The armies at Pea Ridge were larger and better organized than the units that fought at Wilson's Creek only a few months earlier. On the night of March 6 1862, Confederate Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn set out to attack the Union position near Pea Ridge, Arkansas from the rear.

He sent two generals, Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch's and Brig. Gen. James McQueen McIntosh's on a march to flank the Federal units, while Van Dorn himself led the main force on a night march to attack the Federals from behind. Learning of Van Dorn’s approach, the outnumbered Federals marched north from their camp to meet his advance on March 7.Union General Samuel Curtis sent a scouting force northwest toward Lee Town and continued north with his main force toward Elkhorn Tavern.

The troops led by McCulloch marched west of Pea Ridge and the landscape feature known as Round Top. Near Lee Town and the farming areas to the north and west the Confederate units ran into Federal units under the command of Colonel Peter Osterhaus.The fight at Lee Town was intensive and two Confederate generals, Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch and Brig. Gen. James McQueen McIntosh were killed, and the capture of the remaining ranking colonel halted the Rebel attack.

Van Dorn led a second column to meet the Federals in the Elkhorn Tavern and Tanyard area. The battle was hard fought and by nightfall, the Confederates controlled Elkhorn Tavern and Telegraph Road. The next day, Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, having regrouped and consolidated his army, counterattacked near the tavern and, by successfully employing his artillery, slowly forced the Rebels back. Running short of ammunition, Van Dorn abandoned the battlefield. NEXT >>