Confederates led by Maj. Gen. Thomas Hindman moved to put his sizable force between two Union divisions in hopes of smashing them. But rival Union commanders fought back against the Confederates, who set up defensive lines along a ridge at Prairie Grove.
Attacks and counterattacks followed and at one point it looked as if the Confederate rebels would triumph. But then sunset brought a halt to the fighting with neither side a winner.
Nonetheless, Hindman was forced to withdraw from the region, leaving the Union in control of a large swath of Arkansas.
Finding salt
Elsewhere, newspaper reports spread word that Confederate leaders were rejoicing over the discovery of a large cache of salt in the earth that could be used for any number of purposes, including preserving food.
“The rebels are said to be rejoicing over the discovery of (the) immense bed of rock salt at Obelisk, Ala.,” the Daily Illinois state Journal reported on Dec. 2, 1862.
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