wood was a large open field. Hore and in the surrounding wood a protracted struggle ensued between Gen. McCulloch and the forces of Col. Osterhaus. But the arrival of Gen. Davis's force, as a reenforcement, so strengthened Gen. Sigel that the enemy were finally routed and driven in all directions. At the same time Gens. McCulloch and McIntosh and a number of the Confederate officers were killed. Thus the right wing of Gen. Curtis was defeated, and his left was victorious. The discipline of the right wing, however, was such as to keep the troops completely together, while the right wing of the enemy, which was defeated, was greatly disorganized in consequence of their loss of officers and lack of discipline. During the night all the Confederate forces formed a junction on the ground held by their left wing, which was a strong position, and they felt confident of a complete victory on the next day. On the Federal side the prospect was gloomy. The night was too cold to sleep without fires, and their position and nearness to the enemy would not allow fires along the advance lines. The men were exhausted by two days' fighting and the loss of sleep. The enemy's forces, in far superior numbers, held the only road for their retreat, and nearly a thousand of their companions were dead or wounded. No alternative was presented to them but to conquer or be destroyed.

With the rising sun the battle commenced. Col. Carr's division had been reenforced by a large part of that of Gen. Davis, thus enabling the right barely to hold its position. Gen. Sigel began to form his line of battle by changing his front so as to face the right flank of the enemy's position. For this purpose he first ordered the 25th Illinois, Col. Coler, to take a position along a fence in open view of the enemy's batteries, which at once opened fire upon the regiment. He next ordered a battery of six guns, partly rifled twelve-pounders, into a line one hundred paces in the rear of the 25th infantry, on a rise of ground. The 15th Missouri then formed into a line with the 25th Illinois on their left, and another battery of guns was similarly disposed a short distance behind them. Thus more infantry with batteries in their rear was placed until about thirty pieces of artillery, each about fifteen or twenty paces from the other, were in continuous line, the infantry in front lying down. Each piece opened fire as it came in position, and the fire was so directed as to silence battery after battery of the enemy. For two hours the Confederate forces stood unshaken before that fire, with their crowded ranks decimated and their horses shot at their guns. One by one their pieces ceased to reply. Then onward crept the infantry and onward came the guns of Gen. Sigel. The range became shorter and shorter. No charge of the enemy could face those batteries or venture on that compact line of bayonets. They turned and filed. Again the Union line was advanced with a partial change of front, when an order to

charge the enemy in the woods was given. Then the infantry rising up pressed forward into the dense brush, where they were met by a terrible volley, which was fiercely returned; volley followed volley, still the line pushed forward until more open ground was obtained, when the Confederate force broke in confusion. As Gen. Sigel advanced, Gen. Curtis also ordered the centre and right wing forward. The right wing turned the left of the enemy and cross-fired into his centre. This placed him in the arc of a circle. The charge was then ordered throughout the whole line, which utterly routed their forces as above stated, and compelled them to retire in complete confusion, but rather safely through the deep and almost impassable defiles of Cross Timbers. Gen. Sigel followed toward Keetsville, and the cavalry continued the pursuit still further. The Union loss in this battle was 212 killed, 926 wounded, and 124 missing. The Confederate killed and wounded was larger in numbers, with a loss of nearly 1000 prisoners. Among their killed were Gens. McCulloch and McIntosh.

On the 9th Gen. Van Dorn, under a flag of truce, requested permission to bury his dead, which was readily granted. In the reply to this request Gen. Curtis said: "The General regrets that we find on the battle-field, contrary to civilized warfare, many of the Federal dead, who were tomahawked, scalped, and their bodies shamefully mangled, and expresses the hope that this important struggle may not degenerate to a savage warfare."

To this statement, Gen. Van Dorn replied: "He hopes you have been misinformed with regard to this matter, the Indians who formed part of his forces having for many years been regarded as civilized people. He will, however, most cordially unite with you in repressing the horrors of this unnatural war; and that you may cooperate with him to this end more effectually, he desires me to inform you that many of our men who surrendered themselves prisoners of war, were reported to him as having been murdered in cold blood by their captors, who were alleged to be Germans. The general commanding feels sure that you will do your part, as he will, in preventing such atrocities in future, and that the perpetrators of them will be brought to justice, whether German or Choctaw."

Gen. Curtis in answer further said: "I may say, the Germans charge the same against your soldiers. I enclose a copy of a letter from Gen. Sigel, addressed to me before the receipt of yours, in which the subject is referred to. As 'dead men tell no tales,' it is not easy to see how these charges may be proven, and the General hopes they are mere 'camp stories,' having little or no foundation. The Germans in the army have taken and turned over many prisoners, and the General has not before heard murder charged against them; on the contrary, they have seemed peculiarly anxious to exhibit

the number of their captured as evidence of their valor. Any act of cruelty to prisoners, or those offering to deliver themselves as such, on the part of the soldiers of this army, coming to the knowledge of the General commanding, will be punished with the extreme penalty of the law."

