CHAPTER VIII.
THE FIRST ALARM - APPROACHING THE BATTLE FIELD - CONFUSION OF WAGON TRAINS - PANIC AMONG THE ARKANSAS CAVALRY - GETTING INTO POSITION - “FEELING THE ENEMY” - BATTLE OF PRAIRIE GROVE - DISASTERS ON THE LEFT - CHARGE OF THE 20TH IOWA - TERRIBLE ARTILLERY FIRING - CRITICAL SITUATION - ARRIVAL OF BLUNT - NIGHT AND VICTORY - THE DAY AFTER THE BATTLE - REBEL HOSPITALS - WOUNDED MEN EATEN BY HOGS - BURYING OUR DEAD.
It will be remembered that when we hastily retired from Fayetteville on the morning of October 30th, Gen. BLUNT with his division was left in vicinity of that place. Our information as to his subsequent movements, up to November 20th, was derived altogether from current reports at the time, and therefore shrouded in too much obscurity to admit of being accurately traced out. His forces being composed almost exclusively of cavalry and mounted infantry, his movements were consequently rapid, and in order still further to facilitate them over a rough mountainous country, he had procured a number of small howitzers which were drawn by mules, and attached to his Indian brigade. This was known at the time as the "Mule Battery," and while it inspired confidence with his Indian allies gave to his recognoisances an appearance of strength which sometimes secured advantages over a greatly superior force of the enemy.
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After the withdrawal of HERRON and TOTTEN from Fayetteville BLUNT also moved back to Prairie Creek with the main body of his forces, leaving, however, a detachment of scouts to observe the movements of the rebels south of Boston Mountains.
MARMADUKE was then concentrating his forces at Fort Smith and Van Buren, on the Arkansas river, to be in readiness to join Gens. HINDMAN, FROST and PARSONS, who, with a portion of the rebel army of the Trans-Mississippi Department, was preparing in the vicinity of Little Rock for a gigantic invasion of Missouri. Accurate knowledge of the movements of the rebels at Fort Smith was constantly transmitted to BLUNT through his Indian scouts, who penetrated sometimes as far south as the Arkansas river. But he seems to have been entirely ignorant of the movements in progress at Little Rock, where the more formidable force of rebels was being organized. On the morning of November 24th a portion of the rebel army under Gen. MARMADUKE crossed the river at Van Buren. Gen. BLUNT received information of this on the 26th, and at once broke camp at Prairie Creek, moving south to Fayetteville. After forwarding information of the movements of the rebels to headquarters at St. Louis, he halted at Fayetteville until the intention of the enemy would become more fully developed by their movements. His tarry at this place, however, was brief, as information came in during the afternoon of the same day of his arrival, that MARMADUKE had left Van Buren and taken up his line of march on the road
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leading to Cane Hill. This being a strong natural position, and a good strategic point for military operations, Gen. BLUNT at once determined to contest its possession. Accordingly after sending couriers to HERRON apprising him of the movements in progress, he immediately broke camp, and moved rapidly in the direction of Cane Hill, with a portion of his mounted infantry and "mule battery." On arriving at Cane Hill he found MARMADUKE with a part of his forces, had preceded him and was taking up his position. Nothing daunted, however, by this, Gen. BLUNT at once made a furious attack, and by the advantage derived from his peculiar artillery arrangement, notwithstanding the superior numbers of the enemy, succeeded in driving him off and securing the position, which he at once made dispositions to hold. Information now reached him of the advance of HINDMAN, who had already arrived at Fort Smith, and was preparing to cross the river. His situation was becoming critical, but he determined to remain and trust the same good fortune which had thus far attended his hazardous undertakings, to bring HERRON to his assistance. The probability of this assistance reaching him in time, however, was extremely problematical, as the distance between him and HINDMAN was only sixty miles, while HERRON was one hundred and eighteen miles away, and with only a very small cavalry force to co-operate with his infantry. He immediately sent swift couriers to HERRON, and then forwarded the following despatch
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to Gen. CURTIS at St. Louis, which is copied from a St. Louis paper:
CANE HILL, ARK., Dec. 1, 1862.
GENERAL - My division arrived here on the 28th of November. Gen. HINDMAN is advancing with a large army. I have sent orders to Gen. HERRON to hurry to my assistance. Before this reaches you there will have taken place the d___dest fight or foot race on record.
BLUNT.
This was the position of affairs at the time Gen. HERRON was apprized of the movement of the rebels from Little Rock and Van Buren, and danger of BLUNT. The information reached him at Wilson's Creek late in the afternoon of December 3rd, when he immediately broke camp and set out on this unprecedented forced march - accomplishing the feat of moving his infantry the distance of one hundred and eighteen miles in three days, and his cavalry one hundred and thirty-two miles in two and a half days - his latter forces being sent immediately to BLUNT, at Cane Hill.
