View of Herron's Attack
View from the Confederate position on the morning of December 7, 1862. U.S. General F.J. Herron advanced his troops to the ridge to begin the Battle of Prairie Grove.
Alex with Civil War Cannon.
Alex with a Civil War cannon at the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. The battle was the late major engagement of the war in Northwest Arkansas.
The Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park includes several historic buildings from Northwest Arkansas.
Moving the Cannons
The C.S.A. artillery was placed into position on the hills near the Borden House.
I guess they conscript them pretty young
One of the younger reenactors, waiting in front of the Borden House.
Getting into Formation
The Confederates had about 11,000 forces engaged in the battle, the Union about 9,000.
Confederate Cavalry Advances
The reenactors began the battle by sending Confederate Cavalry through the woods and down the hill to meet Union troops below.
Union Artillery Fires
The Union Artilerry was stationed down the hill and across the field.
The Yankees are Coming!
Two of Brig. Gen. Herron's regiments approached the hill as gunpowder filled the air.
Herron's men chased the Confederates up the hill and back to the Borden House.
Brig. Gens. John S. Marmaduke and Francis A. Shoup sent their men in a vicious counterattack against the U.S. troops.
The Official Photographers
This reenactor built a replica daguerreotype camera to take to the battlefield.
About half of the attacking U.S. soldiers were hurt or killed within minutes of the attack. There were about 2,500 casualties on both sides in the battle.
Our Union Dead
175 Union soldiers lost their lives in the battle. They are buried at Fayetteville National Cemetery.
After another round of attacks and counterattacks, the Union was forced back down the hill.
The fighting on December 7 ended in a stalemate. However, the Union could call in reinforcements and the Confederacy could not - forcing the rebels to withdraw to Van Buren.
The Confederate Dead
164 Confederates lost their lives in the war. They are buried in the Confederate Cemetery in Fayetteville.