⚔️ Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas,
7-8 March 1862
The Battle of Pea Ridge, fought from 7-8 March 1862 in northwestern Arkansas, was a pivotal engagement in the American Civil War. This battle was crucial for control of Missouri and the Trans-Mississippi theater. Brigadier-General Samuel R. Curtis led the Union Army of the Southwest into Arkansas after pushing Confederate forces out of Missouri. In response, Confederate Major General Earl Van Dorn devised an ambitious plan to strike Curtis’ army from the rear, severing its supply lines and potentially reclaiming Missouri for the Confederacy. This maneuver led to the Battle of Pea Ridge, one of the most significant battles west of the Mississippi River.