Gen. HINDMAN, aware of the approach of Gen. HERRON, after arriving within a short distance of Cane Hill, halted and formed the determination of whipping the Army of the Frontier in detail. He therefore detached a small portion of his army to engage the attention of BLUNT at Cane Hill, while with the main body he made a detour to the northeast, and took up his position at Prairie Grove, where he could await Gen. HERRON'S ar-
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rival, and, from his greatly superior numbers, no doubt anticipated an easy victory.
After passing through Fayetteville, we halted and stacked our arms near the roadside. Our wagons coming up at the same time, after kindling fires on which to boil our coffee, we repaired to our mess-chests on the wagons for the purpose of procuring rations. The road on which we were halted was a branch of the one leading to Van Buren, but running due south from Fayetteville to Cane Hill -nineteen miles distant. In front of us on the east, and some two miles away, was a spur of Boston Mountains, running nearly north and south - at the base of which was Illinois Creek. On the summit of the hill in our front large numbers of cavalry were seen, quietly sitting on their horses, who seemed to be observing us. At the time no particular attention was paid to them, as we supposed they were men of our own command; but subsequently we ascertained they were a detachment from HINDMAN'S army, holding our movements under observation. No intimations of the approaching battle had as yet been received. The morning was calm and beautiful; not a cloud obscured the sun, which had already risen above the tree-tops, and the day promised to be one peculiar to this section of the south, where at that season of the year the weather is a compromise between winter and summer.
While in the act of searching our mess-boxes, we were suddenly startled by heavy discharges of artillery apparently but a short distance from us on the Cane Hill road.
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For a moment our motions were suspended in amazement, and men looked in their comrades' faces with blank astonishment. This surprise, however, passed almost as soon as felt, and each man throwing down whatever rations were in his hand, sprang to his rifle. Orders were then given to "load at will," "right-face," and I presume "forward march" followed, as we found ourselves immediately moving in "quick time" on the road leading to Cane Hill, and listening intently to the roar of artillery, mingled with small arms, some distance in advance. Occasionally, as the sounds increased, our pace was accelerated to "double-quick." After going some six miles our progress was somewhat impeded by a confusion of wagon trains, caused by a portion of the train belonging to the Arkansas loyal cavalry, which had escaped capture by the enemy, falling back and coming in contact with that of the 3rd division still advancing. These trains, owing to the panic of the teamsters, were so jammed together as to completely block up the road, and many of the drivers - despairing, perhaps, of extricating them - had abandoned the effort and were flying toward Fayetteville for safety.
After picking our way through this confused mass of kicking mules and frightened drivers, we again hurried forward a short distance when we met a large number of the cavalry themselves, minus hats and guns, and like-wise going towards Fayetteville at the utmost speed of their horses. This exhibition of alarm was ludicrous in the extreme - exciting among our men much
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laughter, as they passed us - and materially disparaged the valor of "the man on the horse" in our estimation. Shouts of "hold your hat! "and rude jests were showered on them as they passed by, but failed to check their progress, or even gain their attention. They were utterly panic-stricken - honor, glory, shame, duty, were alike forgotten, and their only thought now seemed centered in an ignoble desire to save their worthless carcasses. You might shout "dastard" – "coward" - in their ears - they admitted all and dashed on.
The sounds of the battle increased, but we seemed no nearer than when we first heard them. Many of our men, who had fallen out from sore feet, were constantly overtaking the regiment and getting into their proper places - determined to participate in the battle. Notwithstanding the excitement occasioned by the approach to the battle-field, I could not avoid a feeling of pride that our regiment was made up of such material, and admiration of the heroism which enabled these brave boys to disregard the pain occasioned by lacerated and bleeding feet, and put forth such extraordinary efforts to join their comrades and share with them the dangers of the battle. Such an exhibition of idomitable bravery and determination was well calculated to inspire us with confidence, and gave ample assurance that such men were possessed of a spirit which was unconquerable, and which "victory or death" alone would satisfy.
