The Rebs get ready to assault towards Lee Town.

The Battle of Pea Ridge was the Confederates next attempt to gain Missouri for the South after their victory at Wilson's Creek the year before.

Gen. Van Dorn's 17,000 men advanced into Missouri with the Union forces withdrawing before them. Gen. Curtis took over as commander from Nathaniel Lyon who was killed at Wilson's Creek.

They met at Sugar Creek (further South of the battle map). However, the Union forces were well entrenched behind the river, mainly because Curtis was an excellent engineer.

Van Dorn, wanting a fight, and also needing supplies, split his army in two. McCulloch would attack Lee Town while the left would attack into Curtis' supply centre.

The Confederates lost The Battle of Pea Ridge. The result was that Missouri would stay with the Union for the remainder of the civil war.

TIPS

The Confederates out number the Union 2:1 (something that is rare in the ACW). However, they have real command and control problems. You must get all your troops together first and then attack. Send Price after Elkhorn Tavern. Don't try to send some units back to help McCulloch because Price cannot command both.

Take your time. There is plenty. Once you have secured Elkhorn Tavern, press onto attack Lee Town from the east. Then the defenders will have a hard time of it.

Also be careful of your two large brigades. They are very powerful but vulnerable to smaller units getting on their flanks. Perhaps using Supported Line is a better tactic.

For the Union player, your force is much smaller but far more nimble. Your cavalry have excellent movement ability because they can be within twelve hexes of Curtis and still get their orders. Use them, and their fast horse artillery, to find the enemy and jump on their flanks.

You also have a parity with artillery. If you can draw the Confederates into a trap of several batteries, you can even the odds quickly.

And don't try to fight the large brigade toe-to-toe, unless you have good artillery support with your brigades. Just one small brigade firing into the flank of the large brigades can do enormous damage to them.

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