Civil War Today

The battle of Prairie Grove is one of those lesser known battles fought out in the west that had a far more significant effect on the outcome of the war than some of the really famous battles fought in the east. Prairie Grove firmly established Federal control of Missouri and Northwest Arkansas once and for all. The bleeding in those places would continue at the hands of the Redlegs and the Bushwhackers for the remainder of the war and beyond, but the power of the Confederate Army was broken.

The battle itself was a fairly straight forward affair. The battle began with a mounted skirmish at dawn when Confederate mounted infantry attacked and routed Federal cavalry about a mile south of Prairie Grove Church. The fleeing Union troopers stopped and rallied when their commander Brig. Gen. Francis Herron shot one of his men out of the saddle. Another skirmish broke out between the Confederate riders and the troopers now backed up by Herron’s main force infantry. The now over matched Confederates fell back to Prairie Grove Ridge where the Confederate infantry had been preparing works along the top of the ridge.

View from the Confederate Position

Herron brought his forces up and launched an artillery barrage against the Confederate position. The Confederate artillery tried to respond but was easily silenced by the Union. After a two hour bombardment Herron sent the 20^th Wisconsin and the 19^th Iowa storming up the ridge and into the teeth of the dug in Confederates. The Union soldiers overwhelmed and captured a battery near the Borden house before running into a three sided trap which drove them back down the slope to the shelter of their own artillery.

The Borden House

The Confederates launched a counter attack that collapsed when it ran into the massed fire of Herron’s artillery firing case and canister. Herron responded with another attack featuring the 37^th Illinois and the 26^th Indiana storming into the Borden apple orchard. The renewed Union attack was stopped at fence line across the valley where they stood off yet another Confederate counterattack.

The Borden Orchard

Herron now realized he was in trouble as he saw the Confederates forming up for another attack against the 20^th Iowa standing guard on the Union right. Herron had pretty much used up his men attacking up the ridge after a very long forced march and he realized that with the Confederates advantage of running down hill they were in a position where they could over run his tired forces. At just the right moment Union reinforcements under Brig. Gen. James Blunt swung into line on Herron’s right.

The Confederates sought to gain the advantage by hitting Blunt’s men before they could get set and launched an attack across the Morton hayfield around 4p.m. the Union was set however and 44 cannon opened up shedding the Confederate lines forcing them to fall back to the woods.

During the night the Confederates snuck out of their position as quietly as they could and abandoned Northwest Arkansas and Missouri for good.

The Confederates had about 204 men killed, 872 wounded, and 407 missing with some number of the missing being deserters. The Union had 175 killed, 808 wounded, and 250 missing. Depending on what source you read Prairie Grove is called a Union victory, a Confederate victory or a draw. I referenced www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net for the details on the battle. They list it as a Union strategic victory. I see it as a clear cut Union victory because of the significance of the outcome. The above photographs are from: http://www.civilwaralbum.com/misc/prairiegrove

James Anthony’s take on Prairie Grove

Camped on the battlefield of Rose Prairie December 9^th, 1862 (Prairie Grove)

Dear Wife We received orders on the fourth XXX to march at four o’clock Pm which were subsequently changed. At one o’clock Am reveille beat and we were ordered to hurry up and in a short time we were striking tents preparatory for a march south. We marched twenty miles and camped. At two o’clock next morning we were up again for a march of twenty four miles when we camped. The next morning early we were again on the move and just at night reached Cross Hollows distance twenty two miles. A little after one o’clock Am we started again for Fayetteville eighteen miles which we reached soon after sunrise. We stopped about a mile south of town and eat our dinner (which to some of us proved to be our last dinner) where we first heard the sound of cannon faintly but distantly. We were soon moving towards the scene of action which we found to be twelve miles off. We were soon marched up to support our battery and ordered to lie down near our battery under cover of a bank. We had lain there but a few minutes when our Colonel ordered a detail of twenty men from company A to act as skirmishers to be commanded by Lieutenant Drake. He took the second section of our company which included myself and we marched off to the left and rear of our regiment to give our men warning if the enemy should attempt to flank us. In the mean time the artillery was busily at work and soon the rattle of small arms mingled with the roar of cannon and the cheers of the combatants. The enemy were posted on a range of hills covered with timber while we had to march across an almost level prairie in order to reach them with our infantry. Our regiment reduced to about one hundred and fifty men marched up into the woods and engaged the enemy for about half an hour when they retreated out of the range of fire and awaited further orders. Our regiment left eight dead on the field and I understand we have about forty wounded. The enemy acknowledge a loss of sixteen hundred killed and wounded. They say they lost more here in two hours than they lost at Pea Ridge. I can not say how many we have lost. One of our captains who went over the field before our dead were removed told me he should judge the enemy’s dead doubled the number of ours. But they had possession of the field during the night and might have removed many of their dead. I have been over a part of the field and had the satisfaction of seeing many secessionists who will trouble their country no more. They were as large sized as ours and appeared to be well fed and warmly clothed you will see full returns in the Papers more fully and correct than I am able to give you. Reinforcements continue to arrive and we shall soon be able to put down all opposition beyond a peradventure. I am well as I can expect to be under the circumstances. My ankle gets lame on our forced marches and my feet blistered but the others are about as bad off as I am. For the last two days before the battle I used a cane which I brought on to the field and then dropped it. I tell you a battle will put new life into a man. Company A lost one man Daniel A. Robbins. He could not keep up with his company and fell out but still kept on his way and is supposed to have fell in with 19^th Iowa and went into action with them as he was found on that part of the field occupied by that regiment. The skirmishers detailed from A Company did not happen to meet the enemy. We were not recalled in time to take a part in the firing with the regiment and the enemy did not flank as being kept back by General Blunt. I have not had a letter from you for sometime. I expect one the next mail. We have had some pretty hard marches to do lately and we need some rest. December 10^th eight of our dead being those who died on the field were buried today. We buried them in separate graves in a circle a large oak tree being in the center Mr. McDowell wrote yesterday. We are all well at present I must now stop and get to dinner. James R. Anthony, Army Letters 1862-1865, 53-56

