Camp Roberts Tactical 2008
The Prairie Grove Campaign

For the soldiers in the Trans-Mississippi, the upcoming Fall would bring a storm of violence and deadly struggle for the control of northwest Arkansas.

With a victory earlier in the year at Pea Ridge and his Army of the Frontier strongly in place in and around Springfield, Missouri, Union General Samuel Curtis felt that now was the opportunity to clear the southwest portion of Missouri free of any remaining confederates and invade northern Arkansas, with the prize being the capture of Little Rock.

General Curtis would delegate his plans to his subordinate General Schoefield who was currently stationed at Springfield, MO. The campaign to invade Arkansas would fall upon Schofield’s two subordinates, Generals Herron and Blunt. Herron would remain at Springfield in reserve while Blunt would march south into the hostile territory of Arkansas.

Confederate Commander General Hindman of the First Corps, Trans-Mississippi Army, upon hearing news of the Federal movement south, acted swiftly and prepared his troops, who had been in camp near Ft. Smith Arkansas, for a probe into northwest Arkansas to destroy the Federal Army and clear the way for an invasion into Missouri.

For Mitchell’s Battalion (8th MO) the month of October had been harsh on the Missourians. With cold weather, poorly equipped and supplied, the Missourians broke camp on Oct. 27, 1862 in Randolph County, Ark. and prepared for their trek west towards Ft. Smith to join up with the main Confederate Army. On Nov. 13, 1862, Capt. Pinnell of Co. D. notes in his journal “I had at Camp Hardee (Randolph Co., Ark) ninety seven men. I now have fifty four”. The march to Ft. Smith would prove to be one of many miles and hardships for the Missourians. On Nov. 19, 1862 Mitchell’s Battalion makes camp at Horsehead Creek where they found two battalions of unarmed troops, mostly Missourians camped in log huts. Horsehead Creek had become the recruiting camp for Missourians who were able to flee their state and enlist for the Confederate Cause.

On Nov. 28, 1862 Mitchell’s battalion crossed the Arkansas River, marking the beginning movement of Hindman’s Army north to crush the advancing Union Army. On Dec. 2, 1862 Capt. Pinnell makes note “the report that Col. Marmaduke lately engaged the enemy near Cane Hill has been confirmed. What Gen’l Hindman’s intentions are I know not, but predict that he will move upon to attack Blunt.”

Dates:
January 18th, 19th, & 20th, 2008

Location:
From the North or South, take highway 101 to the Camp Roberts National Guard Base. Camp Roberts is approximately nine miles north of Paso Robles on Hwy. 101

Fees:
Fees and Registration Information will be posted soon

Guiding Impressions:

US:
20th Iowa Infantry
For Federal Registration, contact:
Lance Willis
(831) 623-2361 after 6:00 pm
or e-mail: lhpardz@sbcglobal.net

CS:
8th Missouri Infantry
(Mitchell’s Missouri Battalion)
For Confederate Registration, contact:
Bill Treadway
(805) 338-1627
or e-mail: treadwayhome@gmail.com

CIVILIAN
Civilian Registration, contact:
Barb McCreary
(909) 397-5191
e-mail: stnpride1@msn.com
CLICK HERE FOR CIVILIAN IMPRESSION

Event Website:
http://www.Oaktac.com

Site hosted by 1st Texas Infantry Co. A
http://www.firsttexasinfantry.com