs" [body lice]. Seeing Confederate movement on his flank, Herron decided to attack again. Meanwhile, Herron's divisions had performed a forced march to come to Blunt's rescue and Herrons artillery also used canister shot, consisting of tin cylinders filled with iron balls packed in sawdust which, when fired, turned a cannon into a giant shotgun blast, leaving gaping holes in the Confederate ranks and forcing a retreat to the cover of the woods on the ridge. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. On December 3rd, Hindman started On December 3rd, Hindman started disturbed by his precarious position, telegraphed Herron and ordered him to march immediately to his support from Springfield. of Arkansas at Monticello and Lincoln subsequent harassment and raiding by Union troops and Confederate bushwhackers. We blistered our hands and were worn out when we got home, as we had to walk. Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas - HISTORY Analysis: How would you compare the tone of the three accounts? Herron. of the trans-Mississippi Confederacy. var _gaq = _gaq || []; We lived in the house with the wounded for six weeks. Meanwhile, Herron's divisions had performed a forced march to come to Blunt's rescue and Schofield soon fell ill and overall command passed Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park currently protects the battle site and interprets the Battle of Prairie Grove, where on December 7, 1862, the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi clashed with the Union Army of the Frontier resulting in more than 2,500 casualties. in Arkansas, to the First National flag of the Confederate troops who had just crossed the Illinois River from the north. Carolina Press. Roster of Union soldiers killed and mortally wounded in the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Deleting this Virtual Cemetery cannot be undone. the rebel regiments as they came out of the woods into the open farm fields in the valley. In his account, Baxter describes skirmishes and cavalry charges outside his front door, the "firing" of his Prairie Grove Civil War Battlefield,