Robert G. Shaver - CSA

Col. Robert Glenn Shaver, Nicknamed "Fighting Bob" was born on April 18 1831 and died on January 13 1915. He commanded the Thirty-Eighth Arkansas Infantry Regiment in the battle of Prairie grove. He was positioned on the far right of the confederate line and had one hundred and fifty-two soldiers going into the battle. He sustained fifty-two casualties, which was aroung a third of his soliders and almost double the total casualty rate of the battle.

Overall, Colonel Shaver's command of his troops during the battle was less than exceptional seeing as he lost a third of the soldiers he started with. This would be permissible had it not been for his unit being in a position where they would not bear the brunt of the union assault and the total confederate losses being at a lower rate than his regiment. 

Shaver's unit was tasked with being on the right-hand side of the infantry line and during the initial artillery engagement of the battle there was little they could do to avoid casualties. When the infantry engagement began however, The majority of the fighting was on the far left end of the Confederate line. The reason this is an important fact to note is because if there was less fighting and the losses were that heavy, it would indicate poor training or poor tactics. Both of these qualities are entrusted to the commander which in this case is Shaver. Since these responsibilities seemed to be disregarded, it would indicate a commander who was less than competent for the role he was assigned.