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Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign
On Sunday, December 7, 1862, two armies collided at an obscure Arkansas hamlet named Prairie Grove in a desperate battle that effectively ended Confederate offensive operations west of the Mississippi River. In Fields of Blood, historian William L. Shea offers a gripping narrative of the events surrounding Prairie Grove, one of the great unsung battles of the Civil War.Shea provides a colorful account of a grueling campaign that lasted five months and covered hundreds of miles of rugged Ozark terrain. In a fascinating analysis of the personal, geographical, and strategic elements that led to the fateful clash in northwest Arkansas, he describes a campaign notable for rapid marching, bold movements, hard fighting, and the most remarkable raid of the Civil War. After months of intricate maneuvering punctuated by five battles in three states, armies led by Thomas C. Hindman and James G. Blunt met one last time at Prairie Grove. The costly daylong struggle was a tactical dra
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2009
About the author
William L. Shea
16 books6 followersWilliam L. Shea is professor of history at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 20, 2023
An excellent book on the campaign in Arkansas for the control of both Missouri and Arkansas. The historical timeframe addressed is the later part of 1862 and is the follow-up engagements to the battle in Pea Ridge which happened during the winter of 1861 - 62.
Fields of Blood provides a history of the entire campaign area which ran in the south from Fort Smith, Arkansas north into the Indian Territories (what is now Oklahoma) and eastern Kansas, and as far east as Springfield, Missouri and Yellville, Arkansas. Included in that geography is the rugged Boston Mountains located in northwest Arkansas of which Prairie Grove is located just to the north. Considering the terrain and the length of the lines of communication the logistics and communications across the front was quite remarkable to read about.
As would be expected there is a detailed account of the Prairie Grove battle and ends with the Union raid on Van Buren. The author has provided an excellent review of a not so well known campaign utilizing many personal accounts comprised of military correspondence, personal letters, memoirs, etc. Dr. Shea's ability to combine that first hand history into a cohesive and comprehensive historical narrative that is easy to follow and understand is really second to none.
Fields of Blood provides a history of the entire campaign area which ran in the south from Fort Smith, Arkansas north into the Indian Territories (what is now Oklahoma) and eastern Kansas, and as far east as Springfield, Missouri and Yellville, Arkansas. Included in that geography is the rugged Boston Mountains located in northwest Arkansas of which Prairie Grove is located just to the north. Considering the terrain and the length of the lines of communication the logistics and communications across the front was quite remarkable to read about.
As would be expected there is a detailed account of the Prairie Grove battle and ends with the Union raid on Van Buren. The author has provided an excellent review of a not so well known campaign utilizing many personal accounts comprised of military correspondence, personal letters, memoirs, etc. Dr. Shea's ability to combine that first hand history into a cohesive and comprehensive historical narrative that is easy to follow and understand is really second to none.
December 21, 2018
Both Confederate and Union forces in this area of the country had an amusing, amateurish command structure best termed 'spontaneous.' Many commanders on both sides did what they wanted with little reference to their superiors, and what's more, their superiors didn't seem to care.
The Confederates were at a serious disadvantage going into the fight. General Hindman had essentially no command and no supplies when he entered the field, so he had to beat the bushes to raise troops, make his officers take classes to learn their business, and scrounge for even a basic level of guns and ammo. This area of the country was extremely empty of any supplies that could be foraged for man or beast, and both armies suffered accordingly. Both forces were small, and the land area that needed to be covered by them was huge. The Union General Herron's forces had to make one of the most grueling marches of the war, covering a fast hundred miles to join Blunt at Prairie Grove, even though this resulted in Herron's men being exhausted and scattered along the road when their vanguard reached the battlefield.
This amateurishness did not extend to the Union artillery, fortunately. The other large Civil War battle in this area, Pea Ridge, was characterized by outstanding artillery work on the part of the Federals. The gunnery in Prairie Grove also showed this same high level of skill and accuracy. The only logical conclusion that can be made is that the Federal artillerymen in the Army of the Frontier were just better at their jobs than their more well-known eastern counterparts.
