Civilians Inside the Battle
On December 7th, 1862, in Arkansas, the Battle of Prairie Grove began with cannon fire and was showing major intensity around noon that day. Caught in the midst of it were several civilian eye witnesses who lived to share their experience over the conflict beginning at the epicenter of the battle, the Borden house.
"Confederate troops fought around the house and orchard, suffering hundreds of casualties. The Borden family sought refuge from the fighting with other families in a cellar one mile west of here," (2). One of the Borden's children, Caldonia Borden, recalled the events of that morning, "My uncle came to the house and said for us to get away, that there was to be a battle right there, so we went a mile where we could get into a cellar. We stayed out and watched the battle until two o’clock in the afternoon," (1).
The cellar that the Borden family and many others took safety in belonged to the Morton Homestead. Nancy Morton also recalls the events of that day and the arrival of the Borden family to seek refuge from the gunfire. "Early in the day commenced at the Borden farm east of the grove, lasting until sunset, winding up on the Morton farm one mile west… We all remained in the cellar until dark, but I went into the house several times to get victuals and some bedclothes and wraps for the children. They fought through and around the house, the shots flying like hail in every direction, only a few cannon balls striking close," (1).
Within the Morton's cellar, there sat over 20 individuals crammed inside between barrels of apples, potatoes, vinegar, and other foods. They remained inside until dark when the fighting ended and the confederates snuck away, only to emerge to burned homes and hundreds of scattered dead bodies.
During the battle there were also civilians who didn't leave their homes but instead used them to provide support for Unionist troops. A 14 year old girl at the time, Julia West Pyeatt, watched the battle from several different locations on the North side in anxiousness for her relatives and neighbors. Her home was used for medical purposes for the troops and a temporary camp the following night, as well as, many other houses to the North side that were lesser damaged. "All the houses were filled with wounded men. Our house was also filled with General [James G.] Blunt's men. The General himself sleeping in mother's baby crib with his feet hanging over. During the night when dispatches came he would arise up, read it, write answers, or give orders. Men stood and sat around all night with their guns in their hands talking about the fight.... All available beds and bedding was used for the wounded except one bed they left for mother and the children but very few of us slept any,"(3).
(1). Heston, J. (2022, August 15). The Morton Cellar. Facebook. https://m.facebook.com/darkozarks/photos/a.100137881599687/587875009492636/?type=3&source=57
(2.) Marsteller, D. (2023, June 3). The Borden house / The legacy of prairie grove historical marker. Historical Marker. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=225092
(3.) U.S. Department of the Interior. (2023, April 12). The Battle of Prairie Grove: Civilian Recollections of the Civil War (teaching with historic places) (U.S. National Park Service). National Parks Service. https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-battle-of-prairie-grove-civilian-recollections-of-the-civil-war-teaching-with-historic-places.htm