The National tribune., 1884-09-25
PRAIRIE GROVE.
The Forced March Made by Herron's Division to
Reach the Battlefield.

To THE EDITOR: In THE TRIBUNE of Au-
gust 2S, | notice letter from Comrade Cane,
Of the 7th Mo. Cav, in which he gives an ac-
count of the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark, and
the regi iments composing Gen. Herron's COM
mand AS the regiment which had the honor
of being numbered with is left out entirely,
and as it was in the thicSest of the fight-los-
ing almost as many men as all the rest of Her
ron's commando would like to add few
words about one of the hardest forced marches
and hottest-contested battles of the war. Most
of the regiments had Just been mustered into
the service and marching was much harder
than when troops became more used to it.
Why, those pesky knapsacks seemed to try
to tear the very shoulders of OF us at first, as
the boys can't but remember.
The gallant Heron, whom the boys honored
as they did no other commander, and who,
soon after, was commissioned a Major General
of volunteers, at the age of 25 years-the
youngest officer of that rank, / think, in the
army at least in 1S62-was found quietly in
camp on the Wilson's Creek battle-ground, Mo-,
December 8, 1862
The division was composed of the 37th and
Oath H., 10Th and Goth Iowa, 26th Ind, and
Goth Wis; Captains Murphy's Faust's, Back
offs, and Lieut.. Borriess batteries; the 1st Mo.
Light Artillery, and the following cavalry regi-
ments that were sent to Blunt from Fayette-
vile: 9th, 7th, and Sth No. 1st Iowa. 10th ILL.,,
and one battalion of I'd Wis.
At l o'clock p. m. of the Sd, message came
from Gen. Blunt, Cane Hill, Ark, asking for
-enforcements as the rebel Gen. Hindman
was about to take him in. In an hour Her
ron's command was in motion, marching to
Crane Creek, distance 20 miles; broke camp at
a. N. and marched to Cassyille, 80 miles;
starting at a. M. next morning, marched to
Sugar Creek % miles; broke camp at 8 a. M,
halted at Cross Hollows for dinner, and IL
|
etteville, Ark, after midnight, distance for the
day 80 miles.
On this days march the boys became worn
out and complained good deal, but at our halt
for supper our Colonel {who was killed next
day. told us that tdxasst Blunt we would be
compelled to march all night, and that very
soon we would meet the rebels in battle. The
idea of marching all night was pretty tough
but the thought of duty neryed them up; and
as stated before, we reached Fayetteville after
midnight. At a. m. we were on our way, and
at 10 a. In. reached Prairie Grove (12 miles,
122 miles from Wilson's Creek, place of start
ing, in a little less than four days.
Heron was surprised to find the rebel army
! here, but he determined to make bold attack
and proceeded to move on the rebels at once
In this he was fortunately assisted by Maj
| Hubbard of his staff, who was captured while
| in command of the advance and taken to Hind
mans headquarters, who declared to the rebe
leader that he could but fight the advance
| guard of the army that day, and that Herror
| had men enough to annihilate him. Th
checked the rebels, and they did not find ou
any better until Blunt arrived at p. m. will
e-enforcements. Thus we held an army o
10000 men, in an open field, with less thar
| 5000, for six hours. After Blunt came W,
made it so hot for the rebels that the shades o
night closed the battle of Prairie Grove, and a
body Hindman's army was never heard tel
of again.
The whirl of time viii very soon bring tn
22d anniversary of that memorable day, Dec
| T. 1884. Comrades of whatever regiment o
name, why not have little Reunion through
The TRIBUNE, by writing our experiences 0
interest, not only of this battle, but of all tn
battles and marches we participated in to
gether?-J. w. MORTON, Co. c, 10Th Iowa
Washington, Iowa