The Union right under Herron got a beating, mainly because Herron appears to have sent in his troops piecemeal, which let them be torn up by superior Confederate numbers. Even though Hindman stole a march on his foes, the Union General Blunt attacked just in time to give Herron aid, much of which came from the artillery. Both sides were awed by the ferocity of the artillery attack, and listeners reported that they could hear it forty miles away from the battlefield. It appears that Franz Sigel should not be given quite so much credit for the artillery work at Pea Ridge, since he wasn't here at Prairie Grove, yet the artillery still fought very well without him. The battle was essentially a tie, although Hindman had to withdraw to avoid being starved out.
The book is a solid piece of work, although not quite up to the standards of the author's book about Pea Ridge. I think the author was hampered by a lack of available primary sources for Prairie Grove. A battle between small forces means small numbers of men participated in the battle, and that means fewer memoirs and letters were written afterwards compared to other, larger engagements.
The Confederates were at a serious disadvantage going into the fight. General Hindman had essentially no command and no supplies when he entered the field, so he had to beat the bushes to raise troops, make his officers take classes to learn their business, and scrounge for even a basic level of guns and ammo. This area of the country was extremely empty of any supplies that could be foraged for man or beast, and both armies suffered accordingly. Both forces were small, and the land area that needed to be covered by them was huge. The Union General Herron's forces had to make one of the most grueling marches of the war, covering a fast hundred miles to join Blunt at Prairie Grove, even though this resulted in Herron's men being exhausted and scattered along the road when their vanguard reached the battlefield.
This amateurishness did not extend to the Union artillery, fortunately. The other large Civil War battle in this area, Pea Ridge, was characterized by outstanding artillery work on the part of the Federals. The gunnery in Prairie Grove also showed this same high level of skill and accuracy. The only logical conclusion that can be made is that the Federal artillerymen in the Army of the Frontier were just better at their jobs than their more well-known eastern counterparts.
The Union right under Herron got a beating, mainly because Herron appears to have sent in his troops piecemeal, which let them be torn up by superior Confederate numbers. Even though Hindman stole a march on his foes, the Union General Blunt attacked just in time to give Herron aid, much of which came from the artillery. Both sides were awed by the ferocity of the artillery attack, and listeners reported that they could hear it forty miles away from the battlefield. It appears that Franz Sigel should not be given quite so much credit for the artillery work at Pea Ridge, since he wasn't here at Prairie Grove, yet the artillery still fought very well without him. The battle was essentially a tie, although Hindman had to withdraw to avoid being starved out.
The book is a solid piece of work, although not quite up to the standards of the author's book about Pea Ridge. I think the author was hampered by a lack of available primary sources for Prairie Grove. A battle between small forces means small numbers of men participated in the battle, and that means fewer memoirs and letters were written afterwards compared to other, larger engagements.
November 5, 2009
I had only the vaguest sense of this Civil War battle when I acquired this book. However, after having read it, the authors convinced me of the importance of what was, in essence, a drawn battle on the field--but a strategic Union victory when one saw the bigger picture. Why is the fight so little known? It was one of those Trans-Mississippi battles, and that portion of the Civil War has not been covered well. Key battles such as Wilson's Creek, Elkhorn Tavern (Pea Ridge), and Prairie Grove receive less attention than action east of the Mississippi. To some extent, this makes sense. The scale of the Civil War west of the Mississippi was, simply, less than that east of the river.
Key characters in this campaign. . . . On the Confederate side, General Thomas Hindman created an army from nothing. The prior Trans-Mississippi forces had gone to the east and been absorbed into Confederate forces there. His superior? The lackluster Theophilus Holmes. On the Union side, the key operational commanders were Generals Blunt, Herron, and Huston.
