Late in 1862, Maj Gen Thomas Hindman gathered a Southern conscript force of 20,000 Arkansans, Texans and Missourians and resolved to attack Schofield occupying Missouri. Having retired his soldiers to winter quarters, Schofield fell ill, leaving one of his divisions in Arkansas under Blunt, and his remaining two divisions at Springfield in Missouri under Herron.

Hindman decided to attack them while separate, and moved against Blunt through the Boston Mountains. Blunt gather rumours indicating an imminent attack so called for help, and Herron's divisions rushed 110 miles in 3 days to assist. In the end Hindman flanked the single union division at Cane Hill and dug in at the hill top village of Prarie Grove on the Fayetteville pike. Herrons attacks and Hindman's counter attacks were successively repulsed for 5 hours, neither side giving ground till Blunts forces, having heard the battle behind them came to the relief and hit the Confederates in the flank although still making little ground.
Darkness brought an end to the battle, and Hindman being outnumbered, retired.

The village of Prarie Grove south of Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA (USA)