$Log1 <FONT=HelpText,C,20,20,20> March 7th, 1862
Northwest Arkansas, Elkhorn Tavern
 
<FONT=HelpText,L,20,20,20>        
      During the afternoon Carr's thin ranks were bolstered by the arrival of urgently needed reinforcements. After receiving Carr's plea for help, Curtis ordered Colonel William Vandever at Little Sugar Creek to take his brigade and hurry north. Vandever brought the 9th Iowa and 25th Missouri—another 1,000 soldiers—and the 3rd Iowa Battery into the growing fight around two o'clock. Shortly afterward two more guns rumbled up to the tavern, escorted by a Missouri cavalry company commanded by Captain Frederick W. Benteen of later Little Big Horn fame. An hour later a battalion of the 8th Indiana and a section of the 1st Indiana Battery arrived from Little Sugar Creek.
       While the Confederates deployed near the tanyard at the bottom of the slope, Carr completed the arrangement of his forces at the top around Elkhorn Tavern. Unlike Van Dorn, Carr had a fairly good view of what his opponent was up to. Carr became alarmed as he watched the Confederate line of battle unfold, for he had not expected to meet such a powerful enemy force. It was apparent that he was badly outnumbered. Nevertheless, Carr saw the situation in much the same way as did Osterhaus at Leetown. The Union army's vast assemblage of supply wagons was parked only a few hundred yards south of the tavern. Despite the formidable odds, his only option was to stand and fight. To gain as much time as possible, Carr decided to pitch into the Rebels and attempt to throw them into confusion. He sent a plea for reinforcements to Curtis, then got down to business.
       Just as the Missourians began to move uphill, Carr personally led the 1st Iowa Battery about three hundred yards down Telegraph Road into Cross Timber Hollow. When the Union guns opened fire, the astonished Confederates stopped in their tracks. 
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$Carr <FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Curtis Headquarters <FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Northwest Arkansas
2:00 p.m., March 7th, 1862
<FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Colonel Carr
      Hold the ridge as long as possible, additional reinforcements are en route.  Should the enemy prove too strong, fallback south and meet the relief force, then form a new defensive line.  A strong defensive stand and nightfall should give us time to consolidate our forces.
 
<FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>
Brig Gen Samuel Ryan Curtis
Commanding Officer
Army of the Southwest
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$Carr2 <FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Carr Headquarters <FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Northwest Arkansas
2:45 p.m., March 7th, 1862
<FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Colonel Carr
      Our left is in peril of being flanked, permission to refuse our line south sir.
 
<FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>
Colonel William Vandever
Commanding Officer
2nd Brigade
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$Carr3 <FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Curtis Headquarters <FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>Northwest Arkansas
4:00 p.m., March 7th, 1862
<FONT=MsgFont,L,20,20,20>Colonel Carr
      I have arrived with reinforcements and a new defensive line is being formed south of your position.  Fallback south and reform your forces to our right, artillery will cover your withdrawal.
 
<FONT=MsgFont,R,20,20,20>
Brig Gen Samuel Ryan Curtis
Commanding Officer
Army of the Southwest
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$EndMajorFail <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and suffered a major defeat.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office, but an anonymous source was quoted as saying, "An inquiry will be forthcoming, as certain officers should be removed from command immediately."  The flower of our youth has died on the field of battle.  A retreat is probable.  We must be prepared for the worst.  Heavy casualty lists are to follow...
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$EndMinorFail <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and suffered a minor defeat.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues.  A retreat is possible.  We must be prepared for the worst.  Casualty lists are to follow...
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$EndDraw <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>A battle in the West was fought in northwestern ARKANSAS today.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues, but victory or defeat is still unknown.  We wish good fortune to the troops on that faraway field, and as always we must be prepared for the worst.  Casualty lists are to follow...
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$EndMinorSuccess <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and achieved a minor victory.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues, but there is a long road to march before we see the end to this struggle.  Casualty lists are to follow...
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$EndMajorSuccess <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>In northwestern ARKANSAS, near the MISSOURI border, our forces met the enemy in battle and achieved a major victory.  Reports are just arriving by telegram to this office as the fight continues, but there is a long road to march before we see the end to this struggle.  Casualty lists are to follow...
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$EndKilled <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>Today our side lost another valiant officer at the Battle of Pea Ridge, in ARKANSAS - Colonel Eugene Asa Carr.
Eugene Asa Carr had a reputation as a talented and courageous Indian fighter. He entered the U.S. Military Academy at age 16 and graduated in 1850, 19th out of a class of 44. Between 1850 and 1856, he served with the Regiment of Mounted Rifles in actions against the Kiowa and Comanche Indians. He spent the next two years assigned to peace-keeping duty in Kansas with the 1st U.S. Cavalry.
When the Civil War broke out, Carr commanded Company I, 1st U.S. Cavalry. Carr had been placed under arrest for an unknown reason by General Lyon prior to the Battle of Wilson's Creek, but was restored to duty as the campaign began. He led Company I at the battle, but his actions were undistinguished.
With the need for experienced officers, especially those who had seen combat duty, Carr was promoted to Colonel and given command of the 4th Division, Army of the Southwest.   

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$BattleInfo <FONT=EndFont,L,0,0,0>WE devote page 196 to an illustration of the great battle fought by General Curtis at PEA RIDGE, ARKANSAS, on 6th, 7th, and 8th March. The official report of General Curtis is as follows:
HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST, PEA RIDGE, ARKANSAS, March 9, 1862.
GENERAL,—On Thursday, the 6th inst., the enemy commenced an attack on my right wing, assailing and following the rear-guard of a detachment under General Siegel to my main lines on Sugar Creek Hollow, but ceased firing when he met my reinforcements about four P. M.
During the night I became convinced that he had moved on so as to attack my right or rear, therefore early on the 7th I ordered a change of front to the right, my right, which thus became my left, still resting on Sugar Creek Hollow. This brought my line across Pea Ridge, with my new right resting on Head Cross Timber Hollow, which is the head of Big Sugar Creek. I also ordered an immediate advance of the cavalry and light artillery, under Colonel Osterhaus, with orders to attack and break what I supposed would be the reinforced line of the enemy. This movement was in progress when the enemy, at eleven A. M., commenced an attack on my right. The fight continued mainly at these points during the day, the enemy having gained the point held by the command of Colonel Carr, at Cross Timber Hollow, but was entirely repulsed, with the fall of the commander, McCulloch, in the centre, 
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