Confederate General Hindman's First Corps of the Trans Mississippi attempted to destroy the two Union divisions of Generals Blunt and Herron near Fayetteville Arkansas. Hindman placed his forces between the two Union commands and had initial success against Herron's cavalry; after which, Hindman made a stand North East of Prairie Grove church. Herron made an aggressive effort with four small regiments to push the Confederates off the ridge but was repulsed twice. Herron then brought several batteries of rifled guns across the Illinois River and an artillery duel ensued. The short-range Confederate cannon could not hold their own against the superior Union guns. All of the Confederate batteries (approx 20 guns) were destroyed or withdrawn from the field. However, Hindman saw an opportunity to envelope the Federals although the attack was poorly coordinated and slow in developing. Nevertheless, the confederates were close to routing Herron with superior numbers when General Blunt arrived with his force and attacked the Confederate left flank. At night fall the battle stalled and the outcome was a stalemate. General Hindman, with his trains far to the rear, his men out of food and very low on ammunition, was forced to fall back on his base at Van Buren, Arkansas.

Their first action was with Fagan's Brigade at Prairie Grove: armed with 1853 Enfield rifles, they held off the attack of a small faction from Herron's Division. It is unclear whether or not the 34th participated in the bloody counter attack that afternoon where the superior Federal batteries of rifled guns (by that time the Confederate batteries had all been destroyed or withdrawn) proved more than the unsupported Confederates could bear. That night, the 7th of December, 1862, Hindman fell back through the Boston Mountains to Van Buren.

The 34th also participated in the defense of Little Rock, 10 September 1863; at Jenkins Ferry, 30 April, 1864, in the aftermath of the Red River Campaign; at Helena, July 4, 1863; and Ivey's Ford, 17 January, 1865, a hollow victory for Colonel Brook's regiment.

*Note: The 34th Regiment was assigned to Churchill's Div during the Red R Campaign and the Camden Expedition.

"The stillness of the early morning was broken by the clash of arms. about 200 of the enemy's cavalry were captured near the church. Our infantry coming up, met the prisoners; enthusiasm and eagerness for the fray were aroused to the highest pitch. We moved rapidly to the battle-field, and the long line of infantry and artillery was placed in position, where we awaited the approach and attack of the enemy. About noon the cavalry were withdrawn, pickets driven in, and the enemy charged the whole line of Fagan's Brigade; the battle of Prairie Grove had opened in earnest, and Fagan's Brigade, from that time until shortly before sundown, repelled charge after charge of the enemy under the gallant Herron. About an hour before sunset the enemy withdrew his infantry, and opened a terrific fire upon our lines. The enemy was reinforced by Gen. Blount's command, which at once opened a terrible fire upon our left. [p.229] Gen. Parsons and his invincible Missourians met him with great gallantry and success. The battle of Prairie Grove, while of short duration, will compare, perhaps, with any fought during the war, in fierceness and desperate gallantry. The rattle of musketry often rose above the roar of artillery, and the bright sunlight gleamed from bayonets held by hands as steady as Napoleon's veterans at Austerlitz or Waterloo. Officers and soldiers were alike brave, and there were feats of individual prowess that stamped the actors heroes. Thus it was the logic of fate that Brooks' regiment received its first shock of battle, and baptism of blood, almost on the very spot of its origin. * * * * Many a gallant life went out in that fierce conflict; Capt. William Woosley (or Owsley), Lieuts. Ben Boone and James Pollard, as brave and good men as ever breathed the breath of life; Tell Duke, the gifted and intrepid lieutenant, whose spirit rose from the din of battle, the rattle of musketry, and the roar of artillery to the peaceful bosom of its God; William Gray, color-bearer; John Sharp, Henry Morrison, Cy Graham, Clem Kirksly, James Gray, and others whose names I cannot now recall, went down in the shock of battle to fill heroes' graves, and left names with immortality synonymous. Brooks' regiment can well claim to be the child of Prairie Grove. It had its origin here, and aided in making its fields and groves historic. * * * * Night closed the scene at Prairie Grove with the victorious Confederates occupying the field, and the wearied soldier sought whatever of repose he could get on the perilous edge of battle, which he expected to be resumed on the morrow, dreaming, fitfully, perchance, of home and loved ones whom he expected soon to greet; but late at night the order was silently passed along the lines to prepare to march. The soldiers who expected to follow up the victory were not slow in getting ready; such, however, was not the case; it was a retreat, and Gen. Hindman's army were subjected to the trying ordeal of turning their faces from home and loved ones, and a hard-earned victory. Thus we came to Prairie Grove, and thus we left its fields, made forever historic by the valor and blood of patriots."

The regiment served after this at Helena, and were in the retreat from Little Rock. At the action at Jenkins' Ferry they [p.230] sustained