Battle of Pea Ridge

The Battle of Pea Ridge (also known as Elkhorn Tavern) was fought on March 7 and March 8, 1862, near Bentonville, Arkansas. In the battle, Union Army forces led by Brigadier General Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Major General Earl Van Dorn effectively securing Missouri, St. Louis, the Missouri River, and the Upper Mississippi River for the Union. Pea Ridge was the only major Civil War battle in which Indian troops participated. Almost 1,000 Cherokee made up two Confederate regiments, with Cherokee Stand Watie as their Colonel. The Indian Brigade joined McCulloch’s division.