March 7, 1862

Battle of Pea Ridge (Elkhorn Tavern), Arkansas

Union forces under General Samuel Curtis defeat the army of General Earl Van Dorn at Pea Ridge, located in an extreme northwestern section of Arkansas.

Pea Ridge was part of a larger campaign for control of Missouri.
Seven months earlier, the Confederates defeated a Union force at Wilson's Creek, some 70 miles northeast of Pea Ridge. General Henry Halleck, the Federal commander in Missouri, now organized an expedition to drive the Confederates from southwestern Missouri. In February 1862, General Samuel Curtis led the 12,000-man army toward
Springfield, Missouri. Confederate General Sterling Price retreated from the city with 8,000 troops in the face of the Union advance. Price withdrew into Arkansas, and Curtis followed him.

Price hooked up with another Rebel force led by General Ben
McCulloch, and their combined army was placed under the leadership of General Earl Van Dorn, recently appointed commander of Confederates forces in the trans-Mississippi area. Van Dorn joined Price and McCulloch on March 2 and ordered an advance on Curtis' army. Curtis received word of the approaching Confederates and concentrated his force around Elkhorn Tavern. Van Dorn sent part of his army on a
march around the Yankees. On March 7, McCulloch slammed into the rear of the Union force, but Curtis anticipated the move and turned his men towards the attack. McCulloch was killed during the battle, and the Confederate attack withered. Meanwhile, the other part of Van Dorn's army attacked the front of Curtis' command. Through bitter
fighting the Union troops held their ground.

Curtis, suspecting that the Confederates were low on ammunition, attacked the divided Rebel army the following morning. Van Dorn realized he was in danger and ordered a retreat, ending the battle.

The Yankees suffered 1,384 men killed, wounded, or captured out of 10,000 engaged; the Confederates suffered a loss of about 2,000 out of 14,000 engaged. The Union won a decisive victory that also helped them clear the upper Mississippi Valley region on the way to securing control of the Mississippi River by mid-1863.

The 85th Illinois regiment, Col. Glaster, was badly cut up. They lost 880 men, killed and wounded.

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The Daily Dispatch: March 13, 1862

The Battle in Arkansas

Some little excitement was produced in the city yesterday morning, on the reception of the news from Arkansas, announcing that a great battle had been fought by Gens Price and Van Dorn. Several dispatches were received at the War Office, and by members of Congress from that section, all a little ambiguous, but still agreeing as to the main
facts. It seems that our forces engaged the enemy on Pea Ridge, Benton county, Ark., near the Missouri line. There were about thirty thousand on either side, and the contest was a severe one. Beginning on the 7th, the engagement was kept up through the day with great loss. On our side, Gens Ben McCulloch, Melatosh and Hubert were killed, and Gena. Price and Slack wounded; Col. Sims had an arm broken. That night our troops slept on the battle-field, and in the
morning again commenced the attack, and succeeded in getting beyond the Federal army and between them and the Indian territory, from which Confederate reinforcements were expected. A junction with Gen. Pike could then be effected, at which time it was confident the Federal army could be destroyed or espaliered. It is certain that
when the conflict ended we had a decided advantage in position, and had cut off the Federal army from their reinforcements. Disastrous as this battle was to us so far as loss of general officers is concerned, an equal or superior loss was inflicted on the enemy. In official circles this is regarded as a victory, and it is believed
that the next news will announce it as a fact.

The battle in Arkansas,
members, (via New Orleans) March. 11th --Fort Smith, March 9th,--Our troops, under Van- Dorn and Price, engaged the enemy for three days-- the 5th, 6th and 7th of this month at Pea Ridge, Benton county, Ark., near the Missouri line. Our loss was heavy, including Gens. McCulloch and McIntosh killed. On the 7th, Glack was mortally wounded. Gen.
Price was wounded in the arm, Col. McBae killed, and Col. Gerris wounded in the arm.

Our forces are in the rear of the Federals, and driving them
southward, sanguine of success. We are looking for further news every hour.

The bodies of McCulloch and McIntosh were brought to Fort Smith for interment.

The following dispatch is to a gentleman in the city, and is
reliable:

Memphis,March 11.--Van-Dorn and Price have been fighting the enemy three days. The fighting is desperate. Gen. McCulloch and Gen. McIntosh have been killed, and Gen. Price slightly wounded. Our force under Van-Dorn are in the rear of the enemy, and are driving them southward. We are whipping them beyond a doubt. A great victory has
been achieved.

The following was received at the War Office:

Our army under Van Dorn and Prices have been fighting on the 6th,7th, and 8th, near the Missouri line. There are about 30,000 on each side. Our troops are badly armed, but fight like devils. They will, eventually, defeat the enemy. Generals McCulloch and McIntosh are both killed; their remains are on the road near here. Generals Price and Slack are wounded.