After proceeding about nine miles from Fayetteville, we passed a number of ambulances standing near the
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roadside, to which a few wounded men from the 3rd division, which had now engaged the enemy, were being brought. After passing these, we halted in a newly cleared field on the right of the road, and about half a mile from Illinois Creek. The battery of light artillery, commanded by Captain MURPHY, now passed us, when we resumed our march in rear of it. Arriving near the creek, we filed off the road to the right and halted. The 37th Illinois, which was in our rear, now came up, and on arriving parallel with our regiment, also halted, when we all sat down to await further orders. Immediately in front of us was Illinois Creek - the bank on the opposite side being high, and completely concealing objects beyond from view. Capt. MURPHY now, by order of Gen. HERRON, pushed his battery across the creek to the summit of the bank beyond, where he unlimbered and immediately commenced "feeling" the enemy, who were posted on the hill beyond a corn-field which here terminated on the creek. After a few shots had been fired from our battery, the enemy's batteries seemed all at once inspired with a curiosity to ascertain the position of affairs in our locality, when they opened furiously - their shots doing great execution among the tree tops on either side of us. While the enemy's attention was directed to MURPHY'S battery, Gen. HERRON, having ascertained their position, moved other batteries to positions on the left, when MURPHY'S was withdrawn, and moved further to the right.
After the batteries had all been placed in position we
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were ordered forward, when we crossed the creek, marching by the flank, filed to the right past the battery, and found ourselves in a large cornfield which intervened between the creek and position held by the rebels on the hill. After crossing the creek the remainder of our brigade turned to the left and formed in line of battle on the right of the 3rd division. We continued our march by the flank through the cornfield - constantly annoyed by the rebel skirmishers and sharpshooters, who were concealed in the weeds and behind fences, until we had arrived in an open field beyond, where we halted in line behind a rail fence. In passing through the cornfield one of our men - private S. S. WOODS of Company I - was shot and fell dead in the ranks. This circumstance, with the constant whistling of bullets past us, gave unmistakable evidence that we were now actually on the battle-field, and left no fears that our participation in the battle could be frustrated by any strategy on the part of BLUNT. This feeling, however, changed a few minutes later, when the rebel strength became manifest in the discomfiture on our left, and the knowledge of BLUNT'S absence was known. The question now uppermost in our minds was "will BLUNT come in time to help us?"
An unobstructed view of the battle-field was now before us. To the right and left were open fields, and in front, some quarter of a mile distant, running nearly east and west, was a high ridge of land - the space intervening being stubble-field, crossed by several rail fences. On the summit of the hill, at intervals of' perhaps half
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a mile, were farm houses, and beyond them a heavy forest of timber. The rebel army were posted on this high ground - their advance line occupying positions behind fences, and in the farm houses and outbuildings along the side of the hill. Lieut. MARR, with three pieces of Battery F, 1st Missouri Light Artillery, was posted on our left, and filled the gap between our regiment and the 37th Illinois. There were no forces of our own army posted on our right - and we therefore occupied the extreme right of the army.
Twenty men of Company A, under Lieut. C. L. DRAKE, were thrown out as skirmishers, to protect us from surprise in the rear, and operate on our right flank. Opposite the left of our regiment on the hill was a large farm house - an orchard on the north, with a strong stone fence intervening between that and the house. The house itself was occupied by rebel sharpshooters, who kept up a steady galling fire on us while we remained in our first position - their bullets striking the rails in our front, and falling among our men as they lay behind the fence. Lieut. MARR now advanced his battery, and we were ordered forward to its support. Our men promptly arose at the order, climbed the fence, fired a volley into the stubble-field, which sent the rebel skirmishers hastily back, and advanced. After moving forward a short distance the battery was ordered back, and at the same instant a cavalry force was discovered forming in the field on our right. By order of Col. McE. DYE, the regiment immediately faced about and changed front to
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meet the expected charge on our right flank. In executing this movement, 1st Lieut. JOHN G. G. CAVENDISH, of Company E, a brave and gallant officer, fell badly wounded. The cavalry proving to be the advance of Gen. BLUNT'S forces, we resumed our former position.
The firing by the other portion of our brigade, and the 3rd division was now heavy and continuous, and a charge by the 19th Iowa and 20th Wisconsin, was made. They advanced gallantly under a galling fire until the rebel battery was reached and captured, when the enemy rallied in overwhelming numbers and drove them back with heavy loss. The 26th Indiana and 37th Illinois of our brigade, now moved up and made a desperate attempt to break the rebel line, but after a sharp and almost hand to hand fight, were also driven back, followed by the rebels with deafening yells.
This was the most critical moment of the day. Under these successive disasters the morale of the troops composing our left wing was weakened, and had HINDMAN now availed himself of his overwhelming numbers to follow up the repulse by advancing his lines to the charge, our little army would have been pulverized. Nor did he seem ignorant of this fact, for, immediately following the repulse, his officers were seen riding furiously from point to point, vainly endeavoring to stimulate their men into falling on our discomfitted regiments as they retired.
