Setting the Stage
The Battle of Prairie Grove ended in a tactical draw-the costs of which were 2,700 killed, wounded, or missing men.On Sunday, December 7, 1862, General Thomas C. Hindman's Confederate Army arrived at Prairie Grove with one goal in mind: Destroy the Federal Army of the Frontier and clear the way for a heroic return to Missouri. Taking advantage of the high ground, the Confederate deployed along this ridge and awaited a Federal attack. The federals did not disapoint and twice stormed the ridge in an effort to break through the Confederate lines. They failed, and the Confederates followed each with a charge of their own. These too failed. After hours of fighting, neither army had secured their objective and over 2,700 men were dead, wounded, or missing.Follow this trail through the areas where some of the heaviest fighting occured during the battle of Prairie Grove.
In the Midst of Their Homes
Fifteen men of the 34th Infantry were killed during the Battle of Prairie Grove and sixety-nine were wounded, all of whom were within walking distance of their homes.This heavily wooded area is where Confederate General James F. Fagan's infantry brigade deployed shortly after 10 a.m. Amoung them was the 34th Arkansas Infantry, a regiment that consisted heavily of men from the Prairie Grove area. The 34th Arkansas had formed and trained on these very same fields only six months prior, and were now prepared to defend their homelands. One soldier recalled, "We knew now that the battle was on and we knew very near where it would be. Right in the midst of our homes, within the hearing of our loved ones."After withstanding a brutal artillery bombardment, the men of the 34th watched as Federal troops stormed the ridge, overtook one of their batteries, and advanced towards their posisition here in the woods.
Six Mortal Hours
Look down at the ground you are standing on: For six mortal hours, Hawthorn's Confederate regiment risked their lives in defensive of this soil.The posistioning of Hawthorn's men was obscured by thick brush. From the regiment's vantage point, the Federals were not as fortunate-their"blue coats shone through the thicket." After witnessing the Federals overwhelm an artillery battery to their right, the Arkansans knew not a moment could be lost. "With an Arkansas 'yell that rang out loud and clear above the roar of battle," Hawthorn's men "rushed foward ata double quick, driving the enemy from the battery."After re-capturing the guns, the wild charge could not be stopped. They continued "out of the thicket, through a little orchad in our front, down the hill and across the field in utter confusion and dismay back to their batteries, at least a half mile distant." This charge across the open fields cost the Confederate heavily however. "Throwing solid shot, shell, canister and grape," the Federal artillery decimated Hawthorn's regiment but they returned to the ridge and successfully repelled a second Federal assault."I never dismounted during the entire engagment and yet strange to say, though I was in the hottest fire, though my regiment made five desperate and bloody charges, though five batteries were playing upon us for six mortal hours, I never recieved a single scratch, nor was my horse touched by a single bullet. My battle-flag was literally riddled with balls." Colonel Alexander Hawthorn, Hawthorn's Arkansas Infintry, Confederate States of America.
Save the Horses!
The horror of war can lead men to commit senseless and vengeful acts of brutality.As the Confederate Army deployed onto the ridge, Captain William Blocher's four artillery guns moved into this position west of the Borden house. This position offered a commanding view of the ford of the Illinois River, the only crossing for Federal troops arriving on Fayetteville Road. General Francis Herron, in command of the attacking Federal forces, quickly pinpointed Blocher and ordered a charge up the steep slope to capture the guns.With a majority of the Confederate infantry over 200 yards behind him, Blocher soon realized he had little support. He desperately attempted to limber his guns and move to the rear, but the 20th Wisconsin Infantry soon emerged over the crest of the hill. One Wisconsin officer recalled:The guns which had been belching flame and smoke all morning stood there still and cold, and the horses as if wating for us. We could have taken the horses away, but some officer called out to shoot the horses. Men and officers called out in reply, 'Save the horses.' Again the senseless order was repeated and this time obeyed. the beautiful horses were piled in a bloody heap.Blocher's men fled as the Federals seized their prize: "The battery was ours! Oh what a shout of exultation arose!" Color sergeatn Lindsey Teal climbed atop one of the guns and defaintly waved the stars and stripes. No federal troops were lost while taking the guns, but 40 dead horses littered the area.
