Episode 102 · February 22–March 6, 1862 · Fayetteville, Elm Springs, Bentonville, Little Sugar Creek, and Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas

PEA RIDGE (Part the Second)

Van Dorn failed to trap Franz Sigel at Bentonville. Curtis concentrated the Army of the Southwest behind prepared defenses at Little Sugar Creek, but Van Dorn rejected a direct attack and ordered an overnight march around the United States right flank by the Bentonville Detour

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Episode at a glance

Period coveredFebruary 22–March 6, 1862

LocationFayetteville, Elm Springs, Bentonville, Little Sugar Creek, and Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas

Historical contextVan Dorn failed to trap Franz Sigel at Bentonville. Curtis concentrated the Army of the Southwest behind prepared defenses at Little Sugar Creek, but Van Dorn rejected a direct attack and ordered an overnight march around the United States right flank by the Bentonville Detour

Forces and losses

Reported figures retain the scope and estimates of the existing guide. They may cover different units or periods; missing breakdowns are not inferred.

Figures reported in this guide
Scope	Reported figure
Sigel’s rear guard	About 600 men after the 2nd Missouri left Bentonville

Source: Civil War Podcast episode 102 · National Park Service: The Pea Ridge Campaign · National Park Service: Bentonville Detour · National Park Service: Pea Ridge order of battle · National Park Service: Samuel R. Curtis · National Park Service: Earl Van Dorn · Library of Congress: Pea Ridge battlefield map · Library of Congress: Battle of Pea Ridge print

Step by step

Episode flow

Follow the discussion in order. Reference maps show the setting; they do not plot positions for each step.

Bentonville and Little Sugar Creek todayMap credit ↗

Step 1 of 26

Curtis held his position in northwest Arkansas

Curtis had driven Price out of Missouri. By March 1, he decided to remain in Arkansas, concentrate his divided army, and prepare for a Confederate advance.

Go to a step

Maps

Bentonville and Little Sugar Creek todayVan Dorn marched north through Fayetteville and Elm Springs toward Bentonville. Sigel escaped east and joined Curtis on the north bank of Little Sugar Creek, south of the Pea Ridge battlefield.Map source Interactive map: drag to pan and use the +/− controls to zoom.

National Park Service map of the Bentonville Detour and the armies near Little Sugar Creek and Pea Ridge — **The Bentonville Detour**The National Park Service map shows the United States position behind Little Sugar Creek and the route Van Dorn selected around the army’s right. The overnight movement aimed to reach the Telegraph Road in Curtis’s rear.Open full-size map Map source

National Park Service map of the Pea Ridge campaign in Missouri and Arkansas — **The approach from Fayetteville**The broader campaign map shows Van Dorn’s route north from the Boston Mountains through Fayetteville and Bentonville. Curtis’s supply route continued north through Springfield toward Rolla.Open full-size map Map source

1876 map of the Pea Ridge battlefield showing roads, settlements, terrain, and troop positions — **Roads and terrain at Pea Ridge**The 1876 U.S. Army map identifies the Telegraph Road, Cross Timber Hollow, Elkhorn Tavern, Leetown, and the ridge. Van Dorn’s night march was intended to place his army across the Telegraph Road north of Curtis.Open full-size map Map source

People and command

United States

Army of the SouthwestSamuel R. CurtisConcentrated four divisions at Little Sugar Creek

1st and 2nd DivisionsFranz SigelPeter J. Osterhaus and Alexander Asboth

3rd DivisionJefferson C. DavisAlready with Curtis near Little Sugar Creek

4th DivisionEugene A. CarrAlready with Curtis near Little Sugar Creek

2nd Missouri InfantryFrederick SchaeferLeft pickets on the Elm Springs Road and then marched from Bentonville

Detached columnWilliam VandeverMade the final 42-mile march to concentrate with Curtis

Confederacy

Army of the WestEarl Van DornOverall command and plan for the envelopment

Missouri State GuardSterling PriceLed the march north from Fayetteville

McCulloch’s DivisionBenjamin McCullochProposed the Bentonville Detour

Confederate cavalryJames McIntoshDirected the pursuit from Bentonville

Missouri cavalryElijah GatesPressed Sigel’s rear guard across the prairie

Indian Territory brigadeAlbert Pike1st and 2nd Cherokee Mounted Rifles and Texas cavalry

Other people

Confederacy
Earl Van Dorn
Ordered the rapid advance and the overnight envelopment by the Bentonville Detour
United States
Samuel R. Curtis
Concentrated the Army of the Southwest at Little Sugar Creek and prepared the defensive position
United States
Franz Sigel
Withdrew the 1st and 2nd Divisions from Bentonville and conducted the final rear-guard action
BM
Confederacy
Benjamin McCulloch
Advised against a direct attack and proposed using the Bentonville Detour
JM
Confederacy
James McIntosh
Led Confederate cavalry around Bentonville but failed to cut off Sigel
FS
United States
Frederick Schaefer
Left the pickets that detected the Confederate advance on the Elm Springs Road
WV
United States
William Vandever
Led the last United States detachment into the Little Sugar Creek position
AP
Confederacy
Albert Pike
Brought the Cherokee Mounted Rifles and Texas cavalry into Van Dorn’s army

Historical images

This 1889 print includes American Indian troops. Albert Pike’s Cherokee regiments joined Van Dorn at the end of the episode. · Image source and credits

Van Dorn ordered the exhausted army onto this route during the night of March 6–7. · Image source and credits

Sources and image credits