The book features maps, although many of these are rather crude and do not convey the information that I would prefer. But they do give a sense of the terrain. The book describes the crazy quilt marches and countermarches (especially on the Union side) and skirmishes and modest battles that exhausted the foot soldiers. The end result was that Union forces were scattered. Blunt's Division was in Northwestern Arkansas; the other two Union divisions were some distance away. Hindman's forces were in a position to strike Blunt's isolated division and clear Arkansas of Union troops. As the northern forces began to understand the danger, there was a call to link up the scattered divisions.
Once Hindman understood that a convergence of forces was underway, he decided to intercept the two divisions coming south, defeat them, and then turn against Blunt's forces, whipping the Union army in detail. A fine plan--but one that did not work as planned. Herron and Huston attacked Hindman's troop at Prairie Grove. The attack fizzled; however, by then Blunt had arrived. His attacks on Hindman's well developed defensive position also fizzled.
However, the Confederates were short on food, ammunition, and other supplies, and withdrew. Even though they had acquitted themselves, they had to retreat, leading to the strategic victory of Union forces.
Many nice details emerge from this book: Union General Schofield's pouting and sulking; the subtle battle between Hindman and Holmes; the almost unbelievable endurance of northern forces to come to the aid of Blunt in a timely fashion; the heroism of the common soldier on both sides.
I'm convinced. This was an important fight in the Trans-Mississippi. William Shea's book is a fine addition to my Civil War library.
Key characters in this campaign. . . . On the Confederate side, General Thomas Hindman created an army from nothing. The prior Trans-Mississippi forces had gone to the east and been absorbed into Confederate forces there. His superior? The lackluster Theophilus Holmes. On the Union side, the key operational commanders were Generals Blunt, Herron, and Huston.
The book features maps, although many of these are rather crude and do not convey the information that I would prefer. But they do give a sense of the terrain. The book describes the crazy quilt marches and countermarches (especially on the Union side) and skirmishes and modest battles that exhausted the foot soldiers. The end result was that Union forces were scattered. Blunt's Division was in Northwestern Arkansas; the other two Union divisions were some distance away. Hindman's forces were in a position to strike Blunt's isolated division and clear Arkansas of Union troops. As the northern forces began to understand the danger, there was a call to link up the scattered divisions.
Once Hindman understood that a convergence of forces was underway, he decided to intercept the two divisions coming south, defeat them, and then turn against Blunt's forces, whipping the Union army in detail. A fine plan--but one that did not work as planned. Herron and Huston attacked Hindman's troop at Prairie Grove. The attack fizzled; however, by then Blunt had arrived. His attacks on Hindman's well developed defensive position also fizzled.
However, the Confederates were short on food, ammunition, and other supplies, and withdrew. Even though they had acquitted themselves, they had to retreat, leading to the strategic victory of Union forces.
Many nice details emerge from this book: Union General Schofield's pouting and sulking; the subtle battle between Hindman and Holmes; the almost unbelievable endurance of northern forces to come to the aid of Blunt in a timely fashion; the heroism of the common soldier on both sides.
I'm convinced. This was an important fight in the Trans-Mississippi. William Shea's book is a fine addition to my Civil War library.
May 24, 2012
A very good account of a lesser known battle. It was a very informative and well written book. There is not much written about this battle in many of the popular histories of the war. I was happy to find this book presented me with all the information about the battle and the key events and people involved in it. A very readable account that keeps you interested throughout the narrative. It doesn't get bogged down by too much detail. I would recommend this to the Civil War enthusiast or someone who would like to learn a little more about the war.
May 21, 2020
Another fascinating read about an American Civil War theater relegated to “sideshow” status. Other than a few familiar names (Hindman, Schofield), this campaign introduces a plethora of relatively unknowns. The book itself reads well, and Shea frames the campaign and the importance of the Battle of Prairie Grove quite clearly within the overarching struggle for Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. I had an inherent difficulty in understanding the spatial relationships of locations and units due to my lack of geographic knowledge of the area, but the maps do help. It gets two thumbs up from me, but I don’t think I’d recommend it to the casual ACW reader. This would be great continuation reading for those familiar with the battles of Wilson’s Creek and/or Pea Ridge. I’ve since picked up Shea’s book battlefield tour book which covers this battle.
