March 7, 1862. With ranks formed, the men of the 2nd Missouri Infantry along with their 1st Missouri Brigade brethren, patiently awaits the command from Colonel Little to move forward.      

Many of the 2nd Missouri Infantry had seen prior service in the Missouri State Guard (MSG) and once their term of enlistment had expired, many pledged their loyalty to the south and enlisted into regular Confederate service while in winter quarters during the last few months of 1861.

For the MSG, success had come fairly easy with victories in Missouri at Cole Camp, Carthage, Wilson’s Creek, Big Dry Wood, and the Battle of Hemp Bales in which 3,600 Federal prisoners were captured. But at the close of 1861, the Missourians found them selves withdrawn to the southern portion of Missouri as the Union Army occupied the vicinity of Springfield. Commanded by General Sterling Price, the MSG made an attempt to advance upon Springfield but only to be routed by a surprised Federal attack and thus withdrew across the border into Arkansas.

With a leader needed to subdue the two strong personalities of Gen. Price and Gen. Benjamin McCulloch and organize an effective fighting force within the Trans-Mississippi District, President Davis called upon Major General Earl Van Dorn to assume command of the district. By late January, Gen. Van Dorn was in command of the Confederate troops and had full intentions of bringing a fight to the Union. General Van Dorn’s strategy was simple, enter Missouri once again, take St. Louis, and thus turning over control of this important state to the Confederacy. He would accomplish this task by utilizing his Army of the West, which consisted of 17,000 men and 60 guns, and smashing whatever forces that would oppose him.

With the Confederate troops nestled near the Boston Mountains in Arkansas, Union Brig. Gen. Samuel Curtis and his Army of the Southwest with 10,500 men and 50 guns, moved into Benton County Ark. and tracked along a stream called Sugar Creek. It was here that Brig. Gen. Curtis decided to entrench himself and await the Confederate forces. Van Dorn realizing how strong of a position that Curtis had secured, decided to split his force (led by Price & McCulloch) and reunite on the north side of the stream placing them directly behind Curtis and his fortifications.

With Van Dorn deciding to leave his supply wagons behind in order to make better time, the army split and attempted to pull off a grand flanking attempt, which if successful, would yield a Confederate victory and a crushing blow to the occupying Federals. With felled trees blocking their path, exhausted and hungry, with no supply wagons to support their advance, Van Dorn’s men had been considerately delayed in accomplishing their task. In fact, the slow progress of Van Dorn’s troops allowed the Union forces to reposition portions of their force so that that they could readily defend an unexpected attack from the rear if needed.

 With Van Dorn’s advanced guard accidentally caught off guard by Union patrols near Elm Springs, the Federals were now aware of the Confederates presence. With growing frustration to strike the enemy as soon as possible, Gen. Van Dorn orders his troops to attack the Union position near a place called Elkhorn Tavern.

It is here that the men of the 2nd Missouri Infantry are formed into ranks and awaits their orders. For the Missourians, everything is at stake. A victory would route the Federals and make way for a return to their homeland but defeat could seal their fate from ever returning home to see their loved ones. The Captain of Co. B yells out his command…….. FORWARD!