Formation Date
- October 12, 1862
Dissolution Date
- October 19, 1863
Commanders
Notable Engagements
- Battle of Clark’s Mill
- Battle of Cane Hill
- Battle of Prairie Grove
- Battle of Van Buren
- Battle of Chalk Bluff
Significance
- On October 12, 1862, Major General Samuel R. Curtis issued General Orders, No. 7 (Department of the Missouri) appointing Brigadier General John M. Schofield to command roughly 15,000 soldiers, “denominated the Army of the Frontier” operating in the department.
- On November 7, 1862, a Rebel cavalry force of roughly 1,000 troopers forced 100 Army of the Frontier soldiers to surrender following a skirmish known as the Battle of Clark’s Mill in Douglas County.
- On November 20, 1862, due to illness, Brigadier General John M. Schofield temporarily turned over command of the Army of the Frontier to Brigadier General James G. Blunt.
- On November 28, 1862, the Army of the Frontier successfully scattered the Confederate forces at the Battle of Cane Hill.
- On December 7, 1862, the Army of the Frontier forced Confederates to southwestern Arkansas after the Battle of Prairie Grove.
- On December 28, 1862, the Army of the Frontier secured Union control of Northwest Arkansas by defeating the First Corps of the Trans-Mississippi Army at the Battle of Van Buren.
- On December 29, 1862, Brigadier General John M. Schofield returned from sick leave and resumed command of the Army of the Frontier.
- On March 30, 1863, Major General Samuel R. Curtis issued General Orders, No. 24 (Department of the Missouri) appointing Major General Francis J. Herron to command the Army of the Frontier.
- On May 1-2, 1863, the Army of the Frontier’s Second Division, commanded by Brigadier General William Vandever, inflicted heavy casualties on a Rebel force at the Battle of Chalk Bluff, Arkansas.
- On May 13, 1863, John M. Schofield replaced Samuel R. Curtis as commander of the Department of the Missouri.
- On June 2, 1863, John M. Schofield ordered Francis J. Herron west, along with the second and third divisions of the Army of the Frontier to support the assault on Vicksburg.
- Francis J. Herron’s two divisions of the Army of the Frontier were consolidated to form “Herron’s Division” of the 17th Army Corps during the remainder of Vicksburg Campaign.
- After the fall of Vicksburg, “Herron’s Division” was attached to the 13th Army Corps commanded by Major General Edward Ord.
- On August 14, 1863, Major General Edward Ord issued General Orders, No. 24 (13th Army Corps) announcing among other things that “The division known as the Army of the Frontier, Major General F. J. Herron commanding, will henceforth be known as the Second Division Thirteenth Army Corps.”
- Remnants of the Army of the Frontier continued to campaign under Major General James G. Blunt’s command against guerrillas until October 19, 1863, when John M. Schofield issued General Orders, No. 118 reorganizing the department, effectively ending the existence of the Army of the Frontier.