June 13, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It gives a nice overview of the Prairie Grove Campaign. Mr. Shea did a good job of explaining the objectives each side had before and during the campaign. He also did a fine job of showing each side's blunders. The inclusion of letters and journals of people involved with the campaign also was a nice addition. For anyone wanting an in depth review of one of the lesser know battles of the Civil War, this is the book to read. The only quibbles I have, and they are slight, are the plethora of names and the maps. It was hard for me to keep track of which commanding officer I was reading about, but Mr. Shea does break the chapters down to Confederate and Union sides so if I would have paid a little more attention it would not have been as bad. As for the maps, I wish they were topographical instead of how they are. There are plenty of maps and they have decent detail, but a topo map would have helped me to better visualize the field as I read the book.
March 27, 2024
I knew nothing about the Prairie Grove Campaign of the American Civil War before going into this book. I come out of it feeling underwhelmed. It was not an engaging or interesting read for me and I feel like I would have done fine by simply reading the Wikipedia article rather then devoting time to this book. That may come across as harsh and I don't mean it to be. It was just a very dull book on a completely forgotten Civil War campaign. So 2 stars because the research done for the book was great and I was able to learn a little bit along the way.
November 2, 2019
This book is a sequel to Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West, covering the rest of 1862 in western Arkansas. It's very much in the same style too in terms of writing, maps, and photos. It centers around the Battle of Prairie Grove in December 1862, but it provides a wide treatment of the subject covering the entire campaign as three (mostly new) Union divisions and a new Confederate army move in to fill the void left by the departure of Curtis and Van Dorn in the aftermath of Pea Ridge. About 2/3's of the book covers the one-day battle or the events immediate preceding or following it. The first part of the book covers the many maneuvers and skirmishes in the months preceding the titular battle giving a great deal of context.
The battle plays out a bit differently that I had thought it did. The Union generals made some questionable decisions, albeit from incomplete information, and the power of Union artillery was a deciding factor. The Confederates suffered from a lack of active leadership during the battle. Looming over all of this, on both sides, were logistical issues that were likewise present during the Pea Ridge Campaign. Trying to supply armies, even small ones, in the Ozarks in 1862 was a nightmare and both armies suffered as a result.
I would have liked the book to cover in more detail is the partial disintegration of Hindman's Confederate army in the weeks following the battle. The problems with desertions are mentioned but not as much detail as I would have liked. I think Hindman's march from Fort Smith to Little Rock which culminated in his departure from the theater also warranted more detail. Shea notes the questionable casualty reports by the Confederates, but doesn't offer his own conclusions about the actual casualities.
A very good followup to its predecessor; if you liked that this is a must read. I'd recommend it in general to any Civil War buffs.
The battle plays out a bit differently that I had thought it did. The Union generals made some questionable decisions, albeit from incomplete information, and the power of Union artillery was a deciding factor. The Confederates suffered from a lack of active leadership during the battle. Looming over all of this, on both sides, were logistical issues that were likewise present during the Pea Ridge Campaign. Trying to supply armies, even small ones, in the Ozarks in 1862 was a nightmare and both armies suffered as a result.
I would have liked the book to cover in more detail is the partial disintegration of Hindman's Confederate army in the weeks following the battle. The problems with desertions are mentioned but not as much detail as I would have liked. I think Hindman's march from Fort Smith to Little Rock which culminated in his departure from the theater also warranted more detail. Shea notes the questionable casualty reports by the Confederates, but doesn't offer his own conclusions about the actual casualities.
A very good followup to its predecessor; if you liked that this is a must read. I'd recommend it in general to any Civil War buffs.
