(3-99) North view of Pea Ridge from the Visitor Center. Old Telegraph Road at center of photo, East Overlook on high ground at right

Touring the Park: After stopping at the Visitor Center, follow the arrows from the parking area to the Old Telegraph Road. Built in 1828 between Springfield, Mo., and Fayetteville, Ark., the road was part of the Trail of Tears that saw thousands of Cherokees and other American Indians forcibly relocated from their homes in Georgia and the Carolinas to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. In 1858, the road became part of the Butterfield Overland Mail route to California. In 1860, a telegraph wire was strung along it
 
Panorama looking north from Visitor Center 1 (July 26, 2002)

(3-99) Battlefield Tour Stop 1 (General Curtis's Headquarters Site). 2002 Tour Guide: The Union commander located his headquarters in this vicinity just before the battle. His troops were entrenched along the bluffs overlooking Little Sugar Creek about two miles south of here. Curtis believed that any Confederate attack would come from the south against his fortified line. Events proved him wrong, however, and he nearly lost his army
 
Information Tablet: Telegraph Road (July 26, 2002)

(3-99) Battlefield Tour Stop 2 (Leetown Site). Marker above: Leetown Hamlet Site. Site Marker east of Leetown site: The small hamlet near here included two stores, a blacksmith shop, Masonic hall, church, school and several residences. During the fighting some of the buildings were used by the Union Army as hospitals. 2002 Tour Guide: The small hamlet of Leetown once stood  a short distance southwest of the parking lot. All visible evidence of the village is now gone. During the battles, the wounded of both sides were taken to Leetown, where buildings and tents served as hospitals

(3-99) Battlefield Tour Stop 3 (Leetown Battlefield), northwest view. 2002 Tour Guide: The thunder of cannon, the crash of musketry, and the mingled shouts and curses of struggling soldiers filled the air in these fields and woods in 1862. The Confederate attack through the woods north of this field and across the tour road to your right front failed to defeat the Federals deployed along the south fence line. Two Confederate generals, Ben McCulloch and James McIntosh, were killed near the north boundaries of this field (approximate center of tree-line)
 
Information Tablet: Leetown, Morning, March 7, 1862 (July 26, 2002)
 
Information Tablet: Leetown, Afternoon, March 7, 1862 (July 26, 2002)
 
Panorama of Leetown Battlefield (July 26, 2002)