Brig. Gen. John S. Marmaduke, CSA

Union troops were part of their Missouri garrison; Marmaduke had two cavalry brigades.

The Union lost only 40 men against about 450 Confederates.

In late November, Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman detached Brig. Gen. John Marmaduke's cavalry from Van Buren north to occupy the Cane Hill area. Hearing of this movement, Brig. Gen. James Blunt advanced to meet Marmaduke's command and, if possible, destroy it. The Union vanguard encountered Col. Jo Shelby's brigade, which fought a delaying action to protect their supply trains. Shelby gradually gave ground until establishing a strong defensive perimeter on Cove Creek where he repulsed a determined attack. The Federals withdrew to Cane Hill, while the Confederates returned to Van Buren. Although fighting well, Marmaduke's withdrawal was a setback for Hindman's plans for recapturing northwest Arkansas.

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Selected sources:
American Battlefield Protection Program, Heritage Preservation Services, National Park Service.