General Blunt and the Combat against the CSA's Advancements
The actual fighting conflict that is now known as The Battle of Prairie Grove, was originally instigated by the Confederate's Army when it's Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman decided to move in on the Union and Brig. Gen. James G. Blunt, who was residing only 30 miles away from Hindman and his men in Washington County. This all followed after an engagement there in Washington County.1 A few days before the fateful day of December 7, 1862, as Thomas C. Hindman was approaching, James G. Blunt caught wind of the movement of the CSA and immediately fetched for support from another Union Brig. Gen., Francis J. Herron.
Part of the CSA attacked USA calvary, and the Union experienced defeat, which caused Union men to retreat with the Confederate following close behind. This retreat stopped however, when they met Herron.1 Herron and his troops were the first to meet Hindman and the CSA, after the defeat of the Union calvary, and Herron's men pushed the Confederate's back. Furthermore, when the CSA drew their line for battle, Herron engaged in an artillery duel.2
After this engaged combat between Brig. Gen. Francis J. Herron of the USA and Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman of the CSA ensued for a while, James G. Blunt came back into play and attacked the Confederate's left flank as Herron led the main artillery assault. With this double combat strategy, Maj. Gen. Hindman was unable to advance any further on Brig. Gen. Herron, resulting in the removal of the CSA from the area of Arkansas.3
This combination of Union forces from Brig. Gen. Blunt and Brig. Gen. Herron allowed for the Union to gain full occupation of Northwest Arkansas. If James G. Blunt had not called to Francis J. Herron for backup, the Union could've experienced more than the first calvary defeat of The Battle of Prairie Grove, as well as lost the turning point of the entire Civil War. This combat is in direct connection to the Union's, and more specifically Blunt's tactics. These strategies included: refusing to be on the recieving end of surprise attacks, having informants all over, and calling for support when needed.
1 Montgomery, Don. Battle of Prairie Grove. Arkansas: n.p., 2023
2 American Battlefield Trust. Prairie Grove - December 7, 1862. n.p., 2019
3 American Battlefield Trust. Washington County, AR: Dec 7, 1862. n.p., 2019
Written By: Claire Bloom