Pea Ridge Battlefield, Arkansas
The struggle to maintain Missouri’s allegiance to the Union was a central preoccupation of the Federal government during the opening year of the American Civil War. This strategic imperative fueled the Battle of Wilson’s Creek near Springfield, Missouri, in August 1861. It also served as a primary catalyst for the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, fought in March 1862, a clash that would significantly impact the trajectory of the war in the Trans-Mississippi Theater.
The Pea Ridge Campaign was initiated on Christmas Day 1861 with the appointment of General Samuel R. Curtis to command the Federal Southwestern District of Missouri. His overarching objective was to expel Confederate forces from the region. By mid-February 1862, Curtis’s relentless pursuit had driven Major General Sterling Price and his pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard into the relative sanctuary of Arkansas.
In the rugged Boston Mountains, south of Fayetteville, Price’s forces converged with those commanded by Brigadier General Ben McCulloch. On March 4th, this formidable combined army, boasting approximately 16,000 men, began its northward march under the overall command of Major General Earl Van Dorn.
Van Dorn’s audacious mission was to force a path back into Missouri and seize control of St. Louis, a vital transportation and supply hub. However, awaiting them on the bluffs overlooking Little Sugar Creek, not far from the imposing Elkhorn Mountain, part of the larger Pea Ridge Plateau, were Curtis’s approximately 10,500 Federal troops, strategically positioned to defend their ground.
Recognizing that a direct frontal assault against Curtis’s entrenched position would likely result in catastrophic losses, Van Dorn conceived a daring flanking maneuver. He opted to swing his army north, intending to approach the Federal line from the rear. The Confederate plan called for a surprise attack at dawn on March 7th. However, the arduous three-day march, coupled with logistical challenges, left the Confederate troops hungry, cold, and significantly delayed, arriving hours behind schedule.
The march took a toll on the Confederates. McCulloch’s command became separated from the main body. Van Dorn made the difficult decision to temporarily divide his army. He ordered McCulloch to proceed around the western edge of Elkhorn Mountain, then east along Ford Road, with the aim of rejoining Price’s troops near Elkhorn Tavern. This strategic miscalculation provided Curtis with precious time to effectively pivot his defensive line, preparing for the impending attack from what was now the Confederate rear.
As McCulloch’s troops, which included two regiments of Cherokee Indians, skillfully integrated into the Confederate ranks, executed this complex maneuver, they encountered unexpectedly intense Federal fire near Leetown. This fierce engagement resulted in the deaths of both McCulloch and Brigadier General James McIntosh. The loss of these key commanders, coupled with the capture of the ranking colonel, threw McCulloch’s command into disarray. Without effective leadership, the Confederate forces scattered from the field, significantly weakening their overall offensive capability.
East of Elkhorn Mountain, Van Dorn and Price experienced initial success. Price’s determined troops gradually pushed the Federal forces back, engaging in fierce hand-to-hand combat. By nightfall, they had managed to capture Elkhorn Tavern and, crucially, secured control of the Telegraph and Huntsville Roads, vital arteries for communication and supply. During the night, remnants of McCulloch’s command, having regrouped after the devastating fighting near Leetown, joined Price’s forces, bolstering their ranks.
On the morning of March 8th, General Curtis launched a determined counterattack aimed at retaking the critical tavern area. The Federal assault began with a devastating two-hour artillery barrage that severely crippled the Confederate line, decimating their defenses and sowing chaos among their ranks. Following the artillery bombardment, a Union infantry attack surged forward, shattering the remaining Confederate defenses.
Realizing that his ammunition supplies were dwindling rapidly and that the tide of battle had decisively turned against him, Van Dorn made the difficult decision to order a general withdrawal. The Battle of Pea Ridge was over. In the aftermath of the battle, the majority of both Union and Confederate troops were redeployed east of the Mississippi River to participate in other crucial campaigns. Missouri, though remaining within the Union, maintained a policy of political neutrality throughout the remainder of the war, although it provided both men and supplies to both sides of the conflict.
The Pea Ridge National Military Park serves as a lasting tribute to this pivotal Civil War battle, commemorating the sacrifices made and preserving the historical integrity of the battlefield for future generations. Encompassing over 4,300 acres, the park stands as the most intact Civil War battlefield in the country, offering visitors a tangible connection to the past. Within its boundaries lies the entirety of the battlefield, along with well-preserved sections of the original earthworks constructed by Federal forces in anticipation of the Confederate attack.
Significant features within the park include a meticulous recreation of the historic Elkhorn Tavern, a landmark that played a crucial role in the battle’s unfolding. Visitors can also explore original remnants of the Telegraph-Military Road, an important thoroughfare that predated the war and served as a vital transportation route. Of course, the battlefield itself, with its rolling hills and wooded terrain, offers a powerful and evocative reminder of the intense fighting that took place there.
The park also safeguards one of the few remaining "intact" sections of the Trail of Tears. In 1838, the United States government forcibly removed more than 15,000 Cherokee Indians from their ancestral lands east of the Mississippi River, compelling them to undertake a harrowing migration to Indian Territory, located in present-day Oklahoma. This tragic episode in American history left an indelible mark on the landscape. The historic trek carved a permanent indentation into the earth, a poignant reminder of the suffering endured by the Cherokee people as they traversed this forested land.
Established by an Act of Congress in 1956 and officially dedicated in 1963, the park is administered by the National Park Service, a division of the Department of the Interior. It is an integral part of the Civil War Discovery Trail, the Lower Missouri Civil War Heritage Trail, and the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, underscoring its significance in American history and culture. Pea Ridge battlefield stands as a monument to the past.