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
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as we witnessed their decimated ranks fall back broken and apparently disheartened. Forming in line of battle Lieut. Col. LEAKE gave the order, and the regiment moved forward at a charging step. Every man was in his place - every officer with his men. Gaps made in the ranks by rebel sharpshooters were promptly closed without confusion, and in silence. Col. LEAKE and Major THOMPSON sat upon their horses as cool and self-possessed as on ordinary batallion drill. Our fire was reserved until we had almost gained the foot of the hill on which the enemy were awaiting us, when we were deployed as skirmishers, and opened on them as rapidly as the men were able to load and fire - at the same time leaping the fence and charging up the hill. We now found ourselves confronted by a heavy force of rebels who had previously been concealed from view by the timber in rear of the house, who promptly came forward to meet us. Their charge on our left was prefaced as usual by a yell, but as this was our first fight we had not yet learned to fear demonstrations so harmless, and therefore coolly met it with a close well directed fire which not only spoiled the "yell" but disorganized the charge, when it was changed from a forward to backward movement. Companies H, E, G and K, being somewhat separated from the right wing by a ravine, were now compelled to give their attention to a large squad of rebels who had taken up their position in the house, and were doing much damage by firing on our flank, which was seperated from them but a short distance. After a few
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minutes sharp fighting, however, we gained the house, driving the rebels back with heavy loss. Just at this moment a regiment of rebels were seen moving down from the right, at double-quick, followed by the 1st Indian regiment of Gen. BLUNT'S command. They were doubtless ignorant of our presence on the hill, and came on, marching by the flank, along the road passed immediately in front of the house, and only a few yards distant. When we discovered their approach our men reserved their fire in order that when they arrived opposite the house we might be better enabled to deliver it with effect. But unfortunately Lt. Col. LEAKE received notice at the same moment of the approach of Gen. BLUNT's command, and as the greater number of this rebel regiment wore blue uniforms, inferred that they were our own men, and gave orders that we should not fire on them. We felt much mortified, therefore, in seeing this force pass by within a few yards of us, when so good an opportunity was offered to commit havoc among them. However, the mistake was partly atoned for before they had entirely passed, by one of the rebels turning and firing at us, when our boys' impatience could no longer be restrained, and they at once poured into them a close well directed fire at short range, which did terrible execution. In his official report, Lt. Col. LEAKE, in speaking of this affair, makes the following explanation: "'The left wing being more severely engaged, the right had passed further in advance when some of the Indians came running back through the woods to the
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right gesticulating violently, and pointing in the direction whence they came. At the same moment an officer shouted to me that we were firing on our friends. Seeing some men with the U. S. overcoat on, I gave the order to cease firing, and rode towards the left. Fearing that the troops on our left wing had ascended the hill and advanced to our front, I saw directly in front a mass of troops moving down upon us. At almost the same instant they fired a volley under which the left wing recoiled nearly to the orchard fence, where they promptly rallied at my command and renewed the firing with great rapidity, and, I think, effect."
Our attention being occupied with operations immediately about us on the left, we had for some minutes failed to observe the movements on our right, when we suddenly heard Lt. Col. LEAKE give the order to fall back, and saw the right wing some distance away, forming in front of one of Gen. BLUNT'S batteries. When our isolated position became apparent, gloomy forebodings for a moment took possession of our minds. Was our army defeated? Had we so long and well contested the ground against fearful odds - successfully driving the enemy from their first and strongest position - and already, as we believed, on the eve of winning a victory - now to relinquish our hard won advantage, and fly from the field? But our position was too critical to admit of delay. Firing a volley, we dashed down the hill, just as BLUNT'S batteries opened, throwing their shots over our heads and among the rebels in our rear. The fire from
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the battery enabled us to rejoin the regiment with very little further loss, when it was re-formed and moved to the ground occupied at the commencement of the battle.
The main body of Gen. BLUNT'S forces had now arrived and were forming on our right, where he had already opened with twenty-four pieces of artillery. On the left Gen. HERRON had twenty-six pieces in full operation - making a total of fifty pieces. From this terrible artillery fire the rebels recoiled along their whole line, taking up positions further back in the timber. We now again moved forward, but meeting with no opposition returned, and as night had closed in, lay down on our arms, with orders to be prepared to renew the battle at daybreak on the following morning.
Our sentinels occupied the field in front, and there was no kind of alarm during the night - but great commotion was observed among the rebels, whose ambulances could be seen constantly moving from point to point among the timber on the hill. No re-organization of our army or change of position was made, but each regiment, in silence, lay down on their arms and endeavored to gain such rest as would enable them to meet the fatigues of battle on the morrow. The night was clear, and the air frosty. Our clothing was wet from perspiration, and and our haversacks and canteens empty. But notwithstanding our cold and fatigue, hunger and thirst, we fell asleep almost immediately on lying down, and awoke at 5 o'clock next morning refreshed - ready for the day's work. We immediately formed in line of battle, and
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distributed ammunition. Many of the men after filling their exhausted cartridge-boxes, added sixty rounds in their pockets - declaring they intended to "give the rebels h__l to-day."
