Nicholas Bartlett Pearce, born in Caldwell County, Kentucky, on July 20, 1828, began his association with Arkansas through his military career.
After graduating from West Point in 1850, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 7th U.S. Infantry and stationed primarily in Arkansas and the Indian Territory.
This posting, lasting until his resignation in March 1858, marked his initial tie to the state, where he gained familiarity with its geography and communities. During this period, he lived in military barracks or posts, establishing a foundational connection to Arkansas.
A significant personal tie was formed in 1857 when Pearce married Mary Elizabeth Gray, whose family owned a mercantile business in Osage Mills in Benton County This marriage linked him to a local family, and in 1858, following his resignation from the army, he joined his father-in-law's business, becoming a civilian resident of Osage Mills.
This move solidified his residency, where he lived and worked until 1881, except for periods of travel related to his later employment. His role as colonel of the local militia further integrated him into the community, reflecting his leadership and local standing.
During the American Civil War, Pearce's ties to Arkansas deepened through his military leadership. Despite his vocal opposition to secession, in May 1861, the Arkansas Secession Convention appointed him brigadier general of the state's forces, commanding the 1st (Western) Division.
He led Arkansas troops at the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861, a significant engagement in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. His command included units such as the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Regiments, Arkansas State Troops, and the Pulaski Light Artillery, all based in Arkansas.
Pearce's military leadership was prominently displayed during the Battle of Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861, one of the earliest major engagements in the Trans-Mississippi Theater.
His brigade, numbering approximately 2,234 troops, was part of the Confederate forces that achieved a significant victory against Union General Nathaniel Lyon's army. Pearce's account, as recorded in historical documents, provides insight into his role:
"The Federal forces under General Nathaniel Lyon, between 5000 and 6000 strong, occupied the town of Springfield, and General McCulloch was expecting them to advance and give him battle. The battle soon became general along the entire line, and the firing was very heavy.
The enemy’s batteries were doing great execution, and our troops were suffering severely. About 10 o'clock in the morning, General McCulloch was killed, and the command devolved upon General Price."
This victory came at a heavy price, with two Arkansas units under his command suffering particularly heavy casualties, underscoring the toll of the engagement.
Following Wilson's Creek, a contentious issue arose when Arkansas officials sought to transfer Pearce's brigade to Confederate service, a move he actively opposed.
Historical accounts vary on the number of troops willing to join the Confederate command, but it appears few were inclined to continue, with several units petitioning for Pearce to remain in command.
By September 1861, all organized state troops had either been transferred or mustered out, marking the end of Pearce's field command. From December 13, 1861, to the war's end, he served as a major in the Confederate Commissary Department, responsible for supplying provisions in Arkansas, the Indian Territory, and Texas, a critical but less visible role in the war effort.
After the war, Pearce's ties to Arkansas continued through his post-war activities. Paroled in Houston, Texas, in 1865, he secured a pardon from President Andrew Johnson and returned to Osage Mills in 1867.
There, he focused on rebuilding his home, mill, and store, contributing to the local economy.
From 1872 to 1874, he taught mathematics at the University of Arkansas, serving as the first math professor, which was a notable contribution to the state's educational development.
During this period, from 1870 to 1884, he was also employed by a Kansas City wholesale house, possibly involving travel, but his primary residence remained in Arkansas until 1881.
Pearce's family life further rooted him in Arkansas. He and Mary Elizabeth Gray had five children, with the first four born in Osage Mills: William Gray Pearce (1858), Mary Elizabeth Pearce (1860), Nicholas Bartlett Pearce Jr. (1862), and Allen Morse Pearce (1864).
Their fifth child, Nancy May Pearce, was born in 1866 in Texas, likely during Pearce's post-war parole period. The birth of his children in Arkansas, particularly during his residency in Osage Mills, underscores his familial connection to the state, with his family growing and establishing roots there.
An important aspect of Pearce's ties is the duration of his residency, which lasted until 1881, when he moved to the Whitesboro, Texas, area due to his wife's health. This relocation marked the end of his direct ties to Arkansas, though his earlier decades in the state shaped much of his life and career.
General Nicholas Bartlett Pearce was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Whitesboro, Texas, after his death on March 8, 1894, in Dallas, Texas.
