Information obtained & copied from the "Self-Guided Driving Tour of the Prairie Grove Battlefield" provided by the Arkansas State Parks Division at the Visitor's Center.

Erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy 1924.
Dedicated to the Soldiers of 1861-1865 1917-1918

Hindman Hall Museum

A bequest by Biscoe Hindman, son of General Thomas C. Hindman who commanded Confederate forces during the Battle of Prairie Grove, provided the $100,000 to establish on the Battlefield a "Suitable Memorial" to his father and the brave men and officers who fought in that Battle. 1965.

General Thomas C. Hindman

As part of the Hindman bequest & memorial, this painting & the above statue must be located in public view at the Hindman Museum.

General Thomas C. Hindman

March of the Armies
December 3 - 7, 1862

General Hindman on the Arkansas River planned to drive General Blunt's Federal Army out of northwest Arkansas. The Confederate Army left Van Buren on December 3. Enroute north, Hindman learned that Blunt had called for help from General Herron at Wilson's Creek, Mo., and that the latter was already on the march. Hindman decided to bypass Blunt at Cane Hill and march to intercept Herron. Herron's army made a forced march of 100 miles in 3 days and ran into the Confederate advance early on the morning of Sunday, December 7. The Confederates established themselves on this ridge, facing northeast. Herron crossed the Illinois River and attacked. Meanwhile Blunt at Can Hill learned that the Confederate Army has bypassed him, so he marched his army to Rhea's Mill, then approached the battle from the northwest, arriving on the field at 2 P.m. Darkness finally halted the bitterly fought battle. During the night, Hindman's Army, low on supplies and ammunition, withdrew south to Van Buren.

Stop #1
Shoup Chooses the Position

Confederate infantry marched up the road to the left and arrived in time to hear the Southern cavalry skirmishing with General Herron's Federals at Walnut Grove (about two miles east of here). General Francis A. Shoup decided to deploy his division along the ridge from the road to beyond the Borden house east of this location. Upon arriving General Hindman approved the disposition, noting the position was "an exceedingly strong one." Dr. Hugh Rogers' house sat across the road northwest of here.