Cavalry
Cavalry played a major role in this battle for both sides. The Union sent around 2,600 troops, and the CSA matched with 3,400 of their own. Cavalry was important to each army as it allowed increased mobility on horseback. Equipped with guns, ammo, swords, and bayonets, cavalry 'excelled at reconnaissance and screening infantry movements, but could also mount assaults at critical moments on the battlefield to create terror in the enemy ranks and pursue a broken opposing force.
General Thomas Hindman’s army consisted of four units, including one cavalry unit. This unit was formed of over 2,000 men from Arkansas, Texas, and Confederate Missouri. In command of this unit was Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke of Saline County, MO. Marmaduke was a smart commander, graduating from military school after attending 'both Harvard and Yale.' However, his troops were poorly armed.
On Dec. 2, when Union Brigadier General James G. Blunt found out about the plans for a Confederate attack, he ordered the 2nd Kansas Cavalry, made up of 400 troops, to Cove Creek to watch for advancements from Hindman’s army. This unit met with fighting just three days later when Joseph O. Shelby led 1,400 cavalrymen onto Cove Creek Road. Fighting went on for about a day before the 2nd Kansas Cavalry abandoned their outpost and retreated toward Newburg. By 4 a.m. the next day, the Confederates had control of Cove Creek Road because of Shelby’s cavalry unit. On the morning of Dec. 6, upon request, Dudley Wickersham, alongside 1,600 cavalry troops, was sent to join Blunt’s army. At 9 p.m. and after 35 miles of marching, they joined Blunt’s forces.
On Dec. 7, Marmaduke arrived at Prairie Grove and defeated the 6th and 7th Volunteer Missouri Cavalry, consisting of 650 troops.
In this battle, there were over 6,000 cavalry troops alone. Cavalries from Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, and Union Missouri were all included. Each side had its strategic ways of using the more mobile and deadly cavalry units to launch a surprise attack or defense.
Shea, William L.; Hess, Earl J. (1992). Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-4669-4.
Iowa in the Civil War. (1862-63). The Logan Guards: History of a Company Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Iowa GenWeb