Return to Pea Ridge

[USS ALASKA]

Collection; Master of Military Art and Science Theses
Title; Civil war logistics: effects of logistics on the Pea Ridge Campaign.
Author ;Bailey, Jarrod C.
Branch/Country; United States Army

Abstract; This study examines the logistical system that supported the Federal Army of the Southwest in the American Civil War during the Pea Ridge Campaign of January-March, 1862, under the command of Brigadier General Samuel R. Curtis. The Pea Ridge Campaign was carried out along the U.S. frontier of southwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas, a sparsely populated region with little economic infrastructure. The forces operating in the region did not have the benefit of railroads or navigable bodies of water. This study concludes that the commander and his quartermasters overcame enormous problems posed by the environment and situation to win the most significant victory in the Trans-Mississippi Theater in the entire Civil War. Creating a logistical system that allowed the Army of the Southwest to extend its operational reach, improve freedom of action, and extend the endurance of the army. Logistics is a rarely explored, but very important, field of study. This study attempts to put the field of logistics in its proper place within the study of military history. Logistics is tied with strategy and tactics; without logistics, victory is not possible.

Series; Command and General Staff College (CGSC) MMAS thesis
Focus Program; Military History
Publisher' Fort Leavenworth, KS : US Army Command and General Staff College,
Date; Original 2015-06-12
Date; Digital 2015-06-12
Release statement; Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)
Repository; Combined Arms Research Library
Library; Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library
Date created; 2015-09-30
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Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Deleted User CS]

William Shea and Earl Hess wrote an excellent book on this battle several years ago. David.

 

[Pollaco]

I didn't see much mention of Ben McCulloch. Isn't this the battle where he lost his life in his black velvet "battle suit"?

 

[James N.]

I didn't see much mention of Ben McCulloch. Isn't this the battle where he lost his life in his black velvet "battle suit"?

As I said on the first page, this thread is essentially a continuation or elaboration on an earlier one I titled The Battle of Elkhorn Tavern: https://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/the-battle-of-elkhorn-tavern-arkansas-march-7-8-1862.96408/ in which I gave a slightly different description of events, including the photo above and the following paragraph:

Sigel and his men reacted quickly however, and formed a line against the advancing Confederates. At this point a crisis occurred when Ben McCullough decided to investigate things for himself and rode forward, clad in a black velvet suit and top hat. He made a tempting target for a Union rifleman and soon this wing of the Confederate attack was without its leader. Command devolved upon Arkansas Brig. Gen. James McIntosh but he too was soon killed while leading a cavalry charge. The best uniformed, drilled, and led unit on this part of the field was the 3d Louisiana which went into line of battle in the thickets and became disorganized; a Union counterattack captured its Colonel Louis Hebert, leaving this entire wing leaderless and essentially out of the battle for the remainder of the day.

Above, Confederate commanders at Leetown; center, Ben McCullough, said to have been killed by a Federal sharpshooter named Peter Pelican, flanked at right by James McIntosh who died leading his Arkansas cavalry in a charge, and at left by Col. Louis Hebert of the 3rd Louisiana, who was captured.

 

[James N.]

Another *BUMP* for the anniversary of this pivotal early 1862 battle!

 

[Peace Society]

I think it would be great fun to take the book Pea Ridge (Shea and Hess), starting in Rolla and read thru it step by step, following the route, perhaps all the way to Helena.

 

[James N.]

Another *BUMP* for today's anniversary of the battle!

 

[AA484]

I also said this in one of the Wilson's Creek threads but if you can make it out to Pea Ridge, by all means do so. Along with WC, the most pleasantly surprised I have been at a battlefield. Very little in the way of modern encroachment on the battlefield and very easy to interpret what happened.

 

[TerryB]

Oh, how I miss the Boston Mtns! Thanks so much for posting.