The National tribune., 1891-02-05
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
PRAIRIE GROVE, ARK.
A Very Narrow Escape from Being Captured o
Killed.

my mind my own escape la that same bat
de OF Prairie Grove, Ark, which was fought
Dec =, 1862, on aud near the Little ILLINOIS
River la Washington Co, northwestern ArlIan-
sas, which for the numbers engaged, was about
Rs hotly-contested and bloody a fight rs Oc.
CURED during the WAT, la the West at least.
The Union troops were the two divisions Of
the Army of the Frontier, commanded, re-
6pectivcy by Brig. Gen. Frank Heron and
Brighten. James q. Blunt and consisted OF
Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and
Missouri troops with some few from Arkansas
aud the Indian Territory, numbering, all told
perhaps 10000 or 1000 men, of which some
5000 were stationed &C Ray Mills, seven miles
west OF the battle-ground, guarding large sup
ply train, together with all the camp equipago,
etc, of Blunls Division, which had been sent
there Tor safety from Cane Hill, some 10 or -
miles south of Rays Mills, where the division
had been in camp since the fight OF Nov - at
that place; aud, besides, most OF the cavalry was
held la reserve on the battle-ground, leaving
bat little il any more than 5000 men engaged
on the Union side.
The rebel forces consisted Of whole corps
under command of Maj .-Gen Thomas B. Hind
man. Of Arkansas aud comprised Arkansas
Texas, Louisiana aud Indian Territory troops,
va1iously estimated az from 10000 10 10000
Their field return of the day before showed
%, coo effective troops They claimed a reserve
OF 10000 men who did not participate in the
fight This being the case, there Was az least
Two TO one of the rebels as compared TO the
number OF the Union troops engaged.
The action was brought on carly in
the morning by Hindmans adyanCe-guaTd
running suddenly into the advance guard of
Heron who was Oh forced march from Sprig-
field Mo-. 10 the assistance OF Gen. Blunt at
Cane Hill, where he was holding Hindman S
army at bay with his division, which he could
do owing 10 the advantage of position Ia mar
row mountain pass which he occupied; but
upon learning from his scouts that lerrOu's
army WAS rapidly approaching, he detached a
portion OF bis force, aud, crossing the mountains
at another pass, hurried them forward 10 attack
Heron before ho could arrive in supporting
distance OF Blunt Thus ii happened that the
ady8nce-guard OF the two armies, one hurrying
on 10 Join Gen. Blunt and the other hurIyin
up 10 prevent IL, ran into each other with
mutual surprise some ID miles northeast OF
Cane Hilli where the battle was expected 10
come of
When Blunt became aware that part of the
rebel troops had crossed the mountains and
had attacked our rein l0rcements he dispatched
all his baggage and supply trains together
with the sick AID wounded, TO Rays Mills, I'M
der strong escort, aud gathering up all his ef-
fectyes retired from his position with the
intention OF joining Heron al the Ford of the
Little Illinois River, since called Prairie Grove
battle-ground.
The rebel Gen. Hindman perceiving his in
teuti0n, also broke camp aud hurried on with
tile intention OF overwhelming derrOn's DIVis-
ion before Blunt could effect a junction with
them, which he hoped TO be able TO do as
Blunt had the longer road 20 travel and his
trains 10 protect till they could reach the rem
devious at Ray Mills But the pluck and SUI
perior endurance OF the Western boys brought
as ont ahead, but not one moment TOO soon, as
we d0uBlc-quickgd into line, threw out our
administers aud moving forward were almost
Immediately engaged with the same troops that
we had turned our backs upon aud raced with
Tor D. miles from Cane Hill.
but the junction was made, and our trains
all rcndoNOusCd ar Rays Mills under strong
guard, and our army WAS IN position 10 fall
back lcisurely 10 the Mills, or 10 Gght where
We were, which We proceeded 10 do at once, and
Notwithstanding the disparity Of numbers we
there and then broke Hindman's TeButat.o
by iulictng Oh him such a defeat as 30 demon
allied aud disorganized his army that be was
never able 10 collect them again He was soon
called east Of the Mississippi River aud placed
in q subordinate position.
Now for my escape as called il. ] was then
Second Lieutenant, but at that time would
have been in command OF my company but for a
slight misunderstanding with Mai. Warren Di.
vision Quartcrmaster, ln consequence Of which
was under arrest. Ny First Lieutenant was
was Oh Tue SICK llst with tie wagons al Raw s
Mills. lu the hurry 0. breaking camp INV
company was forgotten, and 40 officer sent 10
command lt ln the approaching battle 80
buckled on my sword and marched with the
boys % the position az Cane Hin aud thence
on double quick for ID miles 10 Prairie Grove
aud iclI by this time like / was OF ought 10 be
in command Of the company When the regi-
mcut was ordered forward with sEirnishers
depioyed ] went too aud began TO give orders
as d such thing as being under arrest was IN
known.
Soon 81 was desired 10 seize a small hillock
on elevation Ia our immediate front which
would make an admirable cover for about two
companies OF infantry, and al the same tim,
give them an extended view Of the field In
front 20 act effectively ar sharpshootcrs. Col
Nm, Weir OF the 10Th Kan, commanding ia,
brigade, aud by whose orders ] had been put
under arrest, came 10 the right Of the regiment
tl3tA Kan. for the purpose OF selecting tive
companies 10 seize and hold the hill iutondiul
20 use 90. A, Capt FiicEinger and Co. T. my
own but. seeing me present when he supposed
was miles away under guard he was some
what disconnected, aud blurted out:
May what Ia - are you doing hercgD
j answered.
well Colonel, as you forbid me fghtint
this baitie Tor Lucie sam, just came along
with the boys 10 fight little for myself"
Hc glanced up aud down the compau,
ranks, aud seeing no commissioned Office
with the company bat myself and no time q
discuss questions Of discipline but rather o
c1pediency, De called ont 10 me:
Take your company aud, with Co. A..
(which WIS already moving, "go up there Z
that little hill, and ] want the two cOmpauie
10 hold it at al hazards until recalled"
We did as directed. aud found a splendi,
shelter from the bullets aud shells OF Tn
enemy until late Ia the evening when Ia
rebels massed their forces Tor d desperate at
tempt ~ drive the right wing Of tho Uniol
army .Blunts Diyisi0ul OF the field au,
they very nearly succeeded, as the whole lin
on thc little bill, until We found ourselves sur
rounded on three sides by the advancing rebel
aud exposed % q murdeT0us cross fire.
Al this moment Col. Weir himself appeared
having lost bis horse aud hat, 10 order Us on
Then our trouble began We had been We
sheltered before by the brow Of the hill b
lying down, but as soon as we rose TO our fee
aud started 10 retire we became q target o.
thFcc sides for the rebels, aud nothing bu
their eageruess aud prcOccupati0p with ia
retiring line prevented their closing Ina an
capturing our two companies entire. IL va
then paudom0nium broke loose. The rebc
pushed forward in double aud treble lines. d,
termiucd 10 drive us of the field aud captur
our batteries aud our boys fought like demon
in q single line 10 prevent their carrying on
their intention. One rebel hag--a large battl,
flag carried by Texas Tcgiment-was SID
down I've times IN the charge, the last tim
falling no more than Six rods from where
stood the Color bearer being shot by Corn
Ben jay, Of my company al nv order 4 boi