$Herron <FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>HDQTRS, Herron's Corps <FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Northwest Arkansas
1:00 p.m., December 7th, 1862
<FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>General Herron
      Our approach to the ridge has revealed more of the enemy's position.  A battery to our front is within easy striking distance, should I order an attack upon this position sir?  
      We just received a courier message that General Blunt's division is moving this way having heard the sound of our guns.  His division should arrive by mid-afternoon unless they meet enemy resistance.
 
<FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Respectfully,
Major William H Miller 
Adjutant 3rd Division, Army of the Frontier
//
$Herron2 <FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>HDQTRS, Herron's Corps <FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Northwest Arkansas
2:30 p.m., December 7th, 1862
<FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>General Herron
      General Blunt's division has arrived on the field.  He is presently moving south down the west valley and will form a battleline along the enemy's left flank where he will await further orders.
 
<FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Respectfully,
Major William H Miller 
Adjutant 3rd Division, Army of the Frontier
//
$EndMajorFail <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and suffered a major defeat.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office, but an anonymous source was quoted as saying, "An inquiry will be forthcoming, as certain officers should be removed from command immediately."  The flower of our youth has died on the field of battle.  A retreat is probable.  We must be prepared for the worst.  Heavy casualty lists are to follow...
//
//
//
$EndMinorFail <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and suffered a minor defeat.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues.  A retreat is possible.  We must be prepared for the worst.  Casualty lists are to follow...
//
//
//
$EndDraw <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>A battle in the West was fought in northwestern ARKANSAS today.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues, but victory or defeat is still unknown.  We wish good fortune to the troops on that faraway field, and as always we must be prepared for the worst.  Casualty lists are to follow...
//
//
//
$EndMinorSuccess <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and achieved a minor victory.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues, but there is a long road to march before we see the end to this struggle.  Casualty lists are to follow...
//
//
//
$EndMajorSuccess <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and achieved a major victory.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues, but there is a long road to march before we see the end to this struggle.  Casualty lists are to follow...
//
//
//
$EndKilled <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>Today our side lost another valiant officer at the Battle of Prairie Grove, in ARKANSAS.  
Brigadier General Francis J. Herron, 
...attended the Western University of Pennsylvania, but left at the age of sixteen without completing his degree to become a bank clerk. In 1855, he joined his three brothers in Dubuque, Iowa, where they established a bank. In 1859, he organized and was elected captain of a militia company known as the "Governor's Grays," which Herron offered to President-elect Abraham Lincoln in January 1861, two months prior to Lincoln's inauguration.
In April 1861, Herron was appointed captain of the 1st Iowa Volunteer Regiment. He served with Nathaniel Lyon's forces in Missouri, participating in the battles of Boonville and Wilson's Creek. In August, Herron was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 9th Iowa Volunteer Regiment and fought in the battle of Pea Ridge, where he was wounded and taken prisoner, but exchanged shortly afterwards. He received a promotion to brigadier general of volunteers for his actions in this battle, and later received the Medal of Honor. He commanded both the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the Army of the Frontier and made a forced march of 114 miles (183 km) in three days to join James G. Blunt's division in western Arkansas. Herron's and Blunt's combined command engaged Thomas C. Hindman in the battle of Prairie Grove and forced the Confederates to abandon western Arkansas. For his actions at Prairie Grove, Herron was appointed major general of volunteers, becoming the youngest major general on either side at the time of his promotion.

//
$BattleInfo <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>On Dec. 7, 1862, 
Union forces from the Army of the Frontier and Confederates from the newly formed Army of the Trans-Mississippi clashed on the open corn, wheat, and hay fields southwest of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The opposing forces had previously fought several minor engagements in Missouri and Arkansas. The battle opened with Confederate cavalry routing some Union cavalry a few miles south of the Prairie Grove Church. The southerners lined up along the Prairie Grove ridge, stretching from the Borden House to the Morton House. There they repelled two bloody attacks by Brig. Gen. Francis J. Herron's Federal troops who had just crossed the Illinois River from the north. The Confederates counterattacked after each Union assault, only to be thrown back by the Union cannons on the north side of the Borden cornfield, which devastated the rebel regiments as they came out of the woods into the open farm fields in the valley. About 2:30 p.m., Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt's Federal troops arrived from Cane Hill and attacked the Confederates on the western end of the ridge near the Morton House. This fighting continued until dark with no advantage gained by either side. - See more at: http://thomaslegion.net/thebattleofprairiegrovesettingthestage.html#sthash.wi7CmJaE.dpuf
//
//