Welcome back viewers
This month's Forgotten Battle is...
The Battle of Prairie Grove
Intro
The Battle of Prairie Grove occurred on December 7, 1862. It was fought in Washington Country, Arkansas, between the Union Army of the Frontier and the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Army. This battle was one of the largest ever fought in the state of Arkansas and it would cost both sides very dearly.
Part I
By late 1862, the United States was fully enveloped in civil war. The vast majority of the fighting took place east of the Mississippi River (namely in the states of Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia). But to the west of the river, savage fighting was also occurring. The fighting on this front mainly took place in the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, and what would later become Oklahoma.
In the state of Arkansas savage fighting began in March of 1862. In command of the Union Army was Major General Samuel Ryan Curtis. On March 7 and 8, General Curtis fought against the Confederates who were under the command of General Earl Van Dorn at the battle of Pea Ridge. Despite being outnumbered, the Yankees emerged victorious.
Their victory at Pea Ridge enabled the Federals to take control of the whole northern border of Arkansas (and most of Missouri). General Curtis then began moving his army further south into the state and captured the city of Helena. In September, Curtis was reassigned to command the Department of the Missouri. Before leaving Arkansas, he formed the Army of the Frontier. On November 20, Brigadier General James G. Blunt was placed in command.
The Confederate commander in Arkansas was Major General Thomas Carmichael Hindman. After General Van Dorn's defeat at Pea Ridge, Hindman received orders to attack General Blunt and regain control of the Arkansas-Missouri border. In October of 1862, General Blunt made an incursion into Arkansas with an army of 5,000. In response, Hindman sent Brigadier General John Marmaduke to intercept him.
Part II
Blunt and Marmaduke's armies met at Cane Hill on November 28. After a nine hour skirmish, the Confederates retreated in the face of superior numbers and artillery guns. The casualties for the Battle of Cane Hill were light. But then on December 3, Blunt's scouts reported that General Hindman was advancing on Cane Hill with more than 11,000 soldiers and 22 artillery guns. Now outnumbered himself, Blunt sent an urgent plea for reinforcements. His plea was answered by Brigadier General Francis Herron, who marched with 3,900 soldiers into Arkansas.
For the next three days, the two armies began attempting to outflank the other. After being slowed down by bad weather, Hindman decided to postpone his attack until December 8. But upon learning of Herron's approaching army, Hindman quickly changed his planes and marched his army to the town of Prairie Grove. They arrived there early in the morning of December 7. Clashes began when Confederate Cavalry attacked and scattered a small contingent of Union Cavalry at 4 AM. After this, General Hindman set up defenses and awaited Herron's approaching column.
While Herron's 3,900 soldiers were approaching Prairie Grove, General Blunt marched his 5,000 soldiers along the Fayetteville Road. All through the night and the morning they marched hoping to link up with Herron's column. In spite of their best efforts, they would not arrive on the battlefield until 3 PM. The main battle at Prairie Grove began just after 1 PM on December 7, 1862.
Part III
The first to attack were the men of Herron's Division. After opening fire with an artillery barrage (which inflicted several casualties) two federal brigades began advancing on the Confederate line. The focal point of this attack was a farm owned by Archibald Borden. The house on this farm (now called, the Borden House) would be the scene of the bloodiest the fighting during the battle.
The two advancing union brigades were met with fierce resistance and were forced back with heavy casualties. The confederates responded by launching a counter-attacking, only to be driven back by union artillery. The next to attack was Colonel Daniel Huston's Division. His attack was also driven back with heavy losses. In the thick of the fighting, was the 37th Illinois Infantry.
Seeing this, General Hindman ordered his army to once again counter-attack. Like before, the rebel attack was cut to pieces by the well-entrenched union artillery. General Blunt then ordered another attack to made on Hindman's flank. This attack was also repulsed. Once again, the Confederates responded with a counter-attack that was also repulsed. By now however, darkness was falling and both sides decided that they had had enough for one day. Although General Hindman was still holding his position, his army was running dangerously low on ammunition. After receiving word that more union reinforcements were arriving on the battlefield, Hindman ordered his soldiers to retreat under the cover of darkness. The battle was now over.
Epilogue
The Battle of Prairie Grove had lasted all day and costed both armies very dearly. Accounts for the number of casualties vary. But the Federals reported a total of 1,251 casualties while the Confederates reported suffering 1,317. Tactically the battle had ended in a draw (since the casualty rate was nearly even). However, the Confederate retreat gave the Union a strategic victory as it allowed them to keep control of the border between Missouri and Arkansas. It also caused many of Hindman's demoralized soldiers to desert his army.
For his valor during the Battle of Prairie Grove, LTC. John Charles Black would receive the Medal of Honor. After the war he would serve as a congressman from Illinois. General James Blunt would continue to command the Army of the Frontier and see further combat in more battles in both Arkansas and Missouri. Later in the war, General Samuel Curtis would return to command the Union Army (now called, the Army of the Border) and Blunt would serve as a division commander.
Eventually, the Battle of Prairie Grove passed into American history. Today, it is largely forgotten by the American public. In 1957, the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park was established by the state containing 707 acres. The Borden House (restored after the war) still stands on the battlefield as a silent testament to all the men who died on December 7, 1862.
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-battle-of-prairie-grove-arkansas-december-7-1862.129407/
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/prairie-grove
https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/thirty-seventh-illinois-infantry-15136/
