 |
The Battle
of Prairie Grove |
The Price in Blood!
December the 7th, 1862, will long be remembered especially by those of us who lived
here and witnessed the battle of Prairie Grove. It was a beautiful, cold, frosty Sunday
morning.... About 10 o'clock the cannonading began and about noon war began
in earnest. When it seemed everyone would be killed.
--Mrs. Julia West Pyeatt
Witness to the Battle of Prairie Grove, as a child
here and witnessed the battle of Prairie Grove. It was a beautiful, cold, frosty Sunday
morning.... About 10 o'clock the cannonading began and about noon war began
in earnest. When it seemed everyone would be killed.
--Mrs. Julia West Pyeatt
Witness to the Battle of Prairie Grove, as a child
Julia
West was fourteen years old when she viewed the carnage and destruction
of the battle at Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Yet, the images of that day
and those that followed were vividly etched in her memory forever. She
was not the only young spectator at the battle, but she did have one of
the best views of the conflict.
 Part of the Prairie Grove Battlefield today |
Looking south from her home on West Hill, Julia saw the splendor and horror of battle when the men of the Union Army met the Confederate Army. The southern troops waited on top of the heavily-wooded Prairie Grove ridge stretching from the large yellow two-story Borden House on the east end to the small log Morton House on the west end of the ridge. The only rebels visible were those in the clearings around the homes. Yankees advanced across open corn, wheat, and hay fields in the valley to face the Southern Enemy. The bloody battle lasted all day. |
The Battle of Prairie Grove was practically forgotten, even though it was one of the few Union victories in 1862. Larger and bloodier Civil War battles dominated conversations in the North and South.
However,
the families in Prairie Grove would forever remember the images of
December 7th and the days that followed. Not only did they witness the
horror of the battle as it raged across their property, but they
endured the subsequent harassment and raiding by Union troops and
Confederate bushwhackers.While none of the original houses remain, the valley fields continue to produce hay and wheat. Descendants of the West family still live on their hill. On the east end of the ridge stands the second Borden House; built in 1868 to replace the one burned the day after the battle. Only memories remain as testament to a battle and the "Price in Blood" that changed many families' lives forever.
"The Price in Blood" - Eyewitness Accounts: What was the battle really like? Read these real eyewitness accounts
| - Eyewitness Account #1 - Eyewitness Account #2 - Eyewitness Account #3 |
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Now lets see how costly other Battles were in the Civil War.
"The Price in Blood" - Bloody Battles: The Battle of Prairie Grove was just one of many battles in American Civil War. About 700,000 Americans died in the Civil War. And that number doesn't even include wounded and missing. These casualties exceed our nation's loss in all its other wars, from the Revolution through Vietnam.
1. In a small group you will explore one of the top 10 mostly bloody Civil War battles. Your group will use its' findings to make a Powerpoint slide show and turn it into a web site. (when you are finished do a Save As Web Page) That way other kids can see what you know about the Civil War. The battles are listed below.
2. Your Powerpoint slide show must have at least nine slides with the tiles listed below and Each slide must have a picture that relate to the slide topic.
- Battle's Name
- Battle's Location
- Confederate Commander
- Union Commander
- Number of Confederate Troops
- Number of Union Troops
- Which Side Won
- How Many Casualties Were There
- Credits - Your Group Members Names
Now select one battle for your group to explore in more detail. Make sure you have the battle your group selects approved by your teacher before starting to explore.