The Slaughter Pen
"It was as brave a fight as men ever made, but here it did not avail. They performed deeds of valor almost incredible, and shed their blood in torrents, but it was all useless."The apple orchard to your right is where some of the heaviest loss of life occured during the Battle of Prairie Grove. The 19th Iowa Infantry accompanied the 20th Wisconsin up the hill and displayed "a boldness and assuance that argued a certain belief of easy victory." The 19th Iowa marched into the orchard from the northeast corner and came into view of 750 Confederates crouching behind fence rails. These men belonged to the 22nd and 29th Arkansas Infantry regiments and had formed an "L" shaped line wrapped around the southwest corneer of the orchard. The Iowans unknowingly walked right into a Confederate crossfire and were now fighting for their lives in "a perfect slaughter pen."The Confederates rose and poured "incessant fire" into the stunned Federals. Lt. Colonel Samuel McFarland, in command of the 19th Iowa, was killed in the first volley; the leaderless Iowans then struggled to hold their own. It wasn't long before the Federals broke and ran back towards the Borden house. The Arkansans hopped the fence and charged "across the orchard, firing and yelling like savages."The Iowans briefly reformed beside the house but were quickly swept down the hill by the charge. Out of the 350 Iowans entering the orchard, 193 were killed, wounded, or missing. The 19th Iowa Infantry suffered a casualty rate of 55 percent, the highest of any regiment at the Battle of Prairie Grove.
Cavalry Holds the Line
"Down to meet them like an avalanche our own infantry swept. They met, the shock was terrible, but, broken and rent, our boys drove them back and followed at the charge. Again and again they returned to the right, and again and again were they repulsed with great slaughter."The element of suprise in battle can work as an indispensable asset.After opening the battle at dawn against unsuspected Federal cavalry on Fayettville road, Confederate Colonel Joseph Shelby's cavalry brigade dismounted and deployed in this area. Armed mostly with shotgunsl, Shelby's troopers patiently waited for the Federals to come into view. When the Federals launched a second assault, the Confederates got their chance. The 450 men of the 26th Indiana Infantry "eagerly and fiercly" advanced up the ridge but got the shock of their lives when they found over 1,200 Missourians and Arkansans waiting for them in the woods. Colonel John Clark, in command of the 26th Indiana, displayed "remarkable coolness and deliberation" despite having his sword belt ripped away by a bullet and three holes shot through his coat. With the "bullets flying seemingly thick as hail," Clark soon ordered a retreat and "nearly evryone was struck either in his person or clothing." The 26th Indiana lost almost half of their regiment within minutes of cresting the hill.
Commence the Music
From this spot, the postions of all four artillery batteries under the command of Brigadier Francis Herron can be seen. Initially arriving at the ford of the Illinois river at 10 a.m., the Federals could not cross due to the threat of ten Confederate guns shelling them. Not willing to risk the loss of life, Heron spent hours desperatley trying to find another crossing, eventually locating a spot north of the main ford. A road was cut out and Captain David Murphey's Bettery F, 1st Missouri Light Artillery, was the first to race across.Three of Murphy's rifled guns took position on Crawford's Hill, the large rise one mile to the north, while the remaining three guns deployed at the base of the hill. Growing tired of the lack of action, Blocher's battery fired a single shot at about 1:30 p.m., hoping to spark some sort of repsponse. Murphey gladly accepted the invitation and ordered his guns to bambard Blocher's position.While the Confederates were preoccupied with Murphy, Herron saw his chance. The rest of the Federal artillery dashed across the main ford and Lieutenant Joseph Foust quickly unlimbered his six rifled guns of Battery E, 1st Missouri Light Artillery, on the knoll to your right. Captain Frank Backof brought his six guns of battery L, 1st Light Artillery, into action in the fields in front of you and was quickly joined by two additional guns from lieutenant Herman Borris' Battery A, 2nd Illinois Light Artillery. One federal officer watched the scene in amazement: Within minutes, Herron had 20 guns wreaking havoc on the ridge line. The superior number and weaponry of the Federal artillery would play a decisive role throughout the Battle of Prairie Grove.
