Battle of Cane Hill, Part Five

This is part five of a continuing series on the Battle of Cane Hill, Arkansas. To read the previous posts first, please scroll down the page.

The spectacular view of Blunt's approaching army quickly convinced the Confederate commanders that they were seriously outnumbered. Deciding to withdraw into the Boston Mountains (a spur of the Ozarks) where they could hope to wage a more competent defense, they ordered their men to fall back again. The Southern troops withdrew from their second position, skirmishing as they went.

To delay the advance of the Union army, Markaduke stopped from time to time on ridges along the way and deployed his men into line of battle, forcing the Federal troops to do the same. Then, once the Union forces had deployed out and were ready for battle, he would slip away from his latest position and force them to form again for the march.

By doing this, he significantly delayed Blunt's advance, forcing the Union troops to deploy into line of battle, back into column, back into line of battle and so on for much of the day.

Finally, however, Marmaduke reached his objective, the high ridge that separates the Cane Hill communities from the Cove Creek Valley. This mountain provided a strong defensive position for the Confederates and also protected the Cove Creek Road, the only feasible avenue of retreat available to them.

Our series on the Battle of Cane Hill, Arkansas will continue. Until the next post, you can learn more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ARCaneHill.html.

Battle of Cane Hill, Part Three

Learning of the appearance of Marmaduke's Confederates at Cane Hill and the skirmish involving his cavalry on the 25th, Union Brig. Gen. James G. Blunt sent dispatches to Brig. Gen. Francis J. Herron in Missouri calling for reinforcements and began a movement down from Benton County to attack the Confederate cavalry.

Due to the rough nature of the roads and time needed to get his force organized and moving, it was daybreak on the morning of November 28, 1862, before he pushed out of a ravine and advanced down the road into the northern edge of Cane Hill.

The Confederates were alert and knew he was coming. As Blunt emerged into the open ground, he found them arrayed in line of battle before him. This following account of the opening shots of the Battle of Cane Hill come from Gen. Blunt's report in the Official Records series:

Dashing on, and driving them before us, a few hundred yards brought us to where the bluff on the right terminated, and in full view of the enemy, who were posted on the right of the road, on elevated ground, with timber in their rear, their guns in battery, bearing upon the road on which I was approaching, and from which they immediately opened a brisk fire. I at once ordered Rabb’s battery into position, and also the two howitzers under Lieutenant [E.S.] Stover, when a fierce cannonading ensued, which lasted for the space of nearly an hour.

Our series on the Battle of Cane Hill, Arkansas will continue. Until the next post, you can read more by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ARCaneHill.

Dripping Springs, Part Four

This is the fourth part of a series on the Battle of Dripping Springs, Arkansas. If you would like to read the other parts first, just scroll down the page.

As the 3,000 Federal cavalrymen under Generals Herron and Blunt approached Dripping Springs on the morning of December 28, 1862, they found a much smaller force of Confederate cavalry under Lt. Col. R.P. Crump arrayed in a line of battle and waiting for them.

Although Blunt sent back for infantry and artillery reinforcements, the Union horsemen were formed for battle and the engagement began before these could come up.

Spreading out across the fields visible in the far right of the photograph, the Union troops charged the Confederates, who were formed from the Dripping Springs crossroads in the center of the photograph and up the ridge to the right.

The Confederates opened fire as the Federals came within range, and the two sides exchanged several volleys. Realizing they had the advantage, though, the Union commanders ordered a charge and thousands of Federal horsemen soon stormed across the open fields. Outnumbered and outgunned, Crump and his men could not withstand the power of the charge and withdrew in front of the charging Federals, firing as they went.

The Confederates fell back through the crossroads and retreated down the Van Buren Road, seen here leading off to the left of the photograph. They lost most of their supplies and camp equipment in the process.

Our series on the Battle of Dripping Springs will continue. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com and look for the link under the "Battlefields and Forts" heading.

Dripping Springs, Part Three

Continuing with our tour of the Dripping Springs Battlefield north of Van Buren in Crawford County, Arkansas, we look today at the beginning of the fight. If you would like to read previous postings on this topic, just scroll down the page.

The Federal army under Generals Blunt and Herron reached Oliver's Store early on the morning on December 28, 1862. Confederate General Hindman had ordered that a cavalry picket be maintained in the Oliver's area, but the Federals saw no sign of them.

They did quickly learn, however, that Lt. Col. R.P. Crump (C.S.) was camped nearby at Dripping Springs with his regiment, the 1st Texas Partisan Rangers. Upon learning of Crump's presence, the two Union generals formed 3,000 cavalrymen and four howitzers and pushed on to attack the Confederates.

