PRAIRIE GROVE — Soldiers in blue and gray wool built smoky fires and readied artillery to face off at the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park on Saturday and Sunday. While many of the spectators wrapped in blankets agreed the overcast 40-degree weather was chilly, the December morning was mild compared to the cold that the Union and Confederate soldiers fought in 148 years ago on the same site.

“Historians estimate it was about 16 degrees,” said Chuck Shiver, commanding officer of Prairie Grove’s Thomas C. Hindman Camp. “And we have to remember that one in five Confederate troops didn’t have winter gear.”

Gravette resident Matt Paul arrived on Saturday too late to catch the day’s fighting.Though he missed the action as a spectator, he was quickly recruited to support the Confederate cause, fighting with the Fourth Missouri Company out of southwest Missouri. Private Paul arrived at the camp commanded by Scott George. He was equipped with a grey wool uniform, a replica musket and other historically accurate gear.

“Parts were actually a lot like I remember from my time in the Army,” Paul said. “At seven in the morning we were standing around, waiting for orders, trying to stay warm.” The Fourth Missouri Company spent the morning running through drills, practicing loading black powder weapons and discussing their battle formations.

Finally, at one in the afternoon, the group assembled and, with a collection of other companies including the Northwest15th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment whose members are from northwest Arkansas, west central Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, the Confederate soldiers marched down a steep hill where they met Union soldiers in the wide field dominating the north of the state park. After exchanging booming cannon fire and musket rounds, the Confederate troops retreated back up the hill. Finally, the Confederate soldiers won out in a close-range gun battle, forcing the Union soldiers to retreat back down the hill.

The guns and cannons were not loaded with live shot, but the historical lessons hit the mark.

“With my military training, it was really hard to fight that way,” said Paul as he stripped off layers of wool after the battle. “We were so close to the enemy and we were so vulnerable. I can’t imagine fighting that way now.It’s really amazing how much tactics have changed.”

He also expressed a greater appreciation for the soldiers who carried the heavy muskets and breathed in black gunpowder day after day.

Many reenactment groups are recruiting participants for the 150 year anniversary of the Civil War, which begins next year. For more information on joining the Northwest 15th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment, contact Jim Morris at jcmori@pgtc or call 479-824-3616.

To join the Fourth Missouri Company out of southwest Missouri and to learn about their upcoming Grande Ball, contact Captain Daniel Keith at 471-777-2296.

Gravette resident Matt Paul joined the Fourth Missouri Company at the 148th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Prairie Grove.

News, Pages 2 on 12/08/2010