Date: 5/18/26 8:14 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Pea Ridge then and now
When I visit Pea Ridge National Military Park, I always wonder about Francis Marion Neal, my grandpa several greats back who was a Confederate soldier from Van Buren. He’d gotten involved at start of the Civil War in a volunteer militia group called Frontier Guards. In March 1862, his unit was part of the 17th Arkansas infantry (later termed 22nd) at Pea Ridge.
His unit was said by some “to have not acquitted itself well” during the battle. (I never heard anyone in my Neal relatives talk about this, however).
My visits to Pea Ridge now involve taking my time to slowly and introspectively drive the tour loop road (about 7 miles) where I imagine how my relative, then 21-years old, must have experienced a deadly contest with hundreds killed, many more wounded. The Park Service has provided places to stop at various points of the old battlefield. In addition, I make a lot of stops inbetween, pulling partially off the road so others in more of a hurry (most visitors) can pass. This also provides safety for the many walkers, runners, and cyclists on the same road.
During the past years I have done numerous bird surveys in park, all submitted to either Arkansas Audubon Society database, to ARBIRD list, and Cornell’s eBird, in case anyone in the Park is interested in bird communities that now occupy the former battlefield of my g g grandfather. It’s a great place to see native birds and plants.
During my latest visit, May 16, 2026, I had wonderful views of Acadian Flycatchers near the Leetown battlefield stop and then numerous Summer Tanagers all along the tour road over Pea Ridge itself.
We had just seen Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies on Indian Hemp when we started seeing Sundrops (AKA, Narrow-leaf Evening Primrose, Oenothera fruticosa). Of course we had to stop, and briefly park partially off the road for all that. The Park police politely claimed I was blocking traffic and wasn’t allowed to pull off on the side.
I don’t argue with law enforcement, but I do wonder how the public is supposed to appreciate the historical importance of the entire 4,000 acres and the subtle natural beauty of this Ozark landscape if partially pulling off on the roadside to allow others to safely pass while others stop is somehow interfering with park management.
Anyhow … I will always try to get along with law enforcement while wondering if what I am seeing is anything like what my Neal relative saw and experienced in March 1862. Of course these are not the same birds and plants, but still … a functioning park is a place that stimulates wonder … and Pea Ridge NMP is a great place to see birds typical of this part of the country.
