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I've always had an interest in the Battle of Pea Ridge, partly because my grandfather was a historian and was interested in the battle, but also just because I grew up near the battlefield.

If you're interested in the historical side, Pea Ridge (March 7-8, 1862) is a fascinating and mostly-ignored battle. Unlike many of the early battles in the east, the Confederates outnumbered the Union troops, but lost due to poor leadership. Many aspects of the battle foreshadowed the turn of the war in the east, particularly the early use of trenches and fortifications built from available materials (e.g., "trees") in the field. Later in the campaign, the Union troops under Samuel Curtis became the first federal unit to deliberately cut them selves away from their supply lines, and to campaign while living off the land. The battle also settled the status of Missouri as a border state, which freed up Union forces to focus on the Mississippi.

The view from the top of Pea Ridge. Union soldiers dug in south of the ridge. Confederate troops circled the ridge and tried to cut off the Union lines of supply and communication. Union scouts detected the Confederate march, and managed to slow their advance enough to give the Union troops time to react. General Curtis managed an astonishingly fast reversal of front and rear, so that he was ready--barely--to meet the Confederate attack from the North.
The remains of Leetown Road. Most of the first day of the battle took place in or near Leetown, in dense forest and undergrowth such as seen here. Because of the forest and smoke from weapons, troops often did not see each other until they were only yards away from each other. As a result, much of the battle consisted of small, vicious skirmishes which left both armies disorganized. Two of the more effective Confederate generals, McCullough and McIntosh, were killed early in the day near Leetown. A third, Hebert, retreated in disorder and became lost in the woods. The Confederates, who were poorly coordinated under General Van Dorn, never recovered from losing these men.
Union cannon position near Leetown. These overlook either Foster's farm, or Oberson's field, the two open areas near Leetown.
Elkhorn Tavern, east of Leetown, is located on the Old Stage Road (also known as Telegraph Road, or Wire Road). The tavern was a stop on the first transcontinental stage coach route, which operated from 1858 until stopped by the war in 1861. This tavern is a reconstruction dating from the 1880's; the original tavern burned to the ground around 1864. The tavern was named for the giant elk horns on its roof.
The second day of the battle centered around the Elkhorn Tavern, as Confederate troops fought their way out of deep hollows to the north, and pushed south towards Curtis' headquarters at Pratt's Store further down Telegraph Road. Despite an advantage in men and artillery, the Confederates were not able to hold the field, and retreated in great disorder. Between disastrous leadership, a complete lack of food, clothing, and shelter, and the brutal winter weather, the battle and subsequent retreat effectively destroyed the Confederate army west of the Mississippi.

There's another aspect of Pea Ridge that made it important personally for me. About ten years ago, I wrote a short story called The Second Battle of Pea Ridge. It mostly dealt with old family issues, but part of the story took place on and near the battlefield. It was a pleasure to go back and renew my connections with my own past.