The Battle At Prairie Grove - 1978 Words

During the Civil War, the North and South fought hard for control over northwest Arkansas. On December 7, 1862, the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi tangled with the Union Army of the Frontier at Prairie Grove located in Washington County, Arkansas. By nightfall, it was clear to the Confederates that â€Å"Missouri and northwest Arkansas would remain under Federal protection† (Teacher Guide 4). The battle at Prairie Grove was a brutal day of strategic warfare between the northern and southern armies that had great affect on the lives of the people living there. Under Major General John Schofield’s Union command were Brig. Generals James G. Blunt of the Kansas Division and Francis Jay Herron of the 2nd and 3rd Divisions. Their troops†¦show more content†¦While many Arkansans had followed Van Dorn to Tennessee, others had deserted their positions and fled back to their homes to protect their families (Whayne, et al. 198-199). Confederate authorities appointed Thomas Hindman, a veteran of the Mexican War, to replace Van Dorn’s command over Arkansas. A great â€Å"organizer, recruiter, and administrator† (Whayne, et al. 201), Hindman was prepared to use any means necessary to ramp up the number of men serving in Arkansas. â€Å"[Fanatically devoted]† to the Confederacy, Hindman declared, â€Å"I have come to drive out the invaders or perish in the attempt† (Whayne, et al. 198). He assumed his command with a â€Å"dictatorial [power]† by establishing supply factories, enforcing conscription laws , and â€Å"declaring martial law† over Arkansas (Whayne, et al. 198). In addition, Hindman employed the use of guerrilla warfare to harass the enemy and raid their supply lines. Many of these guerillas were not legally bound to protect their state and acted against Confederate commands. Instead, many were armed bandits and ruffians who had personal grudges to settle with anyone of their choosing. Regardless of political affiliation, many citizens in Arkansas would find themselves living in a state of anarchy. Although Arkansas was a Confederate state, many citizens were divided in their politics, but this mattered nothing to the bands of guerillas that would continuously contribute to the breakdown of the state for