The Battle of Prairie Grove was an important fight during the American Civil War. It happened on December 7, 1862, in Washington County, Arkansas. This article tells you about the units and commanders from the Confederate Army who fought in this battle.
Understanding Military Terms
When we talk about armies, we use special words and abbreviations. Here are some you'll see:
Military Ranks
- MG = Major General: A very high-ranking officer, like a big boss.
- BG = Brigadier General: Another high-ranking officer, usually in charge of a brigade.
- Col = Colonel: An officer who commands a regiment.
- Ltc = Lieutenant Colonel: The second-in-command of a regiment.
- Maj = Major: An officer who commands a battalion.
- Cpt = Captain: An officer who commands a company.
Other Abbreviations
- w = wounded: The soldier was injured.
- mw = mortally wounded: The soldier was injured so badly they later died.
- k = killed: The soldier died during the battle.
The Confederate Army at Prairie Grove
The main Confederate force at the Battle of Prairie Grove was called the Trans-Mississippi Army. It was led by Major General Thomas C. Hindman. He had about 12,059 soldiers fighting that day.
The army was organized into different groups: divisions, which were made of several brigades. Each brigade had different regiments, which are smaller groups of soldiers.
| Division |
Brigade |
Regiments and Other Units |
|
Shoup's Division
BG Francis A. Shoup (3,219 soldiers)
|
Fagan's Brigade
BG James F. Fagan (1,555 soldiers)
|
- Hawthorn's Arkansas Infantry - Col Alexander T. Hawthorn
- 22nd (35th) Arkansas Infantry - Col James P. King
- 29th (37th) Arkansas Infantry - Col Joseph C. Pleasants
- 34th Arkansas Infantry - Col William H. Brooks
- Chew's Arkansas Infantry Battalion - Maj Robert E. Chew
- Blocher's Arkansas Battery - Cpt William D. Blocher (This was an artillery unit with cannons)
|
| McRae's Brigade
Col Dandridge McRae (1,664 soldiers)
|
- 26th Arkansas Infantry Regiment - Col Asa S. Morgan
- 28th (36th) Arkansas Infantry - Ltc John E. Glenn
- 30th (39th) Arkansas Infantry - Col Archibald J. McNeill
- 32nd Arkansas Infantry - Ltc Charles L. Young (k)
- Marshall's Arkansas Battery - Cpt John G. Marshall (Another artillery unit)
|
|
Frost's Division
BG Daniel M. Frost (6,058 soldiers)
|
Parsons's Brigade
BG Mosby M. Parsons (3,111 soldiers)
|
- Mitchell's Missouri Infantry - Ltc Charles S. Mitchell
- 7th Missouri Infantry - Col Josiah H. Caldwell
- 8th Missouri Infantry - Col Dewitt C. Hunter
- 9th Missouri Infantry - Ltc Willis M. Ponder
- 10th Missouri Infantry - Col Alexander E. Steen (k)
- 9th Missouri Sharpshooters - Maj Lebbeus A. Pindall
- Tilden's Missouri battery - Cpt Charles B. Tilden (An artillery unit)
|
| Roane's Brigade
BG John S. Roane (2,132 soldiers)
|
- 20th Texas Cavalry (dismounted) - Col Thomas C. Bass (These cavalry soldiers fought on foot)
- 22nd Texas Cavalry (dismounted) - Maj Robert D. Stone
- 31st Texas Cavalry (dismounted) - Ltc George W. Guess
- 34th Texas Cavalry (dismounted) - Col Almarine M. Alexander
- 9th Missouri Infantry - Col John B. Clark
- Reid's Arkansas Battery - Cpt John G. Reid (Artillery)
- Shoup's Arkansas Battery - Cpt James C. Shoup (Artillery with mountain howitzers, which are smaller cannons)
|
| Shaver's Brigade
Col Robert G. Shaver (815 soldiers)
|
- Adams' Arkansas Infantry - Col Charles W. Adams
- 27th Arkansas Infantry - Col James R. Shaler (This unit was stationed at Fort Smith, Arkansas, so it might not have been fully present at the battle)
- 33rd Arkansas Infantry - Col Hiram L. Grinstead
- 38th Arkansas Infantry Regiment - Ltc William C. Adams
- Roberts' Missouri Battery - Cpt Westley Roberts (Artillery with special "James rifles" and smooth bore cannons)
|
|
Marmaduke's Cavalry Division
BG John S. Marmaduke (2,782 soldiers)
|
Carroll's/Monroe's Brigade
Ltc James C. Monroe (500 soldiers)
|
- Carroll's Arkansas Cavalry - Ltc Lee L. Thomson
- Monroe's Arkansas Cavalry - Maj Andrew N. Johnson
|
| Shelby's Brigade
(Also known as Shelby's Raiders)
Col Joseph O. Shelby (1,475 soldiers)
|
- 4th Missouri Cavalry - Col Beal G. Jeans
- 5th Missouri Cavalry - Col B. Frank Gordon
- 6th Missouri Cavalry - Col Gideon W. Thompson
- Elliot's Missouri Cavalry battalion - Cpt Benjamin Elliott
- Quantrill's Company (Missouri) - Lt William Gregg (A smaller group of cavalry)
- Bledsoe's Missouri Battery - Cpt Joseph Bledsoe (Artillery)
|
| MacDonald's Brigade
Col Emmett MacDonald (807 soldiers)
|
- MacDonald's Missouri Cavalry - Ltc Merrit L. Young
- Crump's Texas Cavalry - Ltc R. Phillip Crump
- West's Arkansas Battery - Cpt Henry C. West (Artillery)
|
