How is the Pea Ridge battlefield in Arkansas (1 Viewer)

[45thdiv]

I'll be heading to Beaver lake next week and I want to stop and see Pea Ridge. I live just an hour and a half from Gettysburg and I hear the Peas Ridge is the Gettysburg of the West.

When I lived in Oklahoma I never had time to stop at the battlefield, but that was 29 years ago. Now I have more time.

Thanks.

 

[wadepat]

Hi 45th,

Pea Ridge is an interesting battlefield, especially if you are familiar with the Civil War history of the Trans-Mississippi theater. However, if you are expecting to see anything similar to Gettysburg, you will be sorely disappointed. The battlefield is much, much smaller and, by comparision, there are almost no historical markers.

In many ways, Pea Ridge was an important battle within the context of the Trans-Mississippi and it is extremely helpful to be familiar with the battle. Unfortunately, the Trans-Mississippi is the least studied theater of the Civil War and only a minimum of good books on the topic are available. It is also helpful to be acquainted with some of the significant personalities in the Trans-Mississippi, such as Van Dorn, Sterling Price, etc. If you are armed with good information, and you realize the battle was fought with smaller numbers of soldiers in a much smaller geographic area, then a visit to Pea Ridge can be a very interesting experience.

By the way, I have seen the Battle of Glorieta Pass, which was fought in New Mexico, advertised as the "Gettysburg in the West." The Battle of Glorieta Pass is interesting also, but it should not be compared with Gettysburg. :wink2:

Have a wonderful trip and please share your experience when you are able.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat :smile2:

 

[UKReb]

45th

I fully concur with Pat's erudite post-Pea Ridge was/is no Gettysburg. Historians have dubbed many battles "The Gettysburg of the West" a few that come to mind are Pat's reference to Glorietta Pass also The Battle of Westport and the Battle of Franklin have all carried this definition in a number of ACW books.

Without getting too technical- but it would be a good idea as Pat has suggested to undertake a little research on who was who before you visit the area.

A very quick synopsis (if it helps) is that the Confederate Commander Van Dorn rather than attack the strong Union fortifications on bluffs overlooking Little Sugar Creek ordered his forces (which had a rare superiority for a Reb army) to outflank the Federals near Pea Ridge. Unfortunately this maneuver divided his army and consequently both Confederate Generals McCullough and Sterling Price launched unco-ordinated attacks that resulted in neither of them being able to support each other. The Union commander Sam Curtis performed masterfully shifting his army to parry both strikes. During the fight Ben McCullough (a very popular man with his troops) was felled from his horse shot through the heart and the fighting effectiveness of his troops evaporated, many of them simply wandering from the battlefield, stupefied with grief. The Union victory at Pea Ridge solidified Federal control over Missouri for the next two years.

It is only a small acreage sized battlefield but it is beautifully maintained and the Elkhorn Tavern which saw fearful fighting has been rebuilt to look like it did in 1862. Enjoy your trip- I most certainly did.

Reb

 

[45thdiv]

Thanks for the info Pat and Reb. I will keep that in mind while I take a look around.

Matthew