The following is Gen. Halleck's despatch to Washington, announcing this battle:

To Maj.-Gen. McClellan:

ST. LOUIS, March 10, 1862.

The army of the Southwest, under Gen. Curtis, after three days hard fighting near Sugar Creek, Arkansas, has gained a most glorious victory over the combined forces of Van Dorn, McCulloch, Price, and McIntosh. Our killed and wounded are estimated at one thousand. That of the enemy still larger. Guns, flags, provisions, &c., captured in large quantities. Our cavalry is in pursuit of the flying enemy.

H. W. HALLECK, Major-General.

The Confederate force retired south of the Boston Mountains unpursued by Gen. Curtis, to obtain reënforcements and to recover from their loss. Meantime reënforcements were sent to Gen. Curtis from Kansas and Missouri. He fell back to Keetsville, and remained through the month. On the 5th of April, it being supposed that Gen. Price was moving on Springfield, Missouri, Gen. Curtis began a march in that direction. On that day he advanced eigh teen miles and on the next twenty, to the junction of Flat Rock with James river. Failing in an attempt to cross the James, the force moved to Galena, where a crossing was effected in a rain storm. On the next day, the 9th, Bear Creek, thirteen miles, was reached, and on the 10th Forsyth, eighteen miles, where the army was concentrated. The high water of the river delayed active operations. Gen. Price, with a body of mounted men, was encamped about five miles south and on the other side of the river. On the 16th of April an expedition was sent out under Col. McCrellis to destroy some saltpetre works located eight miles below the Little North Fork, south side of White river. It was entirely successful. About ten thousand pounds nearly prepared for transportation were destroyed. The army next moved to West Plains, eighty-seven miles, thence to Salem, Arkansas, which is southeast of Forsyth, Mo., and distant one hundred and seventeen miles. Thence it advanced to Batesville, crossed the White river, and took the route to Little Rock, the capital of the State. It advanced to Searcy, fifty miles from Little Rock, where an order was received from Gen. Halleck to send ten regiments by a forced march to Cape Girardeau and thence to Corinth. The army then fell back to Batesville, which is the capital of Independence county and the most important town in the northeastern part of the State. It is situated on the White river about four hundred miles from its mouth. The river is navigable to this point for small steamers. Such was the scarcity of supplies that the army suffered severely. An expedition was fitted out in June from Memphis to descend the Mis

sissippi to the mouth of Arkansas and thence up the White river to Batesville. (See page 168.) It was unsuccessful. Supplies were subsequently sent by land from Missouri, which reached Gen. Curtis about the 1st of July. His position during this period was critical, and excited much apprehension, as he was known to be nearly destitute of provisions, far distant from the sources of supply, and surrounded in the midst of a wilderness by foes. From Batesville he now advanced to Jacksonport at the confluence of the White and Black rivers, thence passing through Augusta and Clarendon he reached Helena on the Mississippi river, one hundred and seventy-five miles from Batesville.

It was reported soon after that Confederate troops under Gen. Price were crossing the Mississippi at a point between Napoleon and Vicksburg, and Gen. Curtis started with a body of troops on transports to make an exploration. The steam ferry boat at Napoleon, upon the approach of Gen. Curtis, was withdrawn up the Arkansas river, whither he followed and captured it with fifteen other ferry and flat boats. A large number of boats were destroyed on the Arkansas by this expedition, which soon after returned to Helena. Gen. Curtis was then absent until the close of September, when he was appointed to command the department of Missouri, containing the States of Missouri and Arkansas and the adjacent Indian Territory, with his headquarters at St. Louis. Helena continued to be occupied by the Federal troops, but active military operations were suspended. This closed the campaign of Gen. Curtis.

After the departure of Gen. Curtis from Helena on the 15th of November, an expedition under Gen. Alvin P. Hovey, consisting of eight thousand infantry and cavalry, started for the White river; but in consequence of new bars which had formed, and the low stage of the water, it entirely failed of the object intended, and returned. The command of the post was then taken by Gen. Steele, who had arrived with a division of troops. Subsequently Gen. Hovey was sent upon an expedition from Helena into Mississippi to cooperate with Gen. Grant on his advance into that State. The particulars of this expedition are stated in connection with the campaign of Gen. Grant.

