Confederate Arms in the Trans-Mississippi West, 1862
Maj. Gen. Hindman is well known for advocating for his troops and attempting to have them as well supplied and armed as possible. However, whether he succeeds is up for major debate. Records describing how well his army was armed are conflicting. For example, as of August 8th, 1862 “The people here all regard Hindman, with his forces, as being at Little Rock and badly armed…”.1 Along with this, according to another report “General Hindman reports thirty Arkansas regiments poorly armed; also Texas and Louisiana troops. These forces are not yet concentrated. He complains of a delay in getting arms, and seems very much dissatisfied with the delay.”2 Conflicting evidence from Colonel Salomon says otherwise “A dispatch just received from him states that after moving south to Fort Gibson, and finding the enemy in strong force on the opposite side of the river, and as he says General Hindman is marching in strong force in his direction…”.3 Another conflicting report claims “Letters of Hindman, intercepted, report about 25,000, well armed and equipped.”
Hindman requested funding for his army to be properly armed in June of 1862. He requests from the governor the following “The estimates forwarded herewith show what funds I require. With 5,000 Enfield rifles and accouterments, 12 mountain howitzers, caps and powder in proportion, cartridge paper and thread, I believe I can drive the enemy from this State before August.”5 He seems to receive at least a portion of the arms. From an official report, “I am advised that Major-General Hindman has taken possession of two thousand rifles forwarded to me in pursuance of the promise of your predecessor, and has used them to arm the troops of his command”6, showing at least some sort of arms making it to his army. Following this report, in early August, Hindman details “Being now supplied, however, almost to the extent of my wants, I expect soon to commence active operations, and will try to give my Government a satisfactory return for its promptness in relieving my distress and anxiety.”7 This conveys that Hindman was at least prepared to enter into his upcoming battles and skirmishes.
Hindman came to Prairie Grove with 22 pieces of artillery and 11,000 men. While his full army was about 15,000 only 11,000 were brought due to “Lack of shoes and arms prevented me from taking my entire force.”8 Being as well armed as Hindman could hope for, they entered Prairie Grove optimistic. Which seemed to be successful when concerning the effectiveness of their arms. For example, “The Confederate cavalrymen were armed only with shotguns but gave such a good account of themselves that Bassett believed he was facing a much larger force.”9 There is not much more information to be found pertaining to the actual numbers of arms close to the Battle of Prairie Grove. The majority of information comes from the correspondence prior to the Battle of Prairie Grove which depicts Hindman’s struggle to recruit arms for his soldiers. While it seems he received the majority of what he needed, there is no final confirmation or number of arms received by Hindman prior to the battle.
1Reports of Brigadier General Alvin P. Hovey. “AUGUST 2, 1862. — Skirmish near Totten’s Plantation, Coahoma County, Miss.” Essay. In Official Records of the War of the Rebellion 13, 13:206. Washington: War Department, War Records Office, 1897. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079609578&view=1up&seq=3.
2Reports of Maj. Gen. Samual R. Curtis. “Correspondence, Etc.-Union.” Essay. In Official Records of the War of the Rebellion 13, 13:519. Washington: War Department, War Records Office, 1897. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079609578&view=1up&seq=3.
3Reports of Brig. Gen. E.B. Brown. “Correspondence, Etc.-Union.” Essay. In Official Records of the War of the Rebellion13, 13:531. Washington: War Department, War Records Office, 1897. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079609578&view=1up&seq=3.
4Reports of Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis. “Correspondence, Etc.-Union.” Essay. In Official Records of the War of the Rebellion 13, 13:571. Washington: War Department, War Records Office, 1897. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079609578&view=1up&seq=3.
5Reports of Maj. General T.C. Hindman. “Correspondence, Etc.-Confederate.” Essay. In Official Records of the War of the Rebellion 13, 13:833. Washington: War Department, War Records Office, 1897. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079609578&view=1up&seq=3.
6Reports of Brig. Gen. Albert Pike. “Correspondence, Etc.-Confederate.” Essay. In Official Records of the War of the Rebellion 13, 13:846. Washington: War Department, War Records Office, 1897. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079609578&view=1up&seq=3.
7Reports of Maj. Gen. T.C. Hindman. “Correspondence, Etc.-Confederate.” Essay. In Official Records of the War of the Rebellion 13, 13:875. Washington: War Department, War Records Office, 1897. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924079609578&view=1up&seq=3.
8Reports of Maj. Gen. T.C. Hindman. “DECEMBER 7, 1862—Battle of Prairie Grove, Fayetteville, or Illinois Creek, Ark.” Essay. In Official Records of the War of the Rebellion 22, 22:139. Washington: War Department, War Records Office, 1897. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077699704&view=1up&seq=88&q1=Parsons.
9Shea, William L. “Race to Prairie Grove.” Essay. In Fields of Blood the Prairie Grove Campaign, 122. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2013.