WI: Beauregard in the Trans-Mississippi?

In January 1862, Earl Van Dorn was sent west to command the Army of the West. Two months later, Beauregard would be sent to be Sidney Johnston's second-in-command after several squabbles with Davis and the government.

But what if Davis had lost patience with Beauregard a month or two earlier? How well would Beauregard do as commander of the Trans-Mississippi theater? Where would Van Dorn be sent instead?
 
If Beauregard reaches Arkansas about the same time Van Dorn did OTL, I think Pea Ridge is an almost unavoidable battlefield. Curtis was entrenching behind Sugar Creek with his flank totally exposed.
Van Dorn seemed to always plan tactics with a cavalry perspective: maneuver fast and hit them hard from the rear.
Beauregard would be much more likely to use the bulk of his force driving up the Ford Road and sending at most a cavalry regiment up Cross Timber Hollow. (Maybe detach Pike's Indian Troops?)
I expect he would keep a few men and some artillery demonstrating across the creek try to keep Curtis in his entrenchments as long as possible. (Might be a good use of the troops that hadn't been formed into brigades yet.)
And Beauregard would definitely bring some staff with him (IIRC Van Dorn brought his cousin or nephew with him then built an ad-hoc staff right before the battle). A staff with defined roles would hopefully remember to maybe, um, you know, BRING THE SUPPLY TRAIN TO THE BATTLE! :)

Van Dorn was itching for battle and had the favor of Davis. I could see him sent to Shiloh or getting a Corp command in Virginia.
 
One thing that concerns was that at Shiloh Beauregard tried to do too much with green troops (having mostly green troops move en echelon).

Van Dorn could become cavalry commander in either Tennessee or Virginia.
 
Van Dorn was a decent cavalry commander. Kept there and away from army command will give him a decent reputation in history.
He would even become a lost causer favorite if he dies as OTL.
"Van Dorn mighta' saved Gettysburg if he hadn't messed with the wrong man's wife."

Pea Ridge is one of my favorite unsung what ifs. There was a potential to crush Curtis's army. If the Reb's start pushing into central Missouri, how many US units go there instead of Shiloh?
 
Van Dorn was a decent cavalry commander. Kept there and away from army command will give him a decent reputation in history.
He would even become a lost causer favorite if he dies as OTL.
"Van Dorn mighta' saved Gettysburg if he hadn't messed with the wrong man's wife."

Pea Ridge is one of my favorite unsung what ifs. There was a potential to crush Curtis's army. If the Reb's start pushing into central Missouri, how many US units go there instead of Shiloh?
Having Van Dorn, a Mississippian, in a major command in the AoNV could help with the "too much Virginia" problem. Speaking of that, I think having Longstreet, Jackson, and Kirby Smith as corps commanders could suitably diversify the AoNV. But I digress - anyway, I do think Beauregard could do a good job if he doesn't get ahead of himself.
 
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