March 8, 1862 Day Two
Title
March 8, 1862 Day Two
Description
The Battle of Pea Ridge/Elkhorn Tavern was an important battle for the Trans-Mississippi area during the American Civil War. The Confederate's were desperate to keep Missouri for the southern cause - with a failed attempt to take St. Louis Missouri was one step closer to staying with the Union. The Union knew that taking Missouri and from there Arkansas, they would eventually make it to the Mississippi River, cutting the Confederates in two and leaving the states west of the Mississippi abandoned by the Confederate military.
Collection Items
Day Two
The Confederates and Union gathered in the early morning, prepared to take victory. The Union started a fierce barrage of artillery for 2 hours - the most powerful show of artillery force in the entire war up until that point. The Confederates, low…
Union Cannon Fire
The carefully orchestrated and precise barrage of cannon fire for 2 straight hours from the Union lines devastated the Confederate troops and moral. This was the first time this practice was used effectively in the Civil War.
The Final Push - Union Victory
After the massive artillery barrage, the Union infantry gathered for a final charge. The entire 10,000 strong army was visible on the battlefield - a terrifying sight to behold. After the success of both the artillery and infantry, the Confederates…