Wanderings And Ponderings

  Pea Ridge National Military Park: A Winter Visit to a Pivotal Civil War Battlefield Location: Pea Ridge, Arkansas Visiting Pea Ridge National Military Park with my best friend, Ray, was an experience I won’t forget. It was my first time at this historic battlefield, and with snow covering the landscape, the past felt even more tangible. I could only imagine the hardships that soldiers endured here during the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862 —freezing nights, exhaustion, and the uncertainty of war. The Battle of Pea Ridge: A Turning Point in the Civil War For the Confederate forces , Pea Ridge was a devastating defeat. Generals Earl Van Dorn, Sterling Price, and Benjamin McCulloch led an ambitious attack, hoping to seize control of Missouri and push northward. Despite early victories, logistical failures, miscommunication, and the deaths of key leaders led to their downfall. On the other hand, the Union Army , led by General Samuel Curtis , secured a decisive victory ,...