When did the Battle of Pea Ridge take place?
The Battle of Pea Ridge was fought on the 7th and the 8th of March, 1862, near Leetown in northwestern Arkansas during the American Civil War. It is also known as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern.
Questions about Battle of Pea Ridge
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who commanded the Union forces at the Battle of Pea Ridge?
Brigadier General Samuel R. Curtis commanded the Federal Army of the Southwest at Pea Ridge. His division commanders included Colonel Eugene Carr, Colonel Jefferson C. Davis, Peter J. Osterhaus, and Franz Sigel.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Pea Ridge?
The Union won a decisive victory. Federal control over most of Missouri and northern Arkansas was secured. The Confederates suffered approximately 2,000 casualties and never again seriously threatened Missouri.
Why did the Confederates lose the Battle of Pea Ridge?
Confederate defeat stemmed from several compounding failures. Generals McCulloch and McIntosh were both killed on the first day, causing their division to collapse. Van Dorn's supply trains were separated from the army, leaving his artillery without reserve ammunition on the second day. Sigel's massed 21-cannon barrage on the morning of March 8 proved decisive.
What role did Native American troops play at the Battle of Pea Ridge?
Brigadier General Albert Pike commanded a combined force of Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole cavalry under the Confederate banner. The Cherokee routed two companies of the 3rd Iowa near Leetown, but later panicked and retreated when Federal howitzers fired blindly into their position. An unusual killed-to-wounded ratio among Iowa casualties suggested some wounded Union soldiers were killed on the ground.
What happened to the Pea Ridge battlefield after the Civil War?
Pea Ridge National Military Park was established in 1956 and is regarded as one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the United States. A reconstruction of Elkhorn Tavern stands at the original site, and the park includes a 2.5-mile section of the Trail of Tears.