It is good to pre sprout peas in a damp cloth but do not plant the cloth into the soil with the peas. Instead pluck the sprouting seeds from the cloth and place them into a valley or row that can be covered with an inch of fine soil firmly pressed down on top of the seeds.  You can use cheesecloth to sprout the pea seeds or a dish towel. I dampen the cloth, sprinkle the seeds then roll up the cloth and cover with plastic wrap loosely and leave indoors in a warm spot. Mist the cloth daily so it won't dry out. In 3 or 4 days unwrap and you will see that the seeds have cracked with perhaps some roots coming out. If you don't see the seeds cracking open, rewrap the seeds and wait a few more days. You want to plant the seeds into the soil as soon as the seed coats are cracked as leaving them in the damp cloth too long could cause them to rot.  This pre sprouting helps the seeds to germinate sooner in the cold spring soil. Now get out there and give peas a chance. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti