Night Moves

As two armies grappled on Pea Ridge, General Samuel Curtis faced the challenge of turning the 10,500 men in the Union army from facing south to facing north while protecting his supply wagons from capture. He ordered Generals Sigel and Davis to move with their divisions during the night, form on the left of Carr's division, and be ready to renew the battle at daylight, expecting the enemy to concentrate its whole force at Elk Horn and confident of success the next day. After night fell, Federal divisions that had fought at Leetown had to be brought together with the battered defenders astride the Telegraph Road. Cold and hungry Union soldiers who had marched much of the night had to be fed and issued fresh ammunition as thousands of men and horses, hundreds of wagons, and dozens of cannons crowded narrow country roads in the dark. Union officers knew the Confederates faced the same demanding winter-night task, as both armies had to reorganize and resupply in order to fight again.

Garfield, Arkansas · United States