Hey everyone, welcome to episode number 102 of our Civil War podcast.

My name is Rich.

And I'm Tracy.

Hello y'all.

Thanks for tuning into the podcast.

As y'all recall, last week we started to lay out the background to the Battle of

P Ridge.

We left off last week in late February 1862 with the Federals, led by Samuel Curtis, having

pushed sterling price and his state guard out of Missouri and into northwest Arkansas.

Once they reached Arkansas, prices weary and famished troops had joined up with the Confederate

Force, commanded by Ben McCulloch that was wintering in the area.

Now the combined rebel forces in camps in the Boston Mountains, South of Fayetteville,

and the Confederate District Commander, Earl Van Dorn, is coming from Lillorock to lead

the Southern Army in person.

Van Dorn has grand dreams of using McCulloch's and prices' troop to crush the Federals,

and then he'll advance north through Missouri and capture St. Louis.

Meanwhile, after successfully pushing price and his state guardsmen out of Missouri and

pursuing them into northwest Arkansas, the Federal Commander, Curtis, had then faced

a critical decision.

Would he declare his mission accomplished and retire back into Southwest Missouri?

Or would he remain in Arkansas and prepare to fight for the foothold he had established

in enemy territory?

...