The 125-mile death march that saved Missouri for the Union

General Herron’s Brutal 120-Mile March to Prairie Grove

In December 1862, Union General Francis Herron got word that his fellow troops faced doom. A small Union force of 5,000 men stood in the path of 11,000 Confederates in Arkansas.

Herron acted fast. He sent 6,000 men on a brutal 120-mile winter march from Missouri.

For three and a half days, they trudged through ice and mud. When they reached Prairie Grove, only half could still fight.

Yet these tired men held off the much larger Confederate army until help came. This epic march not only saved their friends but kept the South from ever taking back Missouri.

The Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park now tells this tale of grit and cold steel.

Desperate Telegraph Calls for Help as Confederates Close In

General James Blunt got bad news on December 3, 1862.

His 5,000 soldiers at Cane Hill, Arkansas faced an attack by Confederate General Thomas Hindman’s 11,000-strong Army.

Blunt quickly sent an urgent telegraph to General Francis Herron, who had two divisions near Springfield, Missouri. The message was clear: without help, Blunt’s men would be crushed.

Herron didn’t wait. He ordered his 6,000 troops to pack up and head south.

Time was running out.

Soldiers Trudged Through Freezing Missouri Mud in December Cold

The march began on December 4 in awful winter weather. Temperatures dropped below freezing as Herron’s men left Springfield.

The roads turned to frozen mud, ripping apart boots and slowing wagons. Many soldiers wore thin uniforms not meant for winter.

Rain and sleet soaked the troops. One soldier wrote in his diary that the nights were “very dark and wretched cold.”

The men kept moving, knowing their friends’ lives depended on it.

Men Marched 35 Miles Daily With No Time to Rest

Herron pushed his tired troops at a brutal pace, covering 70 miles in the first 48 hours. The men walked with full packs, bullets, and weapons over rough ground and steep Ozark hills.

Normal army marches covered 15-20 miles per day, but Herron asked for almost twice that. Soldiers started dropping from tiredness, their feet bloody.

The Wire Road guided them south through Missouri into Arkansas. Officers rode beside stragglers, pushing them forward.

Hindman Changed Plans When Scouts Spotted Union Reinforcements

Confederate General Hindman learned on December 6 that Union help was coming from the north. This news forced him to change his plan to attack Blunt directly.

Instead, Hindman decided to stop and destroy Herron’s tired soldiers first, then turn back to finish Blunt.

He sent cavalry under General Marmaduke to fight with Blunt’s guards on Reed’s Mountain while his main army moved north toward Prairie Grove.

Hindman told his officers he would “chaw up Herron for breakfast, then turn and gobble up Blunt for dinner.”

Half of Herron’s Men Collapsed Before Reaching the Battlefield

Herron’s first troops reached Fayetteville on December 6 after walking over 100 miles in just three days. The hard pace hurt them badly – only about 3,500 men could still fight, about half his starting force.

The rest fell behind, dropped from tiredness, or got hurt during the tough journey.

On December 7, Confederate cavalry under Joseph Shelby surprised Union cavalry near Prairie Grove, sending them running in panic. Herron personally stopped the fleeing soldiers, reportedly shooting one to restore order.

Tired Union Troops Set Up Artillery Against the Ridge

Confederate forces took strong spots along Prairie Grove ridge, hiding foot soldiers in the woods and placing big guns to control the valley below.

Herron put his worn-out troops at the bottom of the ridge and started firing his cannons. The Union guns worked better, quickly silencing several Confederate batteries.

Despite walking 120 miles in less than four days, Herron’s men formed battle lines under enemy fire. Cannon crews rushed to place their guns while foot soldiers got ready to attack the heights.

Wisconsin and Iowa Troops Charged Uphill Into a Deadly Trap

Around 2:15 PM, Herron ordered his first attack on the Confederate ridge.

The 20th Wisconsin and 19th Iowa Infantry ran across open fields toward the Archibald Borden house and orchard where Confederate troops waited.

The tired Union soldiers briefly took enemy cannons before finding themselves surrounded on three sides. Caught in crossfire, the Union troops ran back down the slope.

Nearly half the attacking force got killed or wounded in just minutes.

Second Attack Failed as Casualties Mounted on Both Sides

Despite the first attack’s failure, Herron ordered another assault around 3:00 PM. Colonel Huston led his group through the Borden orchard and up the ridge.

The men fought hand-to-hand with Confederate troops among the trees and farm buildings. This attack also failed with many deaths, forcing Union troops to retreat to the valley.

Confederate forces followed with attacks down the slope but met deadly fire from Union artillery using canister shot. The fighting grew more desperate as Herron’s beaten troops struggled to hold ground.

Blunt’s Army Arrived Just as Herron’s Men Faced Collapse

General Blunt heard the battle from his spot at Cane Hill. He quickly marched his 5,000 troops toward the fighting, arriving around 2:30 PM.

Two cannon shots signaled his approach on Herron’s left side. The combined Union force now counted about 8,000 men against Hindman’s larger army.

Blunt’s fresh troops attacked the Confederate right, stopping them from focusing on Herron’s tired divisions. The battlefield grew as fighting spread across the ridge and nearby farmland.

Final Confederate Attack Crossed a Bloody Hayfield

Around 4:00 PM, Confederate General Mosby Parsons launched a massive attack across William Morton’s hayfield against the Union center.

Thousands of Confederate soldiers moved forward in tight groups, briefly breaking through Union lines.

Union artillery crews turned their guns on the advancing Confederates, firing canister and case shot into the packed ranks. After ten hours of brutal fighting, both armies held roughly the same positions as morning.

Confederate casualties reached 1,317 while Union forces suffered 1,251 killed, wounded, and missing.

Hindman Sneaked Away in the Night After Union Victory

During the night, Hindman ordered a retreat south across the Boston Mountains. Confederate soldiers wrapped artillery wheels in blankets to muffle the sound as they slipped away.

Union forces woke on December 8 to find the battlefield abandoned.

Herron’s incredible 120-mile march had saved Blunt’s army from destruction and secured northwest Arkansas for the Union. The Confederates never again threatened the region with a major army.

Herron received a promotion to Major General at age 25, becoming the youngest officer to reach that rank during the Civil War.

Visiting Prairie Grove Battlefield, Arkansas

Prairie Grove Battlefield at 506 E. Douglas St. tells the story of General Francis Herron’s brutal 125-mile winter march to save Union forces. The museum is free, with historic house tours costing $6 for adults and $4 for kids 6-12.

You can take a 5-mile driving tour or walk the 1-mile paved trail.

Visit Wednesday-Saturday 8am-5pm or Sunday 1pm-5pm, with guided tours Thursday-Saturday at 11am and 3pm.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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