Part I - March to Battle
View attachment 116476
In
The Bayonet or Retreat by artist Andy Thomas depicting the 37th Illinois Volunteer Regiment at the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Union troops from the command of Brig. Gen. Francis Herron briefly penetrate the Confederate line at the Borden House. Below, the reconstructed Borden House as it appears today in Prairie Grove State Park.
In the pre-dawn darkness of December 7, 1862, Federal troops commanded by young Brig. Gen. Francis J. Herron stumbled out from their encampments near the town of Fayetteville, Arkansas onto the celebrated
Wire Road named for the telegraph that led from St. Louis, past the earlier battlefields of Wilson's Creek, Missouri and Pea Ridge, Arkansas. This was to begin the third day of a forced march to reinforce another small "army" under Brig. Gen. James Blunt at Cane Hill some twenty-five miles away; already Herron had driven his men seventy miles in the past forty-eight hours. Blunt's was the leading force of forces operating in Missouri-Arkansas and had arrived at isolated Cane Hill in pursuit of raiding Confederate cavalry led by Br.g. Gen. John S. Marmaduke and Col. Joseph "Jo" Shelby when he learned a large force of newly-conscripted Arkansas infantry and veteran Missourians were advancing against him. When Herron received word from department commander Maj. Gen. Samuel Curtis that Blunt had requested support he immediately set his own force consisting of two small divisions plus some cavalry and artillery in motion.
View attachment 116475
Prairie Grove, AR after action report:
No. 21.
Report of
Lieut. Col. John Charles Black, Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry.
HDQRS. THIRTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS VOL. INFANTRY,
Fayetteville, Ark., December 10, 1862.
COL.: I have the honor of submitting the following report of the
marches of the Thirty-seventh Illinois prior to the late engagement, and
also of the part borne by the regiment in the battle of Prairie Grove:
On December 4, at 3 a. m., we marched from Camp Lyon, near Crane Creek,
some 25 miles south of Springfield, and encamped on Flat Creek at 4 p. m.,
having made 20 miles.
Reveille was ordered at 2 a. m., and the regiment marched at 4 a. m.,
December 5, passing through Cassville and Keytesville to within 3 miles
of the Arkansas line, making 23 miles.
We started the next morning (December 6) at 5 o'clock, and marched to Cross
Hollow, 28 miles, by 1.30 p. m. Resting until 12 midnight, we started for
Fayetteville, Ark., distant 16 miles, and arrived there at sunrise
December 7. A halt of one and a half hours was ordered, to get breakfast
and snatch a few moments of much-needed sleep. We were speedily aroused by
the cannon of Gen. Herron's advance, skirmishing with the enemy, some 12
miles in advance. Moving rapidly forward, we reached the Illinois Creek,
and, crossing it, took position on the battle-field of Prairie Grove at 12
m. of December 7, having made the tremendous march of 66 miles in
thirty-six hours, after marching 43 miles in the two preceding days.
By your order, I took post on the extreme right, supporting half of
Capt. Murphy's battery (F, First Missouri Light Artillery), moving up
under cover of a dense chaparral until abreast of our position, and then
advancing to the edge of the brush, by the left flank, in line of battle.
A halt was opened by the artillery on either side, and a fierce cannonade
was kept up for an hour. So completely were the men exhausted that I
saw them sleeping quietly around, paying no heed to the fierce missiles.
At the end of an hour we were ordered to advance into the open field.
A cheer was given, and we moved out a short distance, and remained
stationary for some fifteen minutes, when I was ordered by Col.
Huston, commanding the Second Division, to advance the regiment
down the slope to the support of the batteries of the Third Division.
Scarcely had this position been reached before Col. Huston again ordered
our advance against the hill, on which the center of the enemy was posted
in unknown strength, and from which two regiments had just been driven
with heavy loss. Throwing out Company A on the right and Company I on the
front and left, as skirmishers, I ordered a charge up the hill. It was
executed in fine style, the men advancing steadily and swiftly up to the
edge. The firing of the skirmishers in front announced the enemy close at
hand. Clearing the edge, we stood face to face with them, their numbers
overwhelming (5,000 or 6,000 strong, as it was subsequently proved), one
column moving by left-oblique upon our left and the right of the
Twenty-sixth Indiana, another moving direct upon our right. They moved in
column en masse, with guns at a ready. The firing began first upon the
left, and in a few minutes was general along the entire line. But, pressed
by overwhelming numbers, the right of the Twenty-sixth gave way after most
gallantry contesting the ground. My skirmishers about the same time
reported the enemy's artillery posted on our right. Thus overwhelmed, the
only hope from annihilation was the bayonet or retreat. The bayonet could
not be used; directly in front of us was a rail fence, and it could not
have been passed and we reformed before the enemy would have been upon us;
so, reluctantly, I ordered a retreat. Not a man had moved from his post
till that order. Falling back some 300 yards, they reformed in the rear of
the batteries.
In this charge and retreat, Capt. [G. R.] Bell, of Company G, was wounded,
doing splendid duty with his men. Lieut. [F. J.] Abbey, Company I, and
Lieut. [N. B.] Hicks, Company K, were taken prisoners, they not receiving
the order to retreat until too late to execute it. I was too seriously
wounded to retain the command, and so, turning it over to Maj. [H. N.]
Frisbie, I left the field; not, however, until the regiment was reformed
and had again commenced its fire. I refer you to Maj. Frisbie for a
continuation of this report.
To Maj. Frisbie and Adjutant Bandy my thanks are due for the calm, fearless
manner in which they conveyed and executed my commands. All officers and
men stood nobly at their posts. The hand of death has snatched a brave,
true man from our midst-Lieut. Johnson, Company D, who fell, mortally
wounded, at a subsequent movement of the fight. I sorrow for his gallant
death. All who fell, fell nobly. Those who serve on, many envy their late.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
[JOHN] CHAS. BLACK,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Thirty-seventh Illinois.
Col. W. McE. DYE,
20th Iowa Vols., Cmdg. 2d Brig., 2d Div., Army of the Frontier.
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No. 22.
Report of
Lieut. Frederick J. Abbey, Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry.
BATTLE-FIELD, PRAIRIE GROVE, ARK., December 10, 1862.
MAJ.: In compliance with your direction, I have to report that on the
advance of the regiment to the foot of the hill, which we stormed, and
the throwing out of Company I as skirmishers, I took my position on the
left of the line, when the regiment fell back. As we reached the fence,
and at the same time heard the cry to halt, I lay where I was, supposing
the regiment had fallen still farther back, I saw it was impossible for me
to follow. I then emptied my revolver at them and loaded again. At that
time I was surrounded, and, presenting my pistol, demanded protection,
which was guaranteed me, and then I surrendered. I was hurried to the
rear and paroled the camp for the night. I was paroled the next morning
until exchanged. Pledged secrecy as to all I saw and learned of their
strength and position.
FRED. J. ABBEY,
First Lieut., Company I, Thirty-seventh Regt.
Maj. H. N. FRISBIE,
Cmdg. Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry.
P. S.--I surrendered my sword, belt, and revolver, which they did not
return.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 118-32 MO., ARK., KANS., IND. T., AND DEPT. N. W. [CHAP. XXXIV.
[Series I. Vol. 22. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 32.]