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The Daily Dispatch: March 29, 1862.

Gen. Van-Dorn's official report.
The Fort SmithBulletin, of the 11th inst., contains the following official telegraphic report of the battle of Elkhorn, sent to Gen. A. S. Johnston and the War Department at Richmond:

Headq'rs. Trans Mississippi District. March 9, 1862. via Hog Eye, March 10.
Fought the enemy, about twenty thousand strong on the 7th and 8th, at Elkhorn, Arkansas. Battle, first day, from 10 A. M. until after dark.
Loss heavy on both sides. Generals McCulloch and McIntosh, and Col. Herbert, were killed. Gens. Price and Slack were wounded. Gen. Price flesh wound in the arm. The other severely if not mortally. Many officers were killed and wounded but as there is some doubt in regard to several, I cannot yet report their names. Slept on the battle-
field first night, having driven the enemy from their position. The death of Generals McCulloch, McIntosh and Herbert early in the action, threw the troops on the right under the command in confusion.
The enemy took a second and stronger position, and being without provisions and the right wing somewhat disorganized, I determined to give battle on the 8th on their fronts for the purpose of getting off the field without the danger of a panic, which I did with success,
but with some losses. I am now encamped with my whole army fourteen miles west of Fayetteville, having gone entirely around the enemy. I am separated from my train, but think it is safe on the Elm Spring road to the Boston mountains. The reason why I determined to give battle at once upon my arrival to assume command of the army, I will
give in my report at an early day.

Earl Van-Dorn,
Major-General Commanding.

Later particulars.
From a special dispatch to the Memphis Appeal, dated Fort Smith, March 19th we copy the following:

Mr. Kittle, Orderly Sergeant of Capt. Galloway's company, in
McCulloch's brigade, who was taken prisoner on the last day of the fight at Elkhorn, made his escape, along with several others, twenty miles this side of Springfield, Mo., on the 17th instant, and arrived here to-day. From him I am able to give you the additional particulars of the fight:

The enemy's loss, killed and wounded, was 2,600--not less than 800 killed.

The 85th Illinois regiment, Col. Glaster, was badly cut up. They lost 880 men, killed and wounded.

When Mr. Kittle passed through Cassville, there were 800 wounded at that place.

They took 499 of our men prisoners, including commissioned officers, privates and citizens.

The following is a portion of our officers taken prisoners: Colonel Mitchell, of Arkansas; Colonel Stone, of Mississippi; Captain Galloway, of Little Rock, Captain Hallowell, of Dardanelle, Arkansas; Captain Williams, of Arkansas; Lieutenant Mason, of Texas; Lieutenant
Manual, Third Louisiana Regiment; Colonel Hebert, Major Tunnard, and Captain V. J. Lizini of the Third Louisiana. Hebert, Tunnard and Lizini have since been exchanged.

The Federals are doubtless preparing to make another attack.

A Lieutenant Colonel was the highest officer killed on the Federal side.

Two companies of a Texas regiment were sent under a flag of truce to bury our dead.--They were filed upon by the enemy.

Our total killed was 96. We brought all our wounded away with us when we fell back.

------------------------------------------------------------The Daily Dispatch: April 3, 1862.

The battle in Arkansas.
further Partioulars.
From the Memphis Appeal, of the 29th ult., we take the following interesting particulars of the late battle in Arkansas. It will be seen that our army has nothing to blush for in the recent engagement in that States with the Yankees, notwithstanding they outnumbered us, as usual, two to one:

We had an interview yesterday with an officer direct from our army in the West, and from him obtained the following interesting details of the battle at Sugar Creek, or Elkhorn.

Gen. Price had remained at Springfield until the enemy were in six miles of the town, when he put his army in motion toward the Arkansas line. There was more or less skirmishing between his rear guard and the enemy's advance until he crossed into Arkansas and effected a junction with Van-Dorn and McCulloch. In all these skirmishes, our
informant says the Missouri sharp shooters invariably got the best of their pursuers.--Price's object was to draw them down into Arkansas, since Van-Dorn had not joined him at Springfield.

The Confederates rested a few days at Cove creek, in Washington county, Arkansas, some thirty miles below the line. At length Gen. Van-Dorn having got ready, he determined to go in search of the enemy, and to make the attack himself. The troops were ordered to cook five day's provisions, and move upon the enemy, who had stopped
at Sugar creek. At Sentonville, on their way up, they encountered the Federal rear guard, and had quite a brisk skirmish, in which we lost one man and the enemy eight or ten. We also took one piece of artillery there. The Confederates marched all that day and night without food or sleep, and came up with the enemy in the Sugar creek
hills at half past 10 o'clock A. M., when the action at once became general. The enemy was completely surrounded, General Price attacking them on the north and Gen. McCulloch on the west.

