The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-12-30
BATTLE OF PRAIRIE GROVE.

PRAIRIE GROVE, ARK, Dec. 6th, 1862.
There has been another great battle ii
northwestern Arkansas, exceeding il
fierceness the famous contest at Pes
Ridge, as was remarked by some of the
veterans'who were present at both of the
occasions alluded to. The details are as
follows:
Gen. Blunt had advanced some TWEEN
ty miles south Of Fayetteville, Arkansas
with his forces, and there drawn the at
tack of Hindman, who advanced upor
him rapidly from Van Buren, with about
$4,000 troops and twenty-five pieces oI
artillery. Blunt, with his little band o
10000 men at Cane Hill, would have
been but mouthful forsuch an immense
army of well disciplined soldiery as this
He knew his danger and sent hurried
messages to Gen. Heron, who has the
command of the Cd and Sd divisions oil
the army of the frontier, and was at this
time at Wilson's Creek, four miles south
of Springfield, Missouri The moment
Gen. Heron received intelligence of Gen.
Blunts danger lie set his army in mo-
ton and made forced marches, accom-.
plishing the feat Of pushing his infantry
one hundred and twelve miles in three
days, and his cavalry one hundred and
thirty.two miles in two days and half
On the morning of the 7th inst, as
the advance guard, consisting of the Isl
Arkansas cavalry and portion of the
9th and 7th Missouri cavalry, were en-,
tering a woods, upon the south bank OF
Illinois Creek, ten miles south of FAY
etteville, they were fired upon from am
bush and thrown into a panic that result
ed in rout, aud the loss of their bag,
gage train of twenty four wagons. They
went flying back two or three miles un
til they met the main body, when they
were rallied once more. Major Hubbard,
Of Pea Ridge fame, with portion of two
companies OF the 1st Missouri cavalry,
tried to stem the tide Of the rebels, but
without success. Their superior mum.
bers bore down everything before them,
and amongst others this little band
Major Hubbard himself and two Of his
Lieutenants were captured, and the re.
mainder forced TO retreat at double quick
Our infantry were soon brought forward
and few pieces of artillery got into po
sition that sent the bold scoundrels bacl
as rapidly rs they came. Gen. Heron
followed up his advantage as quickly a,
possible, and soon found himself in con
tact with the main rebel force.
! This splendid army, contrary to our
expectations, was we'll clothed, well arm
cd and well fed, aud better drilled thar
our own soldiery 1t consisted OF corps
of 10000 men, commanded by Gen
Hindman, and was in four divisions
commanded respectively by Gems. Par
sons, Marmaduke, Rains and Frost, anc
was supported by park Of artillery 0
twenty two guns. Besides this. they haC
a great advantage in position. The bat
le-field was magnificent stretch o
open ground, skirted on the east by al
abrupt hill, covered with thick woods
On this bluff, concealed by the forest
were posted the rebels in full force.
Our forces only numbered $500 o
1000 and consisted OF the following in
iantry the 84,h and 37th Illinois th,
10th and Goth Iowa /. the 25th and 29tl
Wisconsin. In addition TO these wer,
four companies Of artillery who worket
"a guns, and some half-a dozen compan
les of cavalry. Our men were worl
down by long and continuous force,
march, and some of them had been with
out food for twenty -four hours. How
ever. when the ball opened they deploy
ed into the field with loud huzzas, anC
went at the work in.hand with grea
bravery II took some little time to ge
into position and place the batteries il
the most comman1ing localities, and
was fully ten O'clock A, NJ before.the ar
tillery duel was in full voice. As ma,