Southern Eyewitness Account of the Battle of Prairie Grove - Part One

West Overlook at Prairie Grove Battlefield

Continuing with some eyewitness accounts of the Battle of Prairie Grove, this post is the first of a two containing an account of the Battle of Prairie Grove written by a Confederate officer in General Mosby M. Parson's Missouri Brigade.

It was published in the Dallas Weekly Herald on January 7, 1863, and offers a fascinating account of the battle by an officer who took part in the fighting that erupted on the western end of the battlefield at around 3 o'clock on the afternoon of December 7, 1862. The unidentified writer was involved in the late afternoon attack down the ridge against the Union Division of General James G. Blunt.

The following is Part One of the account. I will publish Part Two in the next post:

Camp near Fort Smith.

December 19, 1862.

Something has “turned up;” we have fought a big battle with the abolitionists, near Cane Hill, 42 miles Northeast of this, and may be a few items from an “eyewitness” and participant, would interest you. Blount, of Kansas, with some 7,000 thieves, has for a few weeks, been encamped at and near Cane Hill, and you know the want and misery always inflicted upon the people by these Hessians wherever they go. For the purpose of freeing that country of their presence, and giving their 7000 carcasses to the “Potter’s Field” – of sending them where thousands of their companions in arms have gone before; to the regions of the d—d, our excellent General, Hindman, ordered a forward movement on Cane Hill. We made a forced march, without commissaries or blankets, and met the (?) some four miles this side of Cane Hill, on the 6^th inst. After skirmish with, and driving him to the top of the mountain, on the Cane Hill road, night having set in, our army, with the exception of some 1500 cavalry, drew off in the darkness to the Cove Creek road, and the morning found us in his rear, on the Fayetteville and Cane Hill road, by the old Walnut Church. We made sure we had that 7,000 safe, and were counting, jubilantly, the rich haul almost in our fingers. But you know “there’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip.” Hush! What is that? Heavy cannonading opens on our rear and right; brigades and divisions change front and are saluted with the bristling bayonets of twelve to fifteen thousand abolitionists going to the aid of Blount. The battle now opens furiously; the feast of blood and death begins! Fifteen thousand brave rebels – Missourians, Texians and Arkansians – brave alike – pitted against at least 20,000 abolitionists, and the air and earth, for five mortal hours, is filled with every conceivable missile of death. The road of artillery and musketry beat anything I ever heard, and I have been in several battles. The Feds charged us repeatedly, but the men stood there as firm as the oaks around them, and their shouts of victory drowned the cries of the dying, as they beheld the Federal legions break and fly in utter demoralization from the steady fire of their unerring rifles. The First Missouri Brigade, (to which I belong,) under command of Gen. M.M. Parsons, had been under a steady fire of musketry and artillery for some two ours. Our brave General Parsons rode along the line, making himself heard above the din of battle, encouraging the men; said he: “My brave soldiers, those cut-throats stand between you and your outraged homes – cut them down and stamp them into the earth. Give them cold steel; charge bayonet!” and oh! what a shout went up from that gallant brigade of exiles, as they swiftly charged, regardless of death, to the Federal lines.

To be continued...  To read more about the Battle of Prairie Grove, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ArkansasPG1.

Eyewitness Account of the Battle of Prairie Grove - Part 2

View of Blocker's Artillerymen

The narrative below is part two of an eyewitness account of the Battle of Prairie Grove (December7, 1862) written by an unidentified officer in Captain Blocker's section of the Arkansas Light Artillery from camp on December 11, 1862.  Part one of the account can be accessed by clicking here.

"...I will now endeavor to give you the full particulars of how our gallant little band (Capt. Blocker’s battery) went into the fight, and, as nearly as I can, how we came out of it. On Sunday morning, while marching in line of battle, our battery was ordered, from the rear of the column of artillery, to the front, and, as soon as we discovered the enemy, were ordered to go into battery, which we did. We remained some time in our first position, when we received orders to limber up and change our position for a better one. Again we got well fixed and ready for action, when the enemy opened on us very briskly with their artillery. We responded, and, after firing 4 or 5 rounds, of such luxuries as we had in store for them, we succeeded in silencing heir batteries. We were then ordered to cease firing, which we did, for about three quarters of an hour, when we were ordered to commence firing again. We opened very briskly, with solid shot, spherical, case and shell. After firing 7 or 8 rounds, we were again ordered to cease firing, and await further orders from Gen. Shoup, but, unfortunately, the order for us to recommence firing arrived too late for us to save ourselves, as the enemy had charged and were within 30 paces of our battery. They received the contents of two of our pieces, when we were compelled to fall back, and our battery (save one piece) fell into the hands of the enemy for a short time. Perhaps you may think it strange that we surrendered our battery so quick; but you will not, when I inform you, that we had not a shadow of a support from the commencement to the close of the fight, nor until our battery was lost! Such, however, is the fact, and it pains me to have it to say. The blame must rest where it belongs. * * * * * * *  Each and every man stood to his post, until two men and forty three horses were killed, and 11 brave men severely wounded. Eleven men are missing, and, no doubt, killed or captured by the enemy. The enemy advanced upon us with their artillery, under cover of their infantry, until within range of our battery, when they opened a most disastrous fire on us, from both arms. Hail from Heaven never fell thicker than shot, shell and Minnie balls did, for minutes. Having no support, Capt. Blocker ordered our ment o fall back and save themselves, when the enemy were within 30 paces of our guns; and how so many of them escaped with whole skins, is a mystery to me.