We remained in line until 10 o'clock, awaiting orders, when Lt. Col. LEAKE rode over to Gen. HERRON'S head-quarters, soon returning with information that the rebels had retreated during the preceding night. This announcement was greeted with three cheers, when we broke ranks. Soon afterwards a few of our wagons came up, bringing a small amount of rations and two barrels of whisky, both of which were issued and disposed of "in the usual way" - but in an unusually short time. We then proceeded to ascertain our loss during the battle, which was found to be as follows:
Major Wm. G. Thompson, severely wounded.
Company A - Daniel W. Robbins, killed.
Company B - Corp. George C. Miller, wounded.
Company C - 1st Lieut. Harrison Oliver, killed; 2nd Lieut. R. M. Lytle, Corp. Wm. Murray and J. F. Jacobs, wounded.
Company D - David Ross, Alexander A. Watson, James Forber, Wm. A. Akely, and W. J. Leigh Hunt, wounded.
Company E - Daniel M. Sullivan and John Menig, killed; 1st Lieut. J. G. G. Cavendish, Corp. John Kessler, Henry Gertz, Webster Spencer and Martin Rhomberg, wounded.
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Company F - J. O. Parker, Milton L. Elliott, Walter L. Lewis and E. J. Reynolds, wounded.
Company G - Sergt. Thomas B. Miles and Corp. Richard Carnes, killed; 1st Lieut. F. E. Stark, Sergts. Robert Speer and J. M. Matthews, Corp. John C. Murphy, and privates Joseph Pattison, Joseph Speer, William F. Culbertson, Samuel McFate, Harvey J. Brown and Wm. A. Jamieson, wounded.
Company H - Lurandus McCurdy, wounded.
Company I - Stephen S. Wood, killed; Geo. W. Daniels, wounded.
Company K-Sergt. F. M. Steele, killed; Corp. L. L. Whitney, Rufus Fisk, M. C. Knapp, James McKane and William Criswell, wounded.
Making a total of eight killed and thirty-six wounded on the field, out of two hundred and seventy engaged.
Orders were sent to our trains, which had fallen back to Fayetteville, to move up immediately, and they arrived the same evening, bringing us the first provisions we had eaten for thirty-four hours.
On the morning of the 9th we proceeded to perform the melancholy task of burying our dead comrades. A beautiful spot had been selected adjoining the road leading to Cane Hill, and as we mournfully deposited the bodies of these martyred heroes in their final resting place, amid the muffled roll of the drums and solemn funeral services, our minds wandered to their far away homes and relatives, where the sad tidings had not yet reached. We could picture in imagination the anguish
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of the mother and the father - of the sister and the brother - when the sad intelligence reached them, and our tears of sympathy flowed unrestrained.
During the afternoon of the same day we visited the battle-field, which was still strewn with rebel dead and wounded. Long trenches were being dug by our men into which the dead were thrown with but little ceremony, and covered with dirt. The fact that our own dead and wounded had been stripped of their clothing by the rebels had much to do with this rough manner of their disposal.
The houses in the vicinity had been taken possession of by Gen. HINDMAN, and converted into hospitals, and were still filled with his wounded; numbers of the slightly wounded, however, had attempted to follow him on his retreat, but after proceeding some distance became exhausted and secreted themselves in the woods, where they perished. They were partly eaten by hogs when their remains were found by us.
In a large farm house standing about one mile south from the battle-field, when we visited it, the floors were strewn with wounded, and the large yard surrounding it was also covered by them. They were lying in the hot sun, moaning piteously, while at a large table in the principal room the surgeons were busily engaged dressing wounds and amputating limbs. After amputation the limbs were thrown out at the back door, and I observed a number of hogs feeding on them. The sight was so disgusting that I hastened away, feeling a still deeper
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degree of hatred for those villains who had been the instigators of a rebellion which had placed these poor wretches in a position whereby they had become food for hogs - resolving in my mind that I would use still greater efforts to put it down and punish those who had been instrumental in originating it.
Large numbers of deserters came in daily and took the oath of allegiance, declaring that they had been forced into the rebel army against their will, and wished now to return to their homes in Missouri. They also stated that the largest portion of HINDMAN'S army were conscripts from Missouri and Arkansas, who would leave him on the first favorable opportunity.
Our wounded were immediately removed, to Fayetteville, where quarters had been provided for them in a large building formerly occupied as a Seminary. The less severely wounded, however, obtained accommodations in the houses of citizens, where they received such attentions as hastened their recovery.