The subsequent military operations in Arkansas exerted no special influence on the conduct of the war. They may be briefly stated in this place. The Confederate forces in the State, in October, were estimated to consist of five thousand men under Gen. Hindman, posted five miles north of Little Rock; five thousand men under Gen. Roan, posted fifty miles southeast of Little Rock at White Sulphur Springs, near Pine Bluff on the Arkansas river; at Cross Hollows in the north western part of the State, between four and five thousand men, chiefly conscripts under Gen. Rains; Gen. Holmes, in chief command, was at Little Rock with two thousand men; Gen. McBride was at Bates

ville with two thousand more. Small forces were also at Arkansas, Crystal Hill, and Arkadelphia. The latter post had been made the seat of government. These forces were estimated at twenty thousand men with a deficient outfit. In the northwestern part of Arkansas, near Cross Hollows, twelve miles south of Fayetteville, Gen. Herron had a severe conflict with a Confederate force near the end of October. Again on the 28th of November Gen. Blunt made an attack on Gen. Marmaduke with about eight thousand men, at Cane Hill, fortyfive miles north of Van Buren, which caused the Confederate force to retreat to Van Buren. Again, on the 7th of December, the combined Confederate forces under the command of Gen. Hindman, estimated at fifteen thousand men, made an attempt to cut off reënforcements for Gen. Blunt, ten miles south of Fayetteville. The Confederate forces advanced on the flank of Gen. Blunt's position, and attacked Gen. Herron with the reenforcements, who held them in check until they were attacked in the rear by Gen. Blunt at Crawford's Prairie. The fight continued obstinate until dark, when the Confederate forces retreated across Boston Mountains. The loss was severe on both sides, and the advance of the Confederate troops into Missouri was checked.

The campaign in the West was now pushed through. The evacuation of Columbus, and the flanking of other Confederate positions on the Mississippi river by the force on the advance up the Tennessee river, led to the fitting out of an expedition to move down the Mississippi. On the 4th of March an armed reconnoissance, commanded by Flag Officer Foote and General Cullum, was made as far as Columbus. This consisted of six gunboats, four mortar boats, and three transports having on board two regiments and two battalions of infantry under Gen. Sherman. On arriving at Columbus, it was found to have been evacuated and subsequently occupied by two hundred and fifty of the 2d Illinois on a scouting expedition. The Confederate troops had chiefly retired down the river to Island No. 10 and New Madrid. The evacuation was a consequence of the position being flanked on both sides of the river. The distances to various points down the river are as follows: Cairo to Columbus, 20 miles; Hickman, 37; Island No. 10, 45; New Madrid, 55; Point Pleasant, 87; Plumb Point, 154; Island No. 33, 164; Fort Wright, 167; Fulton Landing, 168; Hatche River, 170; Island No. 34, 170; Fort Randolph, 175; Fort Pillow, 238; Memphis, 242;

This force returned to Cairo, and on the 14th a formidable expedition left to move down the river. The following vessels formed the fleet: flag ship Benton, Lieut. Phelps acting flag captain; gunboats Cincinnati, Commander R. N. Stembel; Carondelet, Commander Walke; Mound City, Commander Kelly; Louisville, Commander Dove; Pittsburgh, Lieut. Thompson commanding: St. Louis, Lieut. Paulding

commanding; Conestoga, Lieut. Blodgett commanding the only boat in the fleet not ironclad.

The mortar boats assigned to the expedition were designated numerically. Each had a mortar of 18-inch calibre and discharging a round shell weighing two hundred and fifteen pounds without its contents. The "sailing" or "running" crews of these mortar boats consisted of one captain and two men. The force to fire the mortars in action was one captain to each brace of mortars, and one lieutenant and twelve men to each boat. The Nos. of the vessels were, 5, 7, 11, 19, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30, 38, under command in chief of Capt. H. E. Maynadier, U. S. Army. The steamers Hammit and Wilson, lashed together, towed four; the Pike and Wisconsin four others; Lake Erie, No. 2, towed two others. Then followed a steamer with a barge laden with coal in tow, after which came the two ordnance steamers, and two transports with the 27th Illinois, Col. Buford, and 15th Wisconsin, Col. Hey, infantry-the latter regiment being composed exclusively of Norwegians-and also a battery of the 2d Illinois artillery. With the gunboats on the right, followed by the mortar fleet, ordnance boats, and transports with troops, the gunboat Conestoga brought up the rear, protecting the transports, while eight or ten little screw propellers, used for conveying orders and despatches from the flag ship to the fleet, were busily darting in all directions.

The expedition reached Columbus at 1 P. M., and at 3 o'clock left for Hickman, where it arrived between five and six o'clock. A small force of Confederate cavalry left upon its approach. The town was partly deserted; a few Union flags, however, were waved. The next morning it proceeded down the river to within half a mile of the Missouri point above Island No. 10, which by an air line was two and a half miles distant, while by the river, owing to the bend, it was four miles distant. In this position the flagship opened fire upon a Confederate battery discovered on the Kentucky shore, but, owing to the distance, without effect. Two of the mortar boats then, having got into position, opened upon and soon silenced it. A large Confederate force appeared to be encamped on that side.

Island No. 10 is situated in the corner of that bend of the Mississippi river which touches the border of Tennessee, a few miles further up the river than New Madrid, although nearly southwest of that point. It is situated about two hundred and forty miles from St. Louis, and nine hundred and fifty from New Orleans. The average depth of the water at this point is from ninety to one hundred and twenty feet, and the breadth of the stream from mainland to mainland about nine hundred yards. The current runs by the island at a moderately fast rate, and with the power of three rivers-Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio combined. The island is near the southern, or