page_title: 12th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Confederate)
section_title: 1862
hierarchical_section_title: 12th Missouri Infantry Regiment (Confederate) / Service history / 1862
caption_attribution_description: English: Title: Gen. Parsons, C.S.A. Alternative Title: [General Mosby Monroe Parsons, Confederate States Army] Creator: Magnus, Charles Date: 1861-1865 Part of: http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/cdm/search/collection/civ/searchterm/Ag2004.0007 Physical Description: 1 print on carte de visite mount; 9.8 x 6.2 cm. File: ag2004_0007_01_06_opt.jpg Rights: Please cite DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University when using this file. A high-resolution version of this file may be obtained for a fee. For details see the https://sites.smu.edu/cul/degolyer/research/permissions/ web page. For other information, contact degolyer@smu.edu. For more information, see: http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/civ/id/282 View Civil War: Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints: http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/all/cul/civ/
context_page_description: The 12th Missouri Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. After mustering into Confederate service on October 22, 1862, as White's Missouri Infantry, the regiment, as Ponder's Missouri Infantry, fought in the Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, where it charged the Union lines several times. On May 3, 1863, the regiment was named the 9th Missouri Infantry Regiment, and fought under that name until December 15, 1863, when it was renamed the 12th Missouri Infantry Regiment. On July 4, 1863, the regiment, as part of Brigadier General Mosby M. Parsons' brigade, broke through the Union lines at the Battle of Helena. However, Parsons' flanks were exposed, and the Confederates were driven from the field, suffering heavy losses. After Helena, only 168 men remained in the regiment. On November 22, 1863, the survivors of the regiment were combined into two companies, which were then attached to the 10th Missouri Infantry Regiment, although the 12th Missouri Infantry was still treated as a separate unit for reporting purposes.
context_section_description: After mustering into Confederate service, the regiment transferred to a camp near Van Buren, Arkansas.  The regiment was assigned to Colonel Alexander E. Steen's brigade in November, although Steen was later replaced by Brigadier General Mosby M. Parsons.  On November 30, the regiment began moving towards Prairie Grove, Arkansas.  Ponder commanded the regiment during the movement, as White was ill.  During the early stages of the Battle of Prairie Grove on December 7, the regiment (under the name Ponder's Missouri Infantry) aligned with the rest of Parsons' brigade in a position supporting the Confederate left flank.  Late in the battle, Ponder's regiment, along with the rest of Parsons' brigade and Clark's Missouri Infantry Regiment, attacked a Union position.  The Confederate attack eventually forced the Union line back, but was halted by Union artillery fire.  A further Confederate attack drove back a reformed Union line, with Ponder's regiment and Steen's Missouri Infantry Regiment turning the Union left flank.  The Confederates made another attempt against the Union line, but in the advance to attack, Caldwell's Missouri Regiment and Hunter's Missouri Infantry Regiment had their lines of advance cut off by other units, preventing them from joining the charge.  Ponder's regiment was on the right of the Confederate attack along with Steen's regiment, but heavy fire from two Union artillery batteries and the 11th Kansas Infantry Regiment repulsed the two regiments.  Steen was killed and the two regiments routed, ending the Battle of Prairie Grove.  At Prairie Grove, Ponder's regiment suffered 72 casualties.  After the defeat at Prairie Grove, the regiment returned to Van Buren.
caption: Brigadier General Mosby M. Parsons
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