This photograph shows the beginning of the Battlefield Trail at Prairie Grove. A one mile paved loop, the trail leads through the scene of some of the heaviest fighting of the Battle of Prairie Grove.
The trial loops through the eastern end of the battlefield, following the Confederate lines to near the right flank and then dipping down the ridge and leading through the area across which the Union forces charged over and over again in futile efforts to drive the Confederates off the ridge above. Interpretive plaques along the trail help interpret key moments of the battle.
This section of the Prairie Grove Battlefield is one of the best preserved Civil War sites in the nation. The ridge still provides a commanding view of the fields across which the Union troops advanced and much of the core battlefield area has been saved. Among the highlights along the trail are the historic Borden house, ground across which both Union and Confederate charges took place and the scene where a Union officer won the Congressional Medal of Honor.
We'll look closer at specific sites along the trail over the coming days. In the meantime, feel free to learn more about the Battle of Prairie Grove by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Simply scroll down the page and look for the link under the "Arkansas" category.
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