It is now generally believed that we made a mistake in surrounding the enemy and cutting off every avenue of escape. It is thought that if we had attacked them from one side only, as it is understood Gen. Price proposed, we should have driven them out and taken everything
they had ere the sun went down. As it was, we drove them for two miles from all their strong positions, and held their encampment during the night, with the greater part of their commissary stores, on which our half famished men fed.

Many of our troops who were supposed to be captured by the enemy have come in, and our whole loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners, will not exceed six hundred, viz: one hundred and twenty-five killed, two hundred and seventy-five wounded, and two hundred prisoners. The enemy's loss was far greater — probably five to our one. A Federal
Colonel who was taken on the evening of the first day, says their loss up to that time was terrific — probably twelve hundred to fifteen hundred--and the next morning they lost many more, among whom were several officers. Such prisoners as have escaped from them, say that there was no exultation among them, so heavy had their losses been. The Confederates took two hundred and twenty-five prisoners.

On the morning of the 8th, the enemy, having taken a strong position during the night, re- opened the fight. The action soon became general, and continued until about half past 9 o'clock, by which time Gen. Van-Dorn had completed his arrangements to withdraw his forces.

The reasons for our withdrawal were, first, that a number of the Southern regiments, after the fall of McCulloch and McIntosh, became demoralized, and could not be relied upon. Secondly, some 200 Federal troops, (Germans,) while fleeing from the field, came upon our ammunition wagons, and the teamsters, supposing they intended an attack, put whip to their horses, and fled as rapidly as possible.
This left several of our batteries without a single round. These
unfortunate occurrences rendered it necessary for the Confederates to retire, and that at a time when victory had actually perched upon their banners.

With the exception of a portion of the regiments thrown into
confusion by the untimely fall of McCulloch and McIntosh, the retreat was conducted in the utmost good order — so good, indeed, that many did not know but that they were making a flank movement on the enemy until late in the afternoon.--Several of our batteries were in great
danger, having to be brought off through the woods and over hills.
The enemy did not pursue, except a few squads of cavalry who followed up some of our baggage trains. We brought off four more pieces of cannon than we went on the field with having lost only two pieces, which were disabled and spiked. Several of the enemy's batteries were taken, but they could not be brought off. They were dismounted and
the wheels taken off, dry brush and leaves were piled on them, and they were burnt by our troops.

Our list of killed and wounded is still imperfect. Col. Rives, of the Missouri Confederates, and Capt. Churchill Clark, of the Artillery, whose loss has not heretofore been mentioned, were killed. Many other officers were killed or wounded. Gen. Van-Dorn paid a high compliment to Price's army.--Many of their charges would have done credit to
Napoleon's old guard. The troops in McCulloch's division, up to the time of his and McIntosh's fall, fought with the most determined gallantry and covered themselves with glory.

We left the field on the second day, for the reasons given above; and yet the result of the battle was as good as a victory to the Confederates. They have so crippled the enemy, that they will be
unable to attack us until they get reinforcements. Price and Van-Dorn, however, can march where they please, and without molestation.
At last accounts they were recruiting, and getting ready for another forward movement in a direction but little suspected by the enemy.

With the exception of Stanwatie's regiment our Indian allies did not take much part in the fight. This regiment took a battery, having approached it behind trees, and behaved with much courage and gallantry. Owing to the early fall of McCulloch and McIntosh some six or seven of our regiments were never brought into action. The enemy's
forces were at least double ours.

Another account.
Col. John P. McMillan, of Missouri, has arrived at New Orleans, just from Price's army in Arkansas.

He gives a thrilling account of the baptism of fire and blood through which Missouri has already passed in her heroic struggle against her oppressor. His own house, in Hannibal, was one of the first the invaders visited. They took him prisoner, and stole several of his servants. The latter were subsequently restored, but again taken
away. He refused to take the oath of allegiance, but agreed not actually to take up arms against the United States until exchanged, and was thereupon paroled. He considers himself still a prisoner, but is at liberty to engage in the recruiting service for Price's army, and it is for that purpose that he visits New Orleans. He states that, in his opinion, Missouri would give to-day, if entirely
unshackled, a hundred thousand majority in favor of the Confederate States. In coming through Arkansas he met men flocking to the standard of Van-Dorn and Price, and thinks their position at Boston Mountain a very strong one. The Indians under Gen. Pike are rallying to our side, and the prospects are that we shall soon assume the offensive.