Story and Photos by Ruben Gusman The Prairie Grove Arkansas Battlefield offers a great landscape for a Civil War Battle. With very few modern distractions and varied terrain, the field offers a number of possible tactical scenarios the least of which is a modest hill. (see photo above) The events schedule described the battles to be fought as the "Hill Assault Battle" so we expected to see some action on the hillside. A secondary camera position was placed along the hill to cover the action there. The hillside was the site of a gallant Confederate charge up towards the Union troops who occupied the high ground in the 2000 battle. (photo below) Confederates Charge Federals on the hill during the 2000 battle Reenactment During the course of the first battle, some Confederate troops were indeed positioned at the top of the hill , apparently reserve forces. Union troops fought their way all the way to the base of the hill but were met with fierce resistance. We waited for another charge that could push the Southerners back up the hill but it never happened. No hill assault this time and we assumed that it would definitely come during the next battle. We inquired to some of the troops as to why there was no fighting there. Mixed reports came. Some said that no one wanted to or that it was felt too dangerous. We were told that a hillside battle would defineltey occur in the next battle. Seeking proof we spotted a Confederate unit practicing advancing up the hill. (photos below) Surely this proved the hill assault would indeed occur on Sunday. Confederate troops practice advancing up the hill When Sunday's battle began, no troops or artillery were positioned on the hillside and it appeared evident that there would be no such "Hill Assault Battle" that was advertised.The final Battles action waged squarely in front of the spectators. No explanation could be found for the change in scenario but the final weekends' battle was entertaining nevertheless.