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(3-99) Herron's Attack, looking north. Site Marker: From this spot the observer is viewing the fields over which General F. J. Herron's army advanced on the morning of December 7, 1862, to attack the Confederate position on this ridge. Because the ford of the Illinois River was under artillery fire, Herron crossed northwest of the ford, or almost directly north of this sot. His army consisted of troops from Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Arkansas. Herron's divisions bore the brunt of the battle until 2 P.M., when Blunt's army came to his aid. Blunt's army entered the battle one mile west of this spot. |
(3-99) Blocher's Arkansas Battery. Tour Guide: The four bronze cannons in Blocher's Arkansas Battery attracted the attention of General Herron who ordered that they be taken. The 20th Wisconsin charged up the hill and captured them, before being driven back by a superior Confederate force |
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(7-02) Same scene 3 1/2 years later |
(3-99) Borden House, looking east. Tour Guide: The Borden House Sector. Some of the heaviest fighting of the day took place around this house and the orchard to the south. Archibald Borden, a prosperous farmer, owned most of the fields within a 1/2-mile radius of the house. Before the Civil War, he served as Postmaster of the Ada Post Office. The house which stood here during the battle was burned sometime during the war. Borden built the present structure, a close copy of the original, around 1867. Confederate snipers hid in the upstairs windows during the battle. Early in the fighting, Brig. Gen. Jo Shelby's Missourians were stationed in this area. Among their numbers was the later infamous outlaw, Frank James. Capt. William Blocher's Arkansas battery was positioned about 50 yards east of the house. Herron's infantry swarmed up the ridge from the north and northeast, overrunning the house and battery but were halted near the southern edge of the orchard by massed fire from Shelby's and Fagan's brigades. In the seesaw fighting, the house changed hands several times. After the battle, Herron reported 250 dead within a 100-yard radius of the house and ground around Blocher's batter was said to be "muddy with blood." |
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(7-02) Borden House,
looking west |
(3-99) Borden House, looking west |