On the 18th we changed camp, moving to the summit of the hill, and on the ground occupied by the centre of the rebel army on the day of the battle, which we immediately cleared off, and found to be the finest camping ground we had yet seen since coming into the field.
Where every officer and man of our regiment had so nobly done his duty, individual instances of bravery cannot be mentioned without a seeming partiality, and I therefore omit many acts of daring which came under my own observation.
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The following account of the battle was furnished for publication by a correspondent of the Missouri Democrat:
"There has just been another great battle in Northwestern Arkansas, exceeding in fierceness the famous contest at Pea Ridge, as was remarked by some of the veterans who were present at both of the occasions alluded to. The details are as follows :
"Gen. Blunt had advanced some twenty miles south of Fayetteville, Arkansas, with his forces, and there drawn the attack of Hindman, who advanced upon him rapidly from Van Buren with about thirty thousand troops and twenty-two pieces of' artillery. Blunt, with his little band of ten thousand men, at Cane Hill, would have been but a mouthful for such an immense army of well disciplined soldiery as this. He knew his danger and sent hurried messages to Gen. Herron, who has the command of the 2nd and 3rd divisions of the Army of the Frontier, and was at that time at Wilson's Creek, fourteen miles south of' Springfield, Mo. The moment Gen. Herron received intelligence of Gen. Blunt's danger he set his army in motion and made forced marches, accomplishing the feat of pushing his infantry one hundred and twelve miles in three days, and his cavalry one hundred and thirty-two miles in two days and a half. On the morning of the 7th inst., as the advance guard consisting of the 1st Arkansas cavalry and a portion of the 6th and 7th Missouri cavalry were entering a wood upon the south bank of Illinois Creek, ten miles south of Fayetteville, they were fired upon from an ambush and
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thrown into a panic that resulted in a rout and the loss of their baggage train of twenty four wagons. They went flying back two or three miles, until they met the main body, when they were rallied once more. Major Hubbard, of Pea Ridge fame, with a portion of two companies of the 1st Missouri cavalry, tried to stem the tide of rebels, but without success. Their superior numbers bore down everything before them, and amongst others of this little band, Major Hubbard himself and two of his Lieutenants were captured, and the remainder forced to retreat at double-quick. Our infantry were soon brought forward, and a few pieces of artillery brought into position that sent the bold scoundrels back as rapidly as they came. Gen. Herron followed up his advantage as quickly as possible and soon found himself in contact with the main rebel forces.
"This splendid army, contrary to our expectations, was well clothed, well armed, and well fed, and better drilled than our own soldiery. It consisted of a corps of twenty-six thousand men, commanded by Gen. Hindman, and was in four divisions commanded respectively by Gens. Parsons, Marmaduke, Rains and Frost, and was supported by a park of artillery of twenty-two guns. Besides this they had a great advantage in position. The battle-field was a magnificent stretch of open ground, skirted on the south by an abrupt hill, covered by thick woods. On this bluff, concealed by the forest, were posted the rebels in full force. Our forces only numbered three thousand five hundred or four thousand, and con-
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sisted of the following infantry: The 94th and 37th Illinois, 19th and 20th Iowa, 26th Indiana, and 20th Wisconsin. In addition to these were six companies of cavalry, and some four companies of artillery, who worked twenty-four guns. Our men were worn down by a long and continuous forced march, and some of them had nothing to eat for twenty-four hours. However, when the ball opened they deployed into the field with loud huzzas, and went at the work in hand with great bravery. It took some little time to get into positions and place the batteries in the most commanding localities, and it was fully 10 o'clock A. M. before the artillery duet was in full voice. As may be imagined, forty or fifty cannon, well manned and discharged as rapidly as possible, made a tremendous racket. This was kept up until dark, when by that time green troops who had never seen a cannon before, laid down within a yard of a gun and slept, undisturbed by the firing. We did not lose a single man throughout the whole day by artillery, though a score or two of horses were killed. Our gunners were much more skilled and precise in their aim than the rebels, which was shown by the result. Upon the bluff or ridge occupied by the rebels were many fine farm houses, which had been erected upon the elevation to escape the damps and vapors of the plain below. From the rear of two of these houses was kept up a well directed fire from some eight or ten guns. Gen. Herron ordered the whole of our artillery to be directed upon the nearest to us and silenced it in ten minutes. The
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different rebel batteries were silenced one by one, until the booming of the cannon had nearly ceased.
