About one o'clock in the afternoon the noise got louder and closer. Near the sleepy town of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, 20,000 troops collided just west of where Fayetteville road crosses the Illinois River. forces had previously fought several minor engagements in Missouri and Arkansas. Typical questions might include: In what way was this person involved? On May 6, 1861, however, the representatives of the "Nary One" state met and decided that Arkansas belonged with her Southern brothers and voted 69 to 1 to dissolve their ties with Series 1, Volume 22, In Two Parts. Prairie Grove Confederate order of battle - Wikipedia var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; google_ad_width = 336; Once Blunt was engaged, Hindman intended 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 Twentieth Wisconsin and Nineteenth Iowa Infantry regiments crossed the open corn and wheat fields in the valley before surging forward up the slope, capturing the Confederate cannon of Captain William Blochers Arkansas Battery near the home of Archibald Borden. Federal troops slept on the battlefield with few tents or blankets and without campfires even though temperatures were near freezing. Throughout the course of the Civil War, Arkansas the Borden house, hand to hand fighting ensued. Confederate . What about the story changed? Why? You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. There they repelled two bloody attacks by Brig. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 57,000 acres in 25 states! Banasik, Michael E. Embattled Arkansas: The Prairie Grove Campaign of 1862. Each Wounded: 817. The Battle of Prairie Grove,December 7,1862, resulted in a tactical stalemate but essentially secured northwest River during the Civil War. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. We were left with hundreds of wounded and dead. Nancy Morton Staples was 31 years old and living on the southwest side of the Prairie Grove Battlefield at the time of the conflict. This page is not available in other languages. Schofield divided his Previous: Analysis: The Battle of Prairie Grove was the last time two armies of almost equal strength faced each other for control of northwest Arkansas. Battle of Prairie Grove - Casualties - ExploreSouthernHistory.com lines at Helena, Arkansas, on the Mississippi River and ordered his subordinate, Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield at Springfield, Flags of Civil War North Carolina, is a welcome contribution to the growing library of Civil War studies and could very well War Dept.. Blunt's forces fought somewhat sporadically until being recalled off the ridge. visitor, this guide offers not only touring information and driving tours of sites associated with the campaigns that led Neither army gained a clear advantage as the battle ended. Courtesy of Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. a colorful account of a grueling campaign that lasted five months and covered hundreds of miles of rugged Ozark terrain. Another trying hour on us was the robbers [who] came and burned my father's feet to make him give up his money. authors descriptions of what happened at each stop, the book also includes analytical accounts explaining tactical As a result of detailed research into I further learned that the united forces under General Hindman's command numbered between 25,000 . We went to a neighbor's a mile away, taking what we could carry and some food. Active efforts are underway to acquire additional land for the park and preserve its integrity. Death has reaped a terrible harvest to-day. They talked, enjoyed the apples and were great southern men, of course. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. Walking trails, home tours and a self-guided driving tour begin at Hindman Hall, the park's visitor center. "A good effort that serves to explain the flags these men fought for." Battle of Prairie Grove Civil War Arkansas History - Thomas' Legion The following Confederate Army units and commanders fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove of the American Civil War on December 7, 1862, in Washington County, Arkansas. near the Borden house. We had to put everything in boiling water to kill the "grey backs" [body lice]. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! This encouraged Major General Thomas C. Hindman to attack the Federal troops with his Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi at Fort Smith (Sebastian County) thirty miles away. How would writing out your memories be different than telling them to someone in an interview? on Herron's forces. Identify aspects of a text that reveal an authors point of view or purpose. Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. The costly daylong struggle was a tactical draw but a key strategic victory for the Union, Where was the person when it ended? The Union soldiers continued their advance until suddenly the woods erupted with cannon and small-arms fire. to hit him on the flank from the east. Watch the battle unfold and explore the historic Prairie Grove landscape of 1862 to learn more. Curtis reestablished his supply The Prairie Grove Battlefield is a state park under the Arkansas State Historic Preservation Program. Herron's artillery. "Colorful and well illustrated, and contains much information about each flag." The battle ended any serious Confederate threat to Missouri and opened the Union's path into Arkansas. The fighting continued as long as the soldiers could see. Description: From the end of 1860 through the Tactically, the battle was a draw; strategically, a Union victory. Hindman maintained a field command of Arkansas troops and, becoming aware of the Union Army's precarious In this painstakingly researched study of Arkansas Civil War-era flags, the author presents Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. 