Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 9.djvu/383



REVIOUS to the fight at Cane Hill, Hindman had been quietly concentrating an infantry force in the vicinity of Van Buren. They came from Little Rock and from White and Black rivers. After his check by Marmaduke in the Boston mountains, Blunt returned to Cane Hill with about 7,000 men. General Herron was to the east of him, in the vicinity of Yellville and Huntsville, with 6,000 men. Hindman, by dint of much persuasion, obtained permission of General Holmes to cross the mountains and fight Herron, or Herron and Blunt if they succeeded in uniting their forces; but with the condition that win or lose, he should immediately recross the mountains and march to the succor of Little Rock, which was not threatened from any direction. Marmaduke's cavalry was at Dripping Springs, in a position to take part in any movement Hindman might make. Hindman had 9,500 men of all arms. He moved from Ozark on the 3d of December, 1862, with Marmaduke in advance. The weather was stormy and cold, and as the army moved without wagons or tents, the suffering of the men, particularly at night, was severe. Up to a certain point it was impossible for the enemy to tell which road Hindman intended to take— the Cove Creek road which would take him in front of Herron, or the Cane Hill road