Holmes, Hindman and Herron

On this date in 1862, Theophilus H. Holmes replaced Confederate Major General Thomas Hindman as commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department, Holmes, a friend of President Jefferson Davis, in October was promoted to lieutenant general, despite his lack of significant achievements in the current war.
Holmes made what seemed like the sensible decision to leave Hindman -- a generation younger -- in field command. Hindman was a longtime friend of another Confederate general, Patrick Cleburne, but while he shared the latter's energy and commitment, he lacked his military genius.
In early December, Hindman moved against James Blunt's Union division in northwestern Arkansas, which was reinforced by another division commanded by a brigadier general, Francis Herron. It was Herron's men who did most of the marching, fighting and dying on the federal side at the subsequent Battle of Prairie Grove. This was the 25-year-old Herron's third major battle, after Wilson's Creek in southwestern Missouri in 1861, and Pea Ridge over the Arkansas line in March 1862. The two Arkansas battles were Union victories.
Blunt and Herron next captured Van Buren, Ark., on Dec. 28, 1862, before ending the campaign. In 1863, Herron joined the siege of Vicksburg on the Mississippi, serving under Grant.
 The historical marker pictured above perhaps should have mentioned that Union victories in Arkansas helped US forces capture Vicksburg and Port Hudson, the last Confederate bases on the Mississippi, in July 1863.
 Herron is a major character in The Last Circle of Ulysses Grant.