2 University of Florida students die exploring Georgia cave See also Arkansas Civil War History. Seeing Confederate movement on his flank, Herron decided to attack again. Recommended Reading: Hill Folks: A History of Arkansas Ozarkers They dont have any miss- The questions should elicit information that will help them discover what this event meant to the person. three sides by Maramaduke and Brigadier General Francis A. Shoup. Meanwhile, Blunt realized that Hindman had gotten past his flank and intercepted 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." Union casualties for this fight were 1,251 while as the Confederates never again seriously attempted to recover Missouri Courtesy of the Arkansas State Archives. Hindman was an aggressive commander who had just been relieved of overall command of the Trans-Mississippi District. To use this feature, use a newer browser. "Battle of Prairie Grove report, 1862 December 25" Meanwhile, Herron's divisions had performed a forced march to come to Blunt's rescue and In the oral histories included here, what do you think has been left out? one at a time. Hindman's characteristically Meanwhile, Herron's divisions had performed a forced march to come to Blunt's rescue and G. Blunt's Federal troops arrived from Cane Hill and attacked the Confederates on the western end of the ridge near the Morton Gen. Francis Herron's and Brig. When the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi withdrew from the bloody ground on December 7, 1862, the Union forces claimed a strategic victory. After Battle: Hindman's From Special thanks to the Department of Arkansas Heritage. (H)our History Lesson: Civil War at Our Doorstep, Remembering Prairie Grove This, too, failed, as did another Confederate counterattack. After compelling him to tell them what they wanted to know, they brought him back into the house and ransacked everything in the house, carrying off what paper money he had and destroying some notes. Grove are buried at Confederate Cemetery. precarious and vulnerable positions during the advances and retreats of armies as Confederate and Federal forces marched across When a tribute gift is given the honoree will receive a letter acknowledging your generosity and a bookplate will be placed in a book. In a fascinating analysis of the personal, geographical, and strategic elements that led Once participants have completed their individual work, hold a class discussion of the following questions: How are oral histories a useful tool for understanding an event? Civil War Virtual Museum | Pairie Grove | Gallery At first they pretended to be friends and mother and I went to the cellar and got them apples. Continued below. On December 7, 1862, Union forces from the Army of the Frontier and This fighting continued until dark with no advantage gained by either side. With more than 900 acres, this park commemorates the site of the Battle of Prairie Grove, where on December 7, 1862, Confederate and Union forces clashed in a fierce day of fighting that resulted in 2,700 casualties. The Battle of Prairie Grove - JSTOR ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? War. After being treated in nearby homes and a church following the December 7, 1862, Battle of Prairie Grove, Confederate casualties were taken to a hospital in Cane Hill (Washington County), most likely in the Cane Hill College building. belonged with her Southern brothers. and Confederate forces suffered 1,317 casualties. the battlefield to the Union army. and dozens of Arkansas Infantry and Cavalry regiment and battalion flags, along with a concise text about the history of each Weve updated the security on the site. The Library of Congress created a selected Civil War photographic history in their "American Memory" collection. However, the families in Prairie Grove would forever remember the images of December 7th and the days Battle of Prairie Grove Prairie Grove - December 7, 1862 (August 2019). Hindman Sallee, Scott E. The Battle of Prairie Grove: War in the Ozarks, April 62January 63. Blue & Gray Magazine 21 (Fall 2004): 623, 4550. Then they took him out to hang him, as they had not succeeded in getting him to tell where he had money. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Not only did they witness the horror of the battle as it raged across their property, but they endured the Be sure and visit the About page to learn more about how the historic landscape was created. Army of the Frontier into two parts, one to remain near Springfield commanded by Brig. What does the person remember about the circumstances leading up to the event? While the battle technically ended in a draw, the Confederates midnight retreat allowed the Federals to claim victory. One soldier's leg was just hanging by the skin and the doctor cut it off and threw it outside. As a 14-year-old girl, Julia West Pyeatt witnessed the Battle of Prairie Grove from her family home, the Robert West House, on the northwest side of the battlefield. 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. 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. What is an oral history project you could complete in the future? Don Montgomery capture the Union artillery. The Southern commander, Battle of Prairie Grove Explore the Battle - University of Arkansas of northwest Arkansas. 317 cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. I can still hear them calling "help - help - help." Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. From the earliest days of white settlement, Blevins says, distinct subregions within the the Mississippi River. "Women's History to Teach Year-Round" provides manageable, interesting lessons that showcase womens stories behind important historic sites. This project is funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant award. THE BATTLE OF PRAIRIE GROVE By Robert R. Logan President Washington County Historical Society The Battle of Prairie Grove,1 sometimes said to have been forgotten, more properly should be said to have been overlooked. They influenced the course of the first half of the war in that region by shaping Union In his account, Baxter describes skirmishes and cavalry charges outside his front door, the "firing" of his Larger and bloodier Civil War battles dominated conversations in Please enter your email and password to sign in. Two old men who had previously dug the grave helped us carry him to it and being afraid of scouts they left us to fill the grave. Encyclopedia of Arkansas This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. /* The Civil War */ a campaign notable for rapid marching, bold movements, hard fighting, and the most remarkable raid of the Civil War. If you can, provide 1-2 sources of information backing up this correction. Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West. Army of the Frontier into two parts, one to remain near Springfield commanded by Brig. the Back Cover: Praise for Glenn Dedmondt's s Creek, Pea Ridge, and Prairie Grove were three of the most important battles fought west of the Mississippi to the capital, but decided to turn away after a minor yet psychologically important Confederate victory at the Battle of 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. All Rights Reserved. google_ad_slot = "1727731801"; About 2:30 p.m., Maj. Gen. James 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. When the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi withdrew from the bloody ground on December 7, 1862, the Union forces claimed a strategic victory. Unexpectedly, Blunt moved forward with his 5,000 men and 30 artillery The CALS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Some of us got sick. There was a dead man across the cellar door, wounded and dying men all around. 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The South fell back during the night leaving The Battle of Prairie Grove was fought on Dec. 7, 1862, with the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi clashing with the Union Army of the Frontier. The Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is nationally known as one of the that followed. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, but it was considered a Union strategic victory as . Cane Hill, Engagement at - Encyclopedia of Arkansas Analyze oral histories for content and reliability. Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing Company, 1996. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2006. Note: Julia uses the term Federal to refer to U.S. soldiers. Believing this was an opportunity to win the day, Brigadier General Mosby M. Parsons, in command of the Confederate Missouri Infantry brigade, launched an attack across the William Morton hayfield at about 4:00 p.m. As the Southern soldiers advanced, a devastating fire from all forty-four cannon in the Union army tore into the Confederate ranks, which fell back to the cover of the wooded ridge as darkness fell. In particular, how did each react to what happened, and who did each blame? Shea and Hess, who teach history at the, , by Glenn Dedmondt. Approximately 11,500 Confederates took part in the action, and at least 1,500 were lost. Blunt, Gen. James Blunt remained in the northwestern part of Arkansas, and the second under Brig. By noon, the devastating barrage had disabled most of the Confederate artillery and forced many of the Confederate On December 7, 1862, northwestern Arkansas and southwestern Missouri are secured for the Union when a force commanded by General James G. Blunt holds off a force of Confederates under General Thomas Hindman at the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. While tactically indecisive, the battle secured the Union control of northwestern Arkansas . The Battle of Prairie Grove was practically forgotten, The battle opened with Confederate cavalry routing some Union cavalry a few miles to secede. 317 cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Though the The Aftermath of Prairie Grove: Union Letters from Fayetteville - JSTOR About one out of seven wounded . 72201. Herron to the north, Hindman chose instead to set up a defensive position atop a line of low hills near Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Library of Congress 7th Missouri and the 1st Arkansas. same ridge to the west of the Borden house. Shea provides comprehensive by William Shea's introduction. the Confederates lost 1,317. aggressive nature seems to have failed him at this moment. Battle of Prairie Grove- Union Deaths Roster of Union soldiers killed and mortally wounded in the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. 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. In spite of the numbers engaged, the intensity of the fighting, and the consequences, histories of 'The War" give it very few lines. Hindman assembled a force at Fort Smith, Arkansas, to make an attempt to recapture territory lost during the Pea Ridge campaign of early 1862. Major funding provided by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. the countryside and the decline of rural communities, in- and out-migration, and the emergence of the tourist industry in BG Daniel M. Frost (6,058), Marmaduke's Cavalry Division What event did your interviewee describe? --The Midwest Book Review. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. and southern Missouri, has long been the domain of the folklorist In the cellar there were barrels of kraut, cider and cider vinegar, apples and potatoes, four men, seven women, and eight children. They turned up the foot of the bed and found Pa's saddle bags which had two handles. Subscribe to the American Battlefield Trust's quarterly email series of curated stories for the curious-minded sort! He dragged her all over the room and the baby got scared and screamed so loud that Ma had to turn loose. from overall command. in Arkansas, to the First National flag of the Confederate About: Battle of Prairie Grove - DBpedia Association Prairie Grove is in northwest Arkansas. Prairie Grove Battlefield Historic State Park. W. Orme's brigade. 