Battle of Pea Ridge

The Battle of Pea Ridge (also called the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern) took place on March 7 and 8, 1862, during the American Civil War. Northern (Union) troops under Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis defeated Southern (Confederate) troops under Major General Earl Van Dorn.

After the Civil War began, the Union had gained control of the state of Missouri within six months, whose governor had sided with the Confederacy, contrary to prevailing popular opinion. General Curtis then wanted to conquer the Confederate state of Arkansas, which lay south of Missouri.

With about 10,000 men and 50 cannon, Curtis moved into Benton County, Arkansas, in February 1862 and entrenched himself on the small river Sugar Creek. Confederate General Van Dorn learned of the Northern attack and marched his troops to meet the Union forces. Van Dorn had about 16,000 men between them (including 800 Cherokee Indians). He intended to destroy Curtis' army so that he, in turn, could capture Missouri for the Confederacy.

Van Dorn realized that a frontal attack against the expanded defensive position of the Union forces was bound to fail, so he split his army in two on March 4. He wanted to encompass Curtis's army and attack from the rear. In order to march more quickly, he left his supply wagons behind, which would later prove to be negligent.

The Confederate Army of the West marched for three days through a freezing storm to Benton County. Many Confederate soldiers were ill-equipped and even barefoot. The saying arose that you could find the army by following the bloody footprints. Hungry and tired, the Confederate troops arrived at their destination.

Crucially, a detachment of troops under General Benjamin McCulloch was delayed. Although Van Dorn ordered McCulloch to rejoin him at Elkhorn Tavern, the delay allowed Union General Curtis to respond to the unexpected danger in his rear. He thrust his army into the gap between Van Dorn's and McCulloch's divisions, winning the battle.

The Confederates lost about 2,000 men in the battle, including Generals McCulloch, Slack, and McIntosh, while the Union army lost only 1,400 men.

After the defeat of Pea Ridge, the remnants of Van Dorn's army were withdrawn to reinforce the Confederate Tennessee army, and Arkansas was left virtually defenseless. The Confederates were now all the less able to threaten Missouri.

In turn, General Curtis pushed deeper into undefended Arkansas to attack its capital, Little Rock.