Pea Ridge 2: Keetsville

 After the disappointment of the action at Flat Creek Price fled south, the disorganised Union Forces were unable to mount a pursuit right away so camped on the battlefield. As the weather closed in and a storm raged the Federal forces made their way back to McDowell and shelter, the Confederates however were caught in the open and spent a miserable two days in arctic conditions barely making any headway. When the weather improved on the 20th the Federal cavalry, set off in pursuit, further down the Telegraph road they skirmished with Price's rearguard which managed to hold them off, Colonel Taylor of the 1st Mo. Cavalry reported the main reason was the lack of moral fibre of Major Meszaros of the 4th Mo. who repeatedly seemed to delay engaging the enemy. Due to this report Curtis reorganised all the Union cavalry into one brigade under Taylor.

Meanwhile Price received word that Ben McCulloch had arrived at Keetsville with his division and was resting up after the storm. As Price's men ambled into the town McCulloch demanded to know why Price had not ordered up Pike's Indian brigade, McCulloch having a more favourable opinion of the natives, Price immediately sent a courier off to find Pike. It was agreed that the army would make a stand at Keetsville.

Finding a good defensive position just outside of town Price put his Second Brigade on Macdonald's Ridge while the Guard held the eastern edge and the centre, McCulloch's troops were to hold Gopher Hill, the idea being that Price would attack the Union right while McCulloch held in place. Curtis on arriving and taking in the Rebel deployment decided to employ the tactics which had won him the fight at Flat Creek, he decided this time to put most of his troops on the left and attack Gopher's Hill and sweep round to cut off the Telegraph Road, his right flank was to hold and defend between the Johnson and Winn farms.

 

Union lines.

Curtis loads the left.

McCulloch's boys fresh for the fight.

 The battle began as both sides expected, the Union cavalry dashed for the woods to their front as the boys in blue emerged from Bumpass Wood, this broken ground and the crush of troops in the area slowed the advance. The Confederates on their left had no such problems making a quick advance on the Federal right through the open fields. Franz Sigel however saw what was happening and ordered General Schaefer to prepare a line of battle around the Johnson house. Massed cannon fire met the Union advance and it was a bit more dangerous than it had been at Flat Creek, but once again several batteries had to retire due to lack of ammunition. Confederate skirmishers were causing problems and the advance had to deal with them before moving forward, the brigades also drifted to the right to make more room for the coming assault. The Federal cavalry also found the woods heavy going and only a couple of regiments could dismount and move in line while the rest remained in reserve, they seemed to have the jump on the defenders and Taylor was about to order a charge when he fell seriously wounded, leaving his front line in disarray, a lost opportunity for the troopers. 

Union stalled.

The Guard break through.

Assault on Johnson Farm.

 Meanwhile on the Confederate left Prices men were determined to get their revenge and swiftly closed with the enemy launching a series of charges at the Union centre, within a short time the Federal centre had been shattered, troops running for the rear and complete batteries being abandoned, the troops around the Johnson house now found themselves cut off from the rest of the army. A crises had been reached, Price needed more men to support his successful attack, but the Second Brigade was now making its main effort the Yankees at the Johnson farm, if these could be moved a third of the Union army would be gone. The successful Rebs however were in a precarious position as not all the Yankee's had run and the troops in the Bumpass cornfield were now altering their line to meet the threat to their flank. The battle was turning vicious.

Trouble on the hill.

The Cauldron.

Price's centre breaks.

 Meanwhile the main Union assault was getting ever closer to McCulloch on the hill, the crush of cavalry was being held off but the infantry were now in a position to launch some charges. Canister flew and close range musketry played havoc with the chargers, two brigadiers fell but a gap had been opened in the defence. Even although confusion reigned in the ranks while replacement officers made their way to the front enough troops remained to continue advancing, Division commander Jeff Davis himself leading the way. At last the cavalry were making headway supported by infantry, the Reb line began to buckle, several melees were resolved in favour of the Union troops and more Rebs fled, a small knot now remained on the hill around McCulloch.

On the right a few troops had made it out of the cauldron at the Johnson farm and they joined a new line protecting the Federal right as Curtis ordered his artillery to support them. Although Price's men had made a herculean effort to shatter the Union right they were now too weak to make any more attacks, half of his troops were already skedaddling down the Telegraph road away from the action. With McCulloch in dire straits on the hill 'Old Pap' followed the advice of his aides and rode to the rear. There was still some desperate fighting on Gopher Hill but the outcome was not in doubt as a wave of blue broke on the ridge.

Gopher Hill about to fall.

Both sides stare at each other.

 This turned out to be one of the best and most exciting games I have played in a long time, every time I was sure I heard the fat lady sing the troops put me right and continued to fight on. Troops who should never have rallied did, others aiming at close range ran out of ammo, some regiments simply refused to rout while others carried all before them, bullets whistled through the hats of officers leaving them unharmed, what a game. Casualties were heavy and returns show the Rebs suffered the brunt of them during their early assault.

Gopher Hill defences overrun.

Remnants of the Missouri State Guard rout.

 What did I think of the overall battle, I was surprised first of all by the success of Price's men, these guys were cold, hungry and desperate having spent two days in the open during a blizzard but they made a superhuman effort in the fight. In fact the initial attack may have been too successful which can happen in JRII, there were no follow up troops and having outreached any support the forward units suffered from the backlash, this meant several routed and refused to return, allowing the Federals to recover. The crush of Federal troops on their left slowed the advance towards Gopher Hill and at one point it looked like McCulloch would hold as he built up a support line behind the front, sadly for him one regiment ran for the rear and the subsequent gap in the line allowed the Yanks to start to outflank the defenders, some put up a struggle but most were swept away. There was to be no stalwart defence of the hill unlike the men at the Johnson farm.

Both forces are shattered and with another retreat on the books Price's men are being pushed to their limit and badly need rest. We will see what tomorrow brings.