The enemy perceived that nothing could be accomplished at long range, so they massed themselves upon our front and both flanks and commenced moving forward to capture our batteries. Immense hordes came out of the woods on our left and spread themselves upon the prairie, looking from a distance like a nest of ants. Our infantry seemed a mere handful in comparison to this multitude, but they held them in check while Cole's battery ran up and stuck their guns under their very noses and fired canister into them with such deadly effect as to cause them to pause in their career, then lie down, and finally hastily to retreat. Again they made their appearance still further on the left, in a number equal, apparently, to our entire force. Their batteries again opened fire briskly, and for a time the fortunes of the battle seemed against us. Their immense and overwhelming odds enabled them to harrass and approach us in three directions. The greatest discouraging circumstance, however, was in the fact that a new battery had opened a heavy fire on our extreme right nearly two miles from our center. This was at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. A good portion of our infantry was fearfully cut up and nearly disheartened.
"Everything, nearly, pointed to a defeat of our forces. Murphy's Battery, a portion of Backoff's and the Peoria Battery kept pouring a galling fire into the opposing forces. The men were again rallied, and at half past
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three, the flippity-whiz of the shells, the booming of the cannon, and the continuous roll of musketry, told us that our boys were determined to hold the field if possible till dark.
"The rebels fought desperately, and seemed no more to regard a shower of bullets or a storm of grape than if it had been a summer wind. No sooner had a solid shot ploughed its way through their columns or a shell opened a gap in their lines, than the vacancies were filled by others. They advanced steadily once more upon our left, and there we knew would be the hottest tug of the day. “'Tis darkest just before dawn," some one has said. T'was so in our case. By a bold movement the rebels were once more checked, and just then the word came that the firing upon our extreme right was that of Gen. Blunt, who had arrived with a strong battery and about three thousand men. This intelligence added new courage to our men, and sent a vigor into every movement that meant victory or death.
"Gen. Blunt ranged his twenty-four pieces in a line and opened a galling fire upon the left wing of the rebel army, and drew a portion of their attention towards his forces. They advanced upon him from the woods, at double-quick, in eight ranks, seemingly half a mile long. They went down at a gentle, smooth pace, with an easy prey apparently in view. When they had got to a certain point, within canister range, he opened his entire fire on them, "fairly lifting them from the ground," as he afterwards described it. This checked their impetu-
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osity and put terror into their hearts, but still they went on. Another and another volley was given to them until they broke and fled, and when the remnant of the storming party had left the field, the ground was strewn and piled with rebel slain. In the meantime our boys had not been idle - they pressed the enemy hotly at every point, and as the sun went down they were falling back in every direction. Before it had become fully dark the only sounds of firing heard were those of our own musketry and cannon. The field was won, and the victory gained.
"At 9 o'clock of the same evening the enemy were in full retreat towards Van Buren, and at daylight this morning they were twelve miles away. A more complete and glorious victory was never obtained. As soon as the pall of night had descended upon their motions, a perfect stampede took place. Everything this morning denotes a hasty flight and great fear lest we should pursue them. Although their force was large enough to crush us - in fact to annihilate us - and they were well equipped and handled, our little army of comparatively inexperienced troops effected a brilliant repulse, and won an unquestionable victory. This morning all the contested ground and every inch of the battle-field are in our possession, and the only rebels in view are the piles of dead, and the ambulances carrying away the wounded.
Long before daylight this morning Gen. Marmaduke and two of his staff came into our lines with a flag of truce, and remained over two hours, evidently with the
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view of creating a delay, as the purport of their mission was frivolous in the extreme. He had no sooner reported back to his command than another message came requesting an interview with Generals Blunt and Herron. This consumed three hours more, and by that time their army was at a safe distance. This is only a specimen of' the tricky cunning of Gen. Hindman.
"The ruse was perfectly transparent, yet the game had progressed too far to be stopped without transgressing the ettiquette of war, before their intention was fully divined.
"The weather of the 7th was delightful. The sun shone clearly in a cloudless sky, and the air was balmy and quiet as on a June morning. It was remarked by many old soldiers that if the continent had been searched, it would have been impossible to have selected a more beautiful field of battle than that of Prairie Grove. Gen. Herron's forces entered it from the northern extremity, and those of Gen. Blunt from the southern. The rebels were posted upon the hills in the woods for four miles along the eastern side of the field, while our batteries occupied the elevations upon the western side, a little more than a mile from the rebel lines. The intervening space was firm sward, plowed fields, stubble land, standing corn, and a narrow strip of brushwood, which skirted a little brook running through the middle of the valley. This open country was held by our infantry, and there they went through their manouvers in full view of Gen. Herron, who, for a good portion of the
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time, occupied a little hill near Murphy's battery, on the western side of the field. There could be witnessed the whole of this intensely exciting strife, not a movement of which escaped the quick attention of our young commander. The swarms upon swarms of the rebels that came trooping out of the wood, in numbers sufficient to appal a heart less strong than his, were as openly seen with their gleaming muskets and flaunting banners, as if it had been a holiday parade, instead of the hottest battle that has ever taken place on this side of the Mississippi. As an imposing spectacle, it was one of the most terrific, and, at the same time, magnificent sights imaginable.
