Prairie Grove in Washington County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Lieutenant Colonel John C. Black

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 30, 2010

1. Lieutenant Colonel John C. Black Marker

Under the portrait is the caption, Lt. Col. Black received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at Prairie Grove.

Inscription. Lieutenant Colonel John C. Black, 37th Illinois Infantry, ordered the retreat of his regiment and the 26th Indiana to a fence at the foot of the ridge. There, the men faced a Confederate counterattack. Captain William P. Black, brother of Lieutenant Colonel Black, wrote his mother about what happened next:
"...we had the rebels now just where we had always wanted them, on level clear ground, and we felt now was an hour of vengeance. The regiment rose as one, and poured in a volley...which stopped the rebel pursuit...Our [Colt] revolving rifles kept playing and one and another fell, and one and another fled into the woods whence they came." (Marker Number 9.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 35° 59.162′ N, 94° 18.324′ W. Marker is in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, in Washington County. Marker can be reached from Park Tour Road, on the right when traveling east. Located on the walking trail at stop four, the Borden House, of Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Prairie Grove AR 72753, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Dead of Prairie Grove (within shouting distance of this marker); 26th Indiana and 37th Illinois Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker);

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Herron's Attack (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Blocher's Arkansas Battery (about 300 feet away); Archibald Borden House (about 400 feet away); 29th Arkansas Infantry (about 400 feet away); The Borden House / The Legacy of Prairie Grove (about 500 feet away); The Lord's Vineyard (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Prairie Grove.

Also see . . .
1. Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. (Submitted on September 7, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. John C. Black. Find-a-grave entry for Black. After the war, he had a successful career as a lawyer and was elected to Congress. (Submitted on September 7, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 30, 2010

2. Lieutenant Colonel John C. Black Marker

Second Position of the 37th Illinois image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, August 30, 2010

3. Second Position of the 37th Illinois

Falling back from the Borden House (on the left) and past the position of Blocher's artillery battery (represented by the cannon), the 37th Illinois took position along a fence line to fend off a Confederate counterattack.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 900 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 7, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.