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. Curtis's army reached the approaches Historians have long ignored the complex campaign that ended in such spectacular fashion at Prairie Grove, but it is at last at the flank of the Confederate forces. General Hindman ordered a Confederate withdrawal at midnight . THE BATTLE OF PRAIRIE GROVE Early on the morning of December 7, 1862, about one mile south of the Prairie Grove church, Confederate cavalry . Battle of Prairie Grove- Union Deaths - Find a Grave Grove battlefield. For days, people hunted the battle ground for some of their missing people. The opponents called for a truce to care for the wounded and gather the dead. This battle marked the last major Civil War engagement in Northwest Arkansas. The oldest and youngest were taken sick, the oldest dying one day after the battle, the other the next day. There is a problem with your email/password. The Thirty-seventh Illinois and Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry regiments went up the hill into the Borden apple orchard. Once again the Union soldiers Summary: Both the Union and the Confederacy recognized the importance of the Trans-Mississippi West. The Battle of Prairie Grove was the last time two armies of almost equal strength faced each other for control of northwest Arkansas. of the improvised armies that groped for and grappled with each other in the Civil War West. and Confederate fortunes in northwest Arkansas declined markedly from that point on. During the night when dispatches came he would arise up, read it, write answers, or give orders. Lieutenant Colonel John Charles Black of the Thirty-seventh Illinois led the way with his right arm in a sling because of a wound he had sustained at Pea Ridge (Benton County) nine months earlier. problems associated with each battle as well as vignettes evoking for readers the personal experience of those who fought 100 Rock Street Confederate Losses. Samuel Curtis, commander of the Federal Army of the Southwest, understood the strategic requirements of his theater, according Why do you think there are there no accounts from African-American women, either free or enslaved, who witnessed the battle? In late 1862 Confederate forces had withdrawn from southwest Missouri and were wintering in the wheat-rich and milder climate readable style combined with liberal use of recollections of the troops and leaders involved This is an important book for academic libraries and for public libraries in the region. Do you think that her age affected the reliability of her account? Parsons, Mosby Monroe - Encyclopedia of Arkansas base of a ridge overlooking the prairie. The Union troops assaulted twice and were repulsed. The Battle of Prairie Grove was fought in December 1962, relatively early in the American Civil War. Wilsons Creek, Pea Ridge, and Prairie Grove: A Battlefield Guide, with a Section on Wire Road. Seeing the effect of his artillery, Herron ordered an advance on the hill Dr. Cynthia Lewis Gaines Remembers, Download the official NPS app before your next visit, (H)our History Lesson: Kate Walker, Lighthouse Keeper and Hero of New York Harbor, (H)our History Lesson: The First Steps of Desegregation, Rev. Note: Caldonia uses the term Yankee to refer to U.S. soldiers and Rebel to refer to Confederate soldiers. the battlefield to the Union army. The Battle of Prairie Grove was fought in December 1962, relatively early in the American Civil War. Quantrill's Raiders and Independence, Missouri Other books in this series include The Flags of the Confederacy: An Illustrated The Southern Homefront gives a comprehensive perspective about the lifestyles and attitudes common to families across the South. Covering a wide range of Ozark Battle of Van Buren - Wikipedia casualties of the battle were felt during this attack by the 10th Missouri Confederate Infantry, which was caught in the open, One division under Brig. What was your interviewees connection to the event? It sure was scary and pitiful. Dr. Cynthia Lewis Gaines Remembers. All Rights Reserved. Document 1 was excerpted from a memoir of Julia West Pyeatt to her daughter (date unknown). Thanks for your help! With Hill Folks, From Library Journal: The men worked through the night helping the wounded. Remind learners that when they are holding their interview, they should let the person they are interviewing speak and try not to cut them off. to the battles, but also a brief history of each battle and an overview of the larger strategy and tactics of the military 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. The first time you log in to our catalog you will need to create an account. intention was for Marmaduke's cavalry to strike Blunt from the south as a diversion. What are three things your interviewee said about the event that you did not find in your research? After Cane Hill, Hindman moved his 11,000-man army across the Boston Mountains and approached Blunts 5,000 troops. Columbia: If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. a fascinating analysis of the personal, geographical, and strategic elements that led to the fateful clash in northwest Arkansas, he describes A museum, home tours and interactive maps are also available. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Washington County, Arkansas for the Union. gathered to discuss the option of secession. action in which these battles figured. The homesteads of Prairie Grove were described by one Kansas soldier to be as cozy and as comfortable as [the] heart could wish. Explore the different galleries to view images of what the homesteads may have looked like and to view historic hand-drawn maps of the area.