March 4, 2020
While on vacation in Missouri this winter, I had the opportunity to visit the battlefields at Wilson’s Creek, Pea Ridge, and Prairie Grove. Prior to visiting these battlefields (all 3 of which are excellently preserved), I had little knowledge of these battles. When I got home, I determined to read the best books on the 3 battles. This book completes my “trilogy” on those battles.
Like Shea’s book on Pea Ridge, this is an authoritative account of the battle of Prairie Grove and the campaign. The book spends 7 of its 19 chapters on the battle itself.
Although the battle was tactically indecisive, it was a strategic victory for the Union. Prairie Grove was a battle that ensured the safety of Missouri. I highly recommend this book for those wishing to know more about the battle, whether or not you’re familiar with the Trans-Mississippi Theater.
Like Shea’s book on Pea Ridge, this is an authoritative account of the battle of Prairie Grove and the campaign. The book spends 7 of its 19 chapters on the battle itself.
Although the battle was tactically indecisive, it was a strategic victory for the Union. Prairie Grove was a battle that ensured the safety of Missouri. I highly recommend this book for those wishing to know more about the battle, whether or not you’re familiar with the Trans-Mississippi Theater.
December 18, 2019
Very detailed study of the often overlooked Trans-Mississippi battle of Prairie Grove. While the battle may lack name recognition due to location or due to a lack of the most prominent commanders in the war, the battle still featured brutal fighting and consequences for those involved. The book dives into the relationships between various leaders including between the Confederates Hindman and Holmes as well as the senior Federal commanders including Blunt, Herron, Curtis and Schofield. Hindman's strategy to bring about a fight while keeping two Federal forces separated ultimately failed but not before a back and forth struggle, charge and counter-charge across the prairie in a one day battle ended by nightfall. The fighting and movements of the armies are well described, and several maps are included.
December 4, 2020
A comprehensive look at the campaign that marked the last major Confederate offensive in the trans-Mississippi. From the early maneuverings and skirmishes between Confederate and Union forces in October of 1862, to the climactic battle of December 7th, to the Union raid on Van Buren at the end of the year, the book covers the complete campaign.
Little known outside of the region where it was fought, the Battle of Prairie Grove was an important event in the history of the trans-Mississippi theater, helping to further secure Missouri for the Union after the victory at Pea Ridge earlier in the year.
Well worth the read for anyone interested in the history of the US Civil War.
Little known outside of the region where it was fought, the Battle of Prairie Grove was an important event in the history of the trans-Mississippi theater, helping to further secure Missouri for the Union after the victory at Pea Ridge earlier in the year.
Well worth the read for anyone interested in the history of the US Civil War.
January 4, 2023
Excellent overview with excruciating detail. Barefoot soldiers marching over the rugged Boston Mountains in 20 degree weather to face each other with carbines and cannon. Could it ever be more shocking to learn how men fight their wars? Much to be learned here about this forgotten chapter of Civil War history and about Northwest Arkansas. Shea shows his history chops down to the last word.
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October 18, 2016This is a very good narrative about the Arkansas campaigns in the Civil War. My neighbor's great grandfather was a regimental commander so he has the book and lent it to me. I commend it to others that make a study of the Civil War. It is comprehensive, thorough, and supported by research worhty of the better known campaigns you've read about. There is enriching detail and there are more relevant maps within the exposition than I am used to seeing- almost enough for my taste and interest (you really have to know the ground to fully appreciate the narrative).
August 27, 2017
Solid book on a lesser known campaign. Shea's style is a bit too dry for me but he is very fair in his analysis. The level of detail here is extreme.
September 18, 2021
Excellent.
June 25, 2026
I encourage anyone interested in the Civil War to take a deeper look at the Trans-Mississippi theater. Lots of amazing campaigns, battles, leaders , and of course the rough-hewn solders and civilians that bore the brunt of it all. I have found it fascinating, with the added benefit of discovering some really excellent books and authors that have done their best to bring these stories to readers.