"When ordered to fall back, we discovered our men [support] forming about 200 yards in rear of our battery. We passed their lines, when they advanced and opened a “soul-searching” fire on the Abolitionists, which caused 152 of the blue bellies to turn up, besides wounding many more. Our men then charge dand drove them from our guns, with considerable loss to the enemy. Thank fortune, they did not have time to move a single piece from its original position.

"During the evening we returned and brought away our guns and 2 caissons and ammunition. My piece, No. 4, on the left, suffered most in (?) – all the horses, 12 in number, being killing, and8 were severely wounded and 2 missing – probably killed. My gun-team was composed of a fine grey horse, that had just been purchased for me, and, of course, presented a splendid target for the enemy to play on."

To learn more about the Battle of Prairie Grove, see photographs of the battlefield and read official accounts of the fighting, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ArkansasPG1.

An Eyewitness Account of the Battle of Prairie Grove - Part One

Cannon at Prairie Grove

The following was written by an unidentified officer in Captain W.D. Blocker's section of Arkansas Light Artillery and provides an outstanding first person account of the role of the Confederate field artillery in the Battle of Prairie Grove (December 7, 1862).

I've transcribed the entire account and will be presenting it here in two posts. This is part one:

"In Camp near Van Buren, Dec. 11, 1862.

"On the 3d inst. our army commenced a movement from this camp, in the direction of Boston Mountain, for the purpose of meeting the enemy, they having a strong position near Cane Hill, on the divide of the mountain. On approaching the mountain, our forces were divided and crossed it by two different passes: The Missouri force, under Gen. Parsons, by way of Cane Hill, and the remaining forces by what is known as the Cove Creek route.

"Gen. Parsons found about 3,000 Abolitionists, under Gen. Blunt, encamped at Cane Hill, and succeeded in utterly routing them, in double quick time, capturing a considerable train of wagon and some prisoners. Gen. Blunt succeeded in forming a junction with the main body of their army 10 miles south of Fayetteville, where the bloody battle of Prairie Grove was fought, and where we achieved another glorious victory.

"The enemy’s force may be safely estimated at 15,000 or 16,000 – 12,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, and 4 or 5 light and heavy batteries. Their force was all engaged, while the portion of our army engaged did not exceed 10,000 effective men. We had only two batteries actually engaged – Capts. West’s and Blockers.

"This memorable battle was fought, and this glorious victory achieved, on Sunday, 7^th inst. Our advance guard opened the fight early in the morning, by surprising and capturing 140, Federal cavalry. Fortunately, they turned out to be a portion of the 1^st Arkansas Federal cavalry, composed of Arkansas Jayhawkers and deserters. God grant they may share the fate all such traitors deserve.

"The general engagement commenced about 12  o’clock, M., and continued until dark, when both armies withdrew from the scene of action. About 8 o’clock P.M., a Federal flag of truce made its appearance at Gen. Hindman’s Headquarters, asking permission to remove their wounded and bury their dead, which was granted. During the night, our army (or a portion of it) were ordered to fall back to Boston Mountain – I supposed for the purpose of renewing the fight on the following day, provided the enemy were not satisfied with the previous day’s exercise.

"On the following morning, the Federal Generals despatched a message to Gen. Hindman, requesting a personal interview with him at their headquarters. Gen. Hindman consented, and the result of the meeting was, the Yankees acknowledged themselves badly whipped, turned over to us the spoils of the battle-field, and fell back in the direction of Fayetteville.

"The enemy’s loss is very heavy, while our’s is heavy enough, God knows. The opinion of many of our officers is, that we killed about 4 to 1. For my own part, I have no idea of the loss on either side, as I had no opportunity to go over the battle ground, after the fight, except where our battery fought, was charged and captured by the enemy, and afterwards recaptured by Col. Hawthorn’s gallant regiment, who fought most desperately, and justly deserve the praise and most hearty thanks of our army. Col. Brooks’, Col. McRae’s and Col. Pleasants’ regiments fought nobly, and acquitted themselves creditably." - End of Part One. Look for Part Two in the next post.

You can see more about the Battle of Prairie Grove, including official reports, photographs of the battlefield and links to related points of interest, at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ArkansasPG1.