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It started in Missouri and ended in Arkansas

It started in Missouri and ended in Arkansas. The Battle of Pea Ridge By D. Morgan, OCWRT Oct 27, 2011. Outline. Background Belligerents Day 0 Day 1 Day 2 Analysis Aftermath. Map of the Division of the States during the Civil War. Trans-Mississippi Theatre. Background.

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It started in Missouri and ended in Arkansas

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  1. It started in Missouri and ended in Arkansas The Battle of Pea Ridge By D. Morgan, OCWRT Oct 27, 2011

  2. Outline • Background • Belligerents • Day 0 • Day 1 • Day 2 • Analysis • Aftermath

  3. Map of the Division of the Statesduring the Civil War

  4. Trans-Mississippi Theatre

  5. Background • Trans-Mississippi Campaign • Missouri • Lincoln’s strategy • Confederate strategy • Leadup

  6. Belligerents • Army of the West – 16,000 • Maj Gen Earl Van Dorn • Brig Gen Sterling Price • Brig Gen Ben McCulloch • Brig Gen Albert Pike • Army of the Southwest – 10,500 • Brig Gen Samuel Curtis • Brig Gen Franz Siegel

  7. Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas

  8. Maj Gen Earl Van Dorn Brig Gen Sterling Price Brig Gen Ben McCulloch Brig Gen Albert Pike

  9. Brig Gen Samuel Curtis Brig Gen Franz Siegel

  10. Asboth Osterhaus Carr Davis Dodge

  11. Maj Gen Henry Halleck Capt Philip Sheridan

  12. Day 0 • Curtis digs in at Little Sugar Creek • Van Dorn decides to envelop

  13. Pea Ridge Night of March 6

  14. Day 1 - Leetown • McCulloch runs into trouble • Fed Maj Eli Weston’s pickets detect large rebel force on Bentonville Detour • Curtis sends Osterhaus’s division to intercede • Both McCulloch and McIntosh killed • Confed Hebert makes unsupported attack • Fed Davis Division moved up to stop him • Confed Pike does little as rest of Division awaits orders which never come • Hebert and Pike withdraw

  15. Map 5-3: Battle of Leetown

  16. Day 1 – Elkhorn Tavern • Curtis • Grenville Dodge had also detected Confed movement at Three Corner Church; reasons Confeds have also come down Telegraph Rd • Curtis slowly figures out is being enveloped • Sends Carr’s Division to Elkhorn Tavern who runs smack into Van Dorn • Dodge on his own initiative moves up his brigade to Curtis HQ • Curtis sends Dodge to reinforce Carr and then redeploys his whole army to face North rather than South • Van Dorn • Uncharacteristically pauses coming out of Cross Timber Hollow • Loses communications with McCullough, looses track of ordinance wagons • Assumes role of brigade commander and directs accurate artillery • His infantry eventually push federals back at Elkhorn Tavern but use up a lot of ammunition

  17. Day 2 – Elkhorn Tavern • Van Dorn • Concentrates forces for attack • Then realizes artillery and troops will run out of ordinance • Decides to withdraw even as battle begins • Slips away to the south east on Huntsville Rd • Curtis • Sets up for the kill with deadly accurate artillery barrage • Sigel carries out tremendous right wheel • Whole Fed Army charges at the same time • “Dot was lofely”

  18. Reasons for Confederate loss • VanDorn in overdrive, ignored logistics • Obsession with speed wore down his troops • Did not assemble efficient staff • Assumed role of brigade commander in battle • No communications with division commanders • Not well served by subordinates • Loosing track of ordinance wagons was criminal • Mistakenly though Curtis would not fight, so tried to envelop • Could have just done flanking manoeuvre and come in from Leetown against Curtis rear

  19. Reasons for Federal Win • Curtis generally made the right decision • Decided to stand and fight rather than run • Counterattacks kept Confed army divided • Kept forces in reserve until threat clear • Well served by subordinates and staff except for erratic Siegel • Left tactical matters to division commanders and remained in control • Used interior lines to deploy forces • Timely communications with Div commanders

  20. Aftermath • Losses • Fed 1384 (203 killed, 980 wounded, 201 missing) 13%; Confed 2000, (15%) • Missouri is saved for the Union • Army of the Southwest marched all the way thru Ark to Helena on Mississippi subsisting on the land • Curtis never got the recognition he deserved • Army of the West withdrew into Mississippi and never fought again • Van Dorn decides to join P.T. Beuregard but can’ t get to Shilo in time • Loses at Corinth, filanders and is shot by enraged husband

  21. What Could Have Been • If Confeds had won, would have rampaged around Missouri doing a lot of damage • Likely would have reached St Louis, and then Illinois • Halleck would have had to pull thousands of troops and supplies off the river campaign • Grant would likely have not been as successful…

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