As they advanced, the Federals quickly began to spot Confederate pickets. Skirmishing was minimal, however, as the advancing cavalrmen pushed on and soon came down the road seen above and approached the Southern camp at Dripping Springs.

Learning from his scouts that the Union troops were coming, Lt. Col. Crump formed his regiment in a line of battle and sent word down to General Thomas C. Hindman on the Arkansas River, warning him of the impending attack.

As the Federals arrived on the scene, they quickly observed the Confederate battle line and formed a line of their own. General Blunt sent word back to the main body at Oliver's Store, directing that additional infantry and artillery be pushed forward. Without waiting for these reinforcmeents, however, the Union troops prepared to attack.

For more on the Battle of Dripping Springs, watch for my next few posts. In the meantime, you can read about the battle and see more photographs of the battlefield by going to http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ and clicking the "Battlefields and Forts" link on the upper left hand side of the page.

Dripping Springs, Part Two

Continuing our look at the Battle of Dripping Springs, Arkansas, this photo shows the historic Cove Creek Road. The old road still leads south from Prairie Grove into Crawford County, passing through the spectacular scenery of the Boston Mountains.

This was the road followed by General J.G. Blunt's men as they pushed south from Cane Hill to a planned junction with General F.J. Herron's force at Oliver's Store north of Dripping Springs. Blunt's troops passed down this section of the road on the morning of December 27, 1862.

Although this photograph was taken during the summer, the 1862 movement was actually made in the dead of winter. Soldiers wrote in their journals and letters home that the mountains were covered with snow and ice and that Cove Creek was filled with freezing water and slushy ice.

Blunt and Herron undertook the expedition despite the severe weather in hopes of surprising the Confederate forces camped in and around Van Buren. A Confederate cavalry force was camped at Dripping Springs north of Van Buren to watch for such movements, but the advancing Federals did not encounter Southern horsemen until the next morning.

Our look at the Battle of Dripping Springs will continue, but in the meantime you can read more and see additional photographs by going to www.exploresouthernhistory.com and looking for the link under the Battlefields and Forts heading in the left hand column.

Prairie Grove Battlefield - West Overlook

We conclude our online tour of Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Prairie Grove, Arkansas with the West Overlook. This facility, remote from the main park area, is on the six mile Self-Guided Driving Tour and provides interpretive panels and an excellent view of the west end of the battlefield.

From the overlook, visitors can see the open ground that was the Morton Hayfield at the time of the Battle of Prairie Grove. This was the scene of the heaviest fighting on the west end of the battlefield. When General J.G. Blunt's Union troops arrived on the scene during the afternoon of December 7, 1862, the battle had already been underway for hours. General Herron's command had been fighting the Confederate right flank near the Borden House all afternoon.

Blunt's men, arriving from the west, attacked the Confederate lines several miles west of the Borden House, targeting positions around the Morton House and adjacent sections of the ridge. The Confederates, under General Mosby M. Parsons, stormed down the ridge here during the final fighting of the day. They engaged Blunt's men in and around the Morton Hayfield in a fierce fight before being driven back up the ridge by superior Union musket and artillery fire.

If you would like to read more about the Battle of Prairie Grove, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com. You will find a detailed summary of the battle, numerous modern photographs, photographs of key officers, Union and Confederate reports and links to related events such as the Battles of Cane Hill, Dripping Springs and Van Buren, Arkansas.

You can also visit the state park's official website at http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/prairiegrovebattlefield/ for downloadable brochures, directions and more.

Prairie Grove Battlefield - Rhea's Mill

We continue our look at the Prairie Grove Battlefield in Northwest Arkansas. One of the focal points of the park is the chimney from Rhea's Mill.

Originally located 6 miles northwest of the battlefield, the 55-foot high chimney was donated to the park in 1957. Relocated to Prairie Grove and carefully reconstructed, it now serves as an imposing monument to the men who fought here on December 7, 1862.

During the actual Battle of Prairie Grove, Rhea's Mill served as a concentration point for the supply train of General J.G. Blunt's Union Army of the Frontier. The mill was considered a relatively safe location, due to its distance behind the Union lines during the battle.

We will continue our look at the Prairie Grove Battlefield over the next few days. In the meantime, you can see additional photographs of the park, read official battle reports and learn more about the Battle of Prairie Grove by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com. Simply scroll down the page to the index section and click the link for the "Battle of Prairie Grove."