General Samuel Curtis A bust view CDV of major general Curtis who served primarily in the Trans-Mississippi theater during the Civil War. After resigning from Congress to join the Union army, he famously commanded the Army of the Southwest and secured Missouri for the Union with a decisive victory at the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862. He was promoted to major general for this success and continued his campaign, capturing Helena, Arkansas. As commander of the Department of the Missouri, his radical abolitionist stance caused conflict with the more moderate Missouri governor, and President Lincoln was forced to reassign him in 1863. He was later given command of the Department of Kansas, where he led the Union "Army of the Border" to victory against Confederate General Sterling Price at the Battle of Westport in 1864. Back marked Published by J.O. Kane, New York.