Camped on the battlefield of Prairie Grove Dec 13^th, 1862

Dear Wife Children and Friends I wrote you letter soon after the battle but I have a little leisure I will write again. In my last letter I called the battlefield by the name of Rose Prairie. Our Lieutenant Colonel stated to the regiment on the morning after the battle that the battle would be known by that name but it was subsequently changed to that of Prairie Grove. The enemy being posted within the timber nearly all who fell, fell within the precincts of the Grove. In my last letter I had our regiment at one hundred and fifty I did so on the statement of the sergeant major who should know. I have since learned we numbered over two hundred. I am unable to say what our loss may be but some of our regiment suffered quite severely. The 8^th (?) Wisconsin lost fifty three men killed. Major Thompson of our regiment was shot through the thigh but was able to ride off the field. The dead are about all buried. We had to finish burying the secessionists. They appear to be a different kind of men from ours almost every man is what we should call sandy completion that is reddish hair and whiskers. They are full as large sized as we are but may not be as well armed in all respects. I think their power is broken in this part of the state. In the battle they put the conscripts in front and the volunteers in the rear with orders to shoot any of them who attempted to run and I have heard men say who pretended to know that many were shot in their endeavors to escape. There is no doubt but many have been forced into the service who would gladly (?) them if they had the chance. I can not say how long we shall remain here. We are about forty miles from Fort Smith but whether we shall go there from this place I am unable to determine. I think our movements will depend in a great measure on the movements of the enemy. What they may be is probably not yet fully developed. We have been having most splendid weather but today it threatens a storm. I am anxiously looking forward for a letter from you and(?) having received one this month. I hear nothing more about our pay but it must come at last. James R. Anthony, Army Letters 1862-1865, Plates 56-58

Head Quarters Second and Third Divisions Army of the Frontier

Prairie Grove Arkansas December 10^th, 1862

Fellow Soldiers It is with pride and pleasure that I am enabled to congratulate you on the victory so recently achieved over the enemy. Meeting their combined forces vastly your superior in numbers armed and equipped in the most efficient manner contrary to what we had been led to believe. Marshaled by their ablest Generals posted in a strong position of their own selection prepared and ready to attack and entertaining towards us feelings of hatred and fiendish passions evoked by infamous lies which even Rebel Generals should have disdained to utter you fellow Soldiers after a forced march of over one hundred miles in less than three days weary exhausted and almost finished animated only by that feeling of patriotism that induced you to give up the pleasures and comforts of home to undergo the dangers and hardships of the field did most gallantly meet fight and repulse the enemy. Your fellow soldiers elsewhere your friends and relatives at home your fellow citizens and your Country as they learn of the splendid service of the Artillery of the daring and brilliant charge of the Infantry will render you that praise and honor which is justly your due. Iowa Illinois Indiana Wisconsin and Missouri your native states are proud of their noble sons. I who witnessed your gallant daring in every encounter in behalf of your country and myself tender thanks for the service you have rendered. Whilst we drop a tear therefore for those who have fallen and sympathize with those who are yet suffering let us not forget to render thanks to the Beneficent Giver of all blessings for the success that has thus far attended the truth and right of our glorious Cause.

FG Harron

Official Brig Gen Commanding 2^nd & 3^rd Division

Wm Hyde Clark

A. A. G.

James R. Anthony, Army Letters 1862-1865, Plates 60-62