Most Endangered Battlefields 2008
Prairie Grove, Ark.
December 7, 1862
By late 1862 the situation in northern Arkansas and southwest Missouri looked promising for Union fortunes. Federal forces had been victorious at Pea Ridge that spring and had moved north to drive their Confederate counterparts from Missouri. The northern army, however, was precariously divided as a result of these efforts, a situation new Confederate commander Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman sought to exploit.
Hindman intended to engage the Federal column under Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt while it was isolated. The remainder of the Army of the Frontier foiled this plan when Brig. Gen. Francis J. Herron led it on an impressive forced march out of Springfield, Mo., covering 114 miles in three days. Now evenly matched, the two sides engaged in a fierce day-long fight with heavy casualties. Although it ended in a tactical stalemate on the field, the Battle of Prairie Grove proved a strategic success for the Union, as the demoralized and poorly supplied Confederates withdrew under cover of darkness. Federal forces maintained control of northwest Arkansas for the remainder of the war.
Threat
Traditionally, Prairie Grove has been considered one of the better-preserved Civil War battlefields, thanks to preservation efforts dating back to 1908. Today Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park encompasses approximately 838 acres of battlefield and draws roughly 200,000 visitors annually. Such continued success will depend on how the region reacts to the development pressures beginning to encroach on what had been a largely rural area.
Located about 10 minutes from Fayetteville, Prairie Grove is part of the third fastest growing county in Arkansas. From 2000 to 2006 the region experienced population growth of more than 18 percent, further solidifying Washington County’s status as the third most populous county in the state. To cope with the growth, U.S. Route 62 is being widened to four lanes right up to the border of the battlefield park.
CWSAC classified Prairie Grove as a Priority I, Class B battlefield.
Resources for Prairie Grove
- Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
- Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture
- CWSAC Battle Summary of Prairie Grove
- View the Civil War Album's photos of Prairie Grove
MOST ENDANGERED BATTLEFIELDS:
Prairie Grove, Arkansas
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