Our loss is roughly estimated at 800 killed and wounded.
* * * * * * * *
"The rebel losses, as nearly as can be ascertained, are three to our one. Their officers and their deserters all admit that they have lost in killed and wounded over 2,000. Very few prisoners were taken on either side, and all of them were paroled this morning.
* * * * * * * * *
"All of the regiments engaged upon our side deserve a more particular mention than I can give in this limited space, for they all displayed most remarkable courage and gallantry."
It will be observed that this writer was with Gen. HERRON, on the extreme left, and his knowledge of events transpiring on the right was limited. In fact the right wing of our army had no immediate commander, aside
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from Col. WM. McE. DYE, until Gen. BLUNT'S arrival, and could have had no better, as he never for a moment lost his coolness and self-possession. The steady coolness and bravery displayed by Lt. Col. J. B. LEAKE and Major W. G. THOMPSON was also conspicuous.
In his dispositions for the battle, if Gen. HINDMAN had not entertained the most perfect confidence of being able to defeat Gen. HERRON with but a few hours fighting, it was a terrible blunder to thus throw himself into a position where he was liable to be attacked in front and rear at the same time, because Gen. BLUNT was only nine miles distant, and would, of course, on hearing the artillery at Prairie Grove, understand the ruse which had been practiced upon him, and at once close up on his rear - thus placing him between our two commands. If successful in his attack on General HERRON, however, this movement would have placed Gen. BLUNT in a position from which he could not have escaped except by a retreat into the Indian territory.
This would have laid Missouri again open to the rebel army, as there were not sufficient forces in the State to resist their advance when our army was disposed of, and on the issue of the battle, therefore, depended the fate of that State for some time to come.
The rebels outnumbered us four to one - had selected their own ground - planted their batteries - and coolly waited for us to march up and fall an easy prey into their hands. But this was our first battle, and we did not pause to consider, if we had known, the great odds
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against us. Each man fought as though the result depended on his own individual exertions - never allowing the possibility of defeat for a moment to enter into his calculations. Instead, therefore, of overwhelming us by numbers, the rebels were themselves overwhelmed by our impetuosity, which drove them back from their first and strongest position, where they were in turn assailed in the rear by BLUNT, who fell upon them like a thunder bolt. Once routed the day was lost, and this splendid army, on which the rebels had depended for great things, became a disorganized mass of fugitives which it was impossible to rally.
The following brief report of the battle was made by General BLUNT to headquarters at St. Louis:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE FRONTIER,
Battlefield near Fayetteville, Dec. 8.
To MAJOR GEN. CURTIS:
This place on yesterday, was the scene of a hard fought and bloody field, resulting in a complete victory of the Army of the Frontier.
The rebel forces under Generals Hindman, Marmaduke, Parsons, and Frost, numbered twenty-five thousand. I had been holding the enemy on the Boston Mountains for two days, skirmishing with their advance, holding them in check until General Herron could come up with reinforcements.
On the 6th they drove in my outposts and got possession of a road, by which they commenced a flank movement on my left during the night, while they made a
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heavy feint in front. Their object was to cut off communications between myself and General Herron, who was to be at Fayetteville at daylight.
They attacked General Herron at about 10 o'clock A. M., who, by gallant and desperate fighting, held them in check for three hours, until I came and attacked them in the rear. The fighting was desperate on both sides, and continued until it was terminated by the darkness of the night.
My command bivouacked on their arms, ready to renew the conflict at daylight in the morning, but the enemy had availed themselves of the night to retreat across Boston Mountains. The loss on both sides has been heavy. My loss in killed is small in proportion to the number wounded. The enemy's loss compared with ours was at least four to one. My artillery made terrible destruction in their ranks. They had greatly the advantage in numbers and position, yet Generals Hindman and Marmaduke acknowledged to me in an interview under a flag of truce, that they had been well whipped.
Among the enemy's killed is Colonel Stein, formerly Brigadier General of the Missouri State Guard.
The 19th and 20th Iowa, 37th Illinois, and 26th Indiana regiments, of General Herron's division, suffered severely. Gen. Herron deserves great credit for the promptness with which he reinforced me, by forced marches from near Springfield, and also for his gallantry upon the field. Very respectfully,
JAS. G. BLUNT, Brigadier General.