Desperate Beyond Description
The first Federal assault on the ridge was a disaster. Half of the men who charged up the hill failed to come back down. Those who were left fled for their lives, and the Confederates were quick to take advantage of the situation. "Like a nest of ants," nearly the entire Confederate force counter-charged down the hill, determined to seize the Federal Batteries. The artillerymen, however, had other plans."Under a withering fire of grape and canister from all our guns... they broke and retreated in great disorder, recieving as they ran a terrible fire, which strewed the ground with their dead clear up to the brow of the hill." Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Payne, 37th Illinois Infintry United States of AmericaOverwhelmed by the immerse firepower of the Federal artillery, the Confederates reeled back in disorder and desperately climbed back up the hill to safety. General Herron was highly impressed with the coolness and effectiveness of his gunners:"Never was there more real courage and pluck displayed, and more downright fighting done, than at this moment."
Blazing Away Like Fury
As exhaustion set in and with the battle seemingly over, a new force reignited the fight.Herron's second assault was a, "heroic, terrific, desperate charge, with few equals and no superiours," yet it ultimately ended just like the first, in failure. The Confederates were determined, once again, to silence the Federal Artillery guns, With the rebel yell, over 1,800 Confederates poured down the hillside and the federal batteries greeted them with a thunderous roar of canister fire from across the field. The men of the 34th Arkansas infantry were so focused on the guns that they failed to realize that they had advanced past the remains of Black's 37th Illinois. The 37th unleashed a murderous fire that tore through the Confederates like "a great scythe of death." The Arkansans "stopped as if amazed" and a second volley sent them running back up hill.The rest of the Confederates force did succeed in forcing two of the batteries back but, just as before, the overwhelming firepower of the Federal artillery proved to be too much. They retreated in great disorder back to the top of the ridge. Caiptain Murray, from his position on Crawford's Hill, summed up the affair with just four words, "The enemy were checked."The failed counter-attack was over by four o' clock in the afternoon and bothe sides were exhausted. it appeared as though the Battle of Prairie Grove was over. Much to everyones suprise, an unidentified battery appeared on the hill to the west and started "blazing away like fury." Herron studied the scene and was worried that the enemy had outplanked him. Anxious to determine the identity of the guns, he rode foward. Halfway across the field, a small group of Federal officers were seen riding his way. Salutes were exchanged and the officers were pleased to announce that General James Blunt's Kansas Division had arrived. Blunt's forces would open a new Front one mile west of here.
A Show of Force
"Our turn now came. We had been spectators of the discomfiture which befell our comrades on the left, and perhaps a feeling akin to revenge sprung up in our breasts as we witnessed their decimated ranks fall back broken and apperently disheartened. Forming in line of battle, Lieut. Col. Leake gave the order, and, and the regiment moved foward at a charging step." Caiptain Chester Barney 20th Iowa Infantry United States of America.With drive and determination the Iowans crupted onto the battlefield once again. Initially ordered to remain in reserve near Crawfords Hill, the 20th Iowa Infantry took matters into their own hands. Determined to get into the fight, the Iowans, and their brigade commander, Colonel William Dye, somehow persuaded half of Murphey's battery to follow them into the field and form the extreme right flank of the Federal Force in the valley.The Confederates descended the ridge to the Hugh Rogers house and opened fire on the Iowans from behind any cover they could find. The decision to bring the artillery along immediatly paid off. Moving to within 200 yards of the homestead, the three guns opened fire with canister bullets, "before stopping and firing a few volleys from the foot of the hill. Pleased with their show of force, they retired back to the artillery guns. Dye greatly enjoyed the spectacle and smoked hos old pipe alongside of the battery, as if nothing exciting was going on."After General Blunt's dramatic arrival, the iowans were eager to continue fighting. Once again, they took matters into their own hands. As, "there appeared at the time nothing else to do," Dye sent word to General Blunt that the 20th Iowa "would move in conjunction with his forces." Blunt accepted the offer and the Iowans deployed on his left flank before participating in another assault.
