Pea Ridge National Battlefield, Arkansas
Keeping Missouri in the Union was one of the prime objectives of the Federal government during the first year of the CivilWar. It was the reason for the Battle of Wilson's Creek near Springfield, Missouri in August of 1861, and it was one of the reasons for the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas in March, 1862.
The Pea Ridge Campaign began Christmas Day 1861, when General Samuel R. Curtis was appointed to command the Federal Southwestern District of Missouri. His main objective was to drive out the Confederates, and by mid February, 1862 his troops had chased Major General Sterling Price and the pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard into Arkansas.
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