William Shea’s volume on Prairie Grove is a great example of this. The author brings passion for the subject along with a singular talent for writing straight-forward and entertaining prose that gets to the heart of the matter. Learning about Hindman’s attempt to rebuild the department after the failure of Pea Ridge, and how his lunges back towards Missouri eventually fell apart in the face of varied (if not fully coordinated) resistance from Curtis, Scofield, Herron, and Blunt helped me see how this battle truly ended and realistic hope for Confederate success West of the Mississippi (and set the conditions for the last gasp of Price’s raid).
A great book about an overlooked and unique battle!
William Shea’s volume on Prairie Grove is a great example of this. The author brings passion for the subject along with a singular talent for writing straight-forward and entertaining prose that gets to the heart of the matter. Learning about Hindman’s attempt to rebuild the department after the failure of Pea Ridge, and how his lunges back towards Missouri eventually fell apart in the face of varied (if not fully coordinated) resistance from Curtis, Scofield, Herron, and Blunt helped me see how this battle truly ended and realistic hope for Confederate success West of the Mississippi (and set the conditions for the last gasp of Price’s raid).
A great book about an overlooked and unique battle!
December 4, 2013
Unlike the last book I read on a key battle of the Trans-Mississippi campaign - Through the Howling Wilderness: The 1864 Red River Campaign and Union Failure in the West - Fields of Blood was exceptionally well-written. The author, William Shea, had already excelled in his account of Pea Ridge in Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West so the story of the Prairie Grove campaign was an obvious follow-up for someone who clearly knows his Arkansas Civil War.
Fields of Blood is how a campaign/battle book should be written: Motivation for the campaign from both sides, detailed portraits of the key commanders - especially the political machinations they indulged in to promote their own interests in advancement within their respective armies, maps for every chapter so you can follow the movements and engagements, descriptions of the marching, skirmishing, fighting, and aftermath all told with first hand accounts, and delivery (with photos) of a sense of the terrain upon which the campaign was fought - useful for me as I have never been to the Ozark Plateau or Boston Mountains.
This is in no way a specialist book and can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys Stephen Sears' or Peter Cozzens' style of writing.
Unlike books that focus most of their attention on a single battle, this is more of a campaign book that is punctuated by a fierce fight - a battle mutually agreed by both sides to be forever labeled as "Prairie Grove". As such, because the campaign involved perhaps 20,000 men (Rebels/Federals combined), you get a good sense of the day-to-day -- marching, more marching, reconnaissance, logistics, and eventually leading to a well-planned (though not well-executed) attempt by Hindman, the Confederate commander to defeat the Union army in detail.
Of course, in the grand scheme of things, what happened in NW Arkansas wasn't going to determine the outcome of the Civil War, but if you're interested in the progression of Wilson's Creek to Pea Ridge to its aftermath in 1862, this is the book for you.
Heartily recommended for the Civil War buff.
Fields of Blood is how a campaign/battle book should be written: Motivation for the campaign from both sides, detailed portraits of the key commanders - especially the political machinations they indulged in to promote their own interests in advancement within their respective armies, maps for every chapter so you can follow the movements and engagements, descriptions of the marching, skirmishing, fighting, and aftermath all told with first hand accounts, and delivery (with photos) of a sense of the terrain upon which the campaign was fought - useful for me as I have never been to the Ozark Plateau or Boston Mountains.
This is in no way a specialist book and can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys Stephen Sears' or Peter Cozzens' style of writing.
Unlike books that focus most of their attention on a single battle, this is more of a campaign book that is punctuated by a fierce fight - a battle mutually agreed by both sides to be forever labeled as "Prairie Grove". As such, because the campaign involved perhaps 20,000 men (Rebels/Federals combined), you get a good sense of the day-to-day -- marching, more marching, reconnaissance, logistics, and eventually leading to a well-planned (though not well-executed) attempt by Hindman, the Confederate commander to defeat the Union army in detail.
