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The Battle of Prairie Grove5 ArKausas. Situation of the Battle-Field-—The Forces J5n-\ * gaged—-JTindman Leads the Behcls—Bcscrip-' *io)V,of'thc Battle—Wisconsin Troops in the Battlis—A Truce and a Skedaddle—Incidents, Ac,Correspondence of the State Journal.Prairie Quote, Ark., Deo. 9, 2862. • -The last it’wo weeks Have been foil of 'excitement for this part'of the Army of the Frontier. I do not know as you are aware of tbe fact that, after Gen. Scko-field's army had driven, the rebels out of Missouri and over Pea Rtdge, they all re. turned except the 1st Division, under Gen. ••Blunt, consisting principally of'Kansas, and Wisconsin'troops. He' crowded 'his' way down near the western border ofArkansas, to the spurs of the Boston{Mountains,and to within about forty tniles I of .the Arkansas river. At'Cave Hill, a I neat, New Englandish looking village, seventy miles southwest.of Pea Kidge, a. brief engagement was had, in which we’ were successful. This was, however, only with Gen. jMarrnaduke and a few thousand cavalry. This was November 28th. Rumors of large reinforcements of artillery and infantry, under Hindman, grew into certainties, and last Saturday their appearance on the Fayetteville and Van Baren road, in'immense force, was made.If you will understand that Fayetteville is on the great road running southwest from St. Lonis, through Springfield, over Pea Ridge and Boston Mountains to Van Buren ; that Cave Hill lies a little west of this road, but on another road from Fayetteville over the mountains to Van Buren, and sixteen miles from Fayette villa; then understand that Gen. Herron, who had come to reinforce Gen. Blunt, was at Fayetteville, and GeD. B. at Cave Hill, with Hindman crossing over the mountains on the direct Fayetteville and Van Buren road, you will see the plan of the battle. Hindman was avoiding Blunt to fall on Herron and crush him, and then take Blunt the same way.Sunday morning at 4 o’clock Herron commenced his march towards Blunt, and Hindmau started his march towards Fayetteville. The main bodies met at this place about 10 o’clock and went at it furiously. In the mean time Gen. Blunt had his division in battle line at Cane Hill, expecting Hindman’s attack there,— 15nt the opening roar of the battle five miles distant undeceived him, and off we were for'the scene, which we reached attwo o’clock P. M., finding Herron almost outflanked, his battery just lingering in his hands, ready to fall, and his army on the brink of de/eat. The exact spot was a vast tract or low prairie where our troops were, to the west of which was a wooded mound, rieing and running parallel with our front. The enemy was on the front of this hill and in the woods, occasionally dashing forward, occasionally retiring as they were harder pressed. Blunt arnved with his army on the field—then “terribly thundered on the gale” the reopened conflict. Our entire lorce now engaged was about 8,000 men—the enemy’s 20,000.— Until pitch dark the fight raged with unabated fury. Across the vast plain, rod by rod, our gleaming lines fought their way, pushing forward our artillery, and hurling back the foe till they retreated to the woods, planted their artillery on the hill and awaited the attack. Into the grove our brave boys charged, and then along the sloping sides, up the gorges and upon the crest of that wooded hill, hung for four hours, in wavering and perilous uncertainty, that fierce and deadly fight. The fieldwas strewed with dead and wounded—carnage heaped its slain in piles—riderless horea dashed madly along the ranks—the mouths of forty pieces of artillery roared forth con iuuou* thunder, and the musketry, like pattering rain drops, but fierce and fatal, rattled along the embattled line. At times our columns would reel and shiver like the harvest btalks in a gale—then thev
Newspaper Details
Richland County Observer
Richland Center, Wisconsin, US
Fri, Jan 02, 1863
Page 2
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 20 Jul 2019
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