54 



AEMY OPERATIONS. 



and 22d Indiana, 37th Illinois, and 9th Mis- 

 souri, with two batteries, and three compa- 

 nies of cavalry. The other forces immediately 

 moved forward, and combined under Gen. 

 Curtis. On the llth of February this army 

 moved forward from Lebanon, formed in three 

 divisions the right under Col. Davis, the cen- 

 tre under Gen. Sigel, and the left under Col. 

 Carr. Six miles from Springfield on the 12th, 

 a skirmish took place between the advance of 

 this force and a body of Confederate troops, 

 with serious loss to both sides. During the 

 night a continuous fire was kept up between 

 the pickets. On the next morning the Con- 

 federate force had retreated, and Gen. Curtis 

 occupied Springfield without opposition. About 

 six hundred sick and a large amount of stores 

 were left behind by the Confederate General 

 Price. Gen. Halleck, in command of this de- 

 partment, sent the following despatch to the 

 commander-in-chief, Gen. McClellan, at Wash- 

 ington : 



ST. Louis, February 14, 1SC2. 



The flag of the Union floats over the court house in 

 Springfield. The enemy retreated after a short en- 

 gagement, leaving a large amount of stores and equip- 

 ments, which were captured by Gen. Curtis. Our cav- 

 alry are in close pursuit. 



H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. 



Such had been Gen. Halleck's skilful man- 

 agement of this department, that a few days 

 previous he had received the following despatch 

 from the Secretary of War : 



WASHINGTON, February 8, 1S62. 

 Maj.-Gen. Halleck, St. Louis: Your energy and 

 ability received the strongest commendation of this 

 Department. You have my perfect confidence, and 

 you may rely upon my utmost support in your