Of course, in the grand scheme of things, what happened in NW Arkansas wasn't going to determine the outcome of the Civil War, but if you're interested in the progression of Wilson's Creek to Pea Ridge to its aftermath in 1862, this is the book for you.
Heartily recommended for the Civil War buff.
September 10, 2016
Just finished the audiobook of this (unabridged) and i must say it was a surprise . I had always assumed that prairie grove was an overblown skirmish between irregulars but in fact it was a full on military campaign and as hard fought as any.
Hindman raised an army from literally nothing once van dorn had departed with the remnants of the army of the west and in a feat of organisation seldom equalled set out to retake missouri for the confederacy. After initial routs at old fort wayne and cane hill he finally out manouevred the dashing union cavalryman Blunt and got into a central position between his separated divisions.
Once there however it was the old story .. none of the commanders actually commanded and instead of attacking his division commander went into defence, suicidal union assaults with casualties of over 50% followed , but nicely served union artillery shredded the confederate counterattacks . Once again command and control on both sides fell apart on the battlefield. The last major battle west of the mississippi was a gore stained standoff with incredible heroism by both sides.
Well written with lots of personal accounts and detailed tactical explanations ..I really enjoyed this one and i think you will find your cash well spent on this (or get it from your library) ..enjoy.
Hindman raised an army from literally nothing once van dorn had departed with the remnants of the army of the west and in a feat of organisation seldom equalled set out to retake missouri for the confederacy. After initial routs at old fort wayne and cane hill he finally out manouevred the dashing union cavalryman Blunt and got into a central position between his separated divisions.
Once there however it was the old story .. none of the commanders actually commanded and instead of attacking his division commander went into defence, suicidal union assaults with casualties of over 50% followed , but nicely served union artillery shredded the confederate counterattacks . Once again command and control on both sides fell apart on the battlefield. The last major battle west of the mississippi was a gore stained standoff with incredible heroism by both sides.
Well written with lots of personal accounts and detailed tactical explanations ..I really enjoyed this one and i think you will find your cash well spent on this (or get it from your library) ..enjoy.
July 15, 2020
All in all, this is a very good examination of the battle that shutdown the Confederacy's final hope of reentering Missouri and retaining Arkansas; this being the last of Richmond's 1862 counter-attacks. The problem for Thomas Hindman's Army of the Trans-Mississippi is that it was at the very end of its logistical tether when it met the Union Army of the Frontier. This meant that even though Hindman arguably won a tactical victory, he had no choice but to vacate the field immediately; that this battle didn't count for more is a commentary on Hindman losing his nerve and not sticking with his original plan, as he was in a position to beat the divided Union force in detail. That the Union commanders on the spot, James Blunt & Francis Herron, aren't better known is possibly a commentary on the intrigues of John Schofield, the nominal commander of the Union field force, as he managed not to reach the field of battle before the contest was decided and resented his subordinates getting their 15 minutes of glory. Then again, both of these Union and Confederate armies pretty much evaporated after this battle; there being bigger fights for which their troops were needed.
Originally written: July 15, 2020.
Originally written: July 15, 2020.
January 18, 2016
A well done look at a little know but important battlefield in the trans-Mississippi during the U.S. Civil War. Shea describes the battle of Prairie Grove in NW Arkansas which sealed the fate of the Confederacy in the trans-Mississippi. He now only describes the battle in detail, but sets the scene of why and how it came about and who were the protagonists both leaders and soldiers.
It is one of the better battle histories of the Civil War.
It is one of the better battle histories of the Civil War.
October 6, 2015
Battle histories are notoriously difficult to read and can often become bogged down in detail. Shea does a good job of flushing out characters and keeping the narrative moving. Extremely well researched.
March 12, 2010
Overall, a well-written and often-gripping historical account of this campaign in the American Civil War.
March 19, 2011
A fantastic and long overdue work on one of the Arkansas campaigns.
November 21, 2017
Battlefield visit September 2023!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews