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Pea Ridge National Military
Park
Civil War Site
Pea Ridge, Benton County, Arkansas |
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Confederate Sunset
As the sun set on the first day of battle, about 3,000 rebels
from Missouri made their final charge here. Crossing Ben
Ruddick's stubbled cornfield, they ran straight toward the
muzzles of Federal cannon set wheel hub to wheel hub against a
line of trees. After hours of fighting withdrawals, this last
Union line held firm. Rebuffed Confederates ebbed back to
Elkhorn Tavern. In the dusk, men of both armies feared they were
standing on the brink of collapse.
.....it was almost dark and we got so near the [Federal] battery
that the fire from the guns would pass in jetting streams,
through our lines.
Asa Payne, private, 3rd Missouri Regiment.
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A Perfect Storm of Shot and Shell
...[the Yankees] opened a perfect storm of round and shrapnell
shot and shell...[the ground] was literally ploughed up by
cannon ball...It is a perfect miracle that any of us ever came
out.
John J. Good, Captain, Dallas Texas Light Artillery, Good's
Battery
Here two armies lined up for a second day of fighting after a
long, bitterly cold night. Confederate artillerists set up their
guns along the edge of these woods. The Union battle line was
only 500 yards away - a 5-minute walk- across wide open fields.
At 8:00 a.m. the Union cannon bellowed out their first volley,
concentrating first on the Confederate artillery positions here.
Confederate gunners fired back. The roar of big guns was heard
more than 50 miles away. The Yankee barrage went on nonstop for
two hours.
It was the largest artillery shelling of the Civil War up to
that point. The unrelenting bombardment forced the surviving
Confederate cannoneers - by then low on ammunition- back to the
safety at Elkhorn Tavern. |
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That Beautiful Charge
...That beautiful charge I shall never forget; with banners
streaming, with drums beating, and our long line of blue coats
advancing upon the double quick, with their deadly bayonets
gleaming in the sunlight, and every man and officer yelling at
the top of his lungs.
Eugene R. Payne, captain, 37th Illinois Infantry Regiment
When the bugles sounded the charge at 10:00 a.m., standing here
were 10,000 Union men - an entire army visible from one place.
During the Civil War such a sight was so rare that its
terrifying grandeur seared itself into the memory of every man
present. |
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"Dat De Shpot, Sergent!"
...I saw General Sigel sight one piece...and send a shot at the
[rebel] guns that had driven us back...It went tearing in among
the men and horses, killing and wounding both, and then exploded
in one of the caissons...Placing his glass to his eye to note
the effect of his shot, the General said, "Dat de shpot, Sergent;
just put'em right in dare."
Samuel McKay, 37th Illinois Infantry Regiment
General Franz Sigel ordered the Union gunners positioned here to
concentrate on first one Confederate target, then another. Two
hours of methodical, massed cannon fire shattered enemy battle
lines and morale. Pea Ridge marked the first time this practice
was used effectively in a Civil War Battle.
Franz Sigel learned how to handle artillery as a young officer
in Germany. Sigel - the second highest ranking Union officer in
the Army of the Southwest - worked his way along the lines,
moving from cannon to cannon. |
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Benton County
| Pea Ridge
Virtual Tour 1 |
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