Battle of Prairie Grove

Sketch of the Battlefield

Date	December 7, 1862
Location	Washington County, Arkansas 35°59′35″N 94°18′28″W / 35.99306°N 94.30778°W / 35.99306; -94.30778Coordinates: 35°59′35″N 94°18′28″W / 35.99306°N 94.30778°W / 35.99306; -94.30778
Result	Union victory

Belligerents

United States

Confederate States

Commanders and leaders

James G. Blunt
Francis J. Herron

Thomas C. Hindman

Units involved

Army of the Frontier

First Corps, Army of the Trans-Mississippi

Strength

9,216 engaged

11,059 engaged

Casualties and losses

1,251

1,317

The Battle of Prairie Grove was a battle of the American Civil War fought on December 7, 1862, that resulted in a tactical stalemate but essentially secured northwest Arkansas for the Union.

In late 1862 Confederate forces had withdrawn from southwest Missouri and were wintering in the wheat-rich and milder climate of northwest Arkansas. Many of the regiments had been transferred to Tennessee, after the defeat at the Battle of Pea Ridge in March, to bolster the Army of Tennessee.

Following Pea Ridge, the victorious Union Maj. Gen. Samuel Curtis pressed his invasion of northern Arkansas with the aim of occupying the capital city of Little Rock. Curtis's army reached the approaches to the capital, but decided to turn away after a minor yet psychologically important Confederate victory at the Battle of Whitney's Lane near Searcy, Arkansas.

Curtis reestablished his supply lines at Helena, Arkansas, on the Mississippi River and ordered his subordinate, Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield at Springfield, Missouri, to drive Confederate forces out of southwestern Missouri and invade northwestern Arkansas.

Schofield divided his Army of the Frontier into two parts, one to remain near Springfield commanded by Brig. Gen. Francis J. Herron, and the other commanded by Brig. Gen. James G. Blunt to probe into northwest Arkansas. Schofield soon fell ill and overall command passed to General Blunt. As Blunt took command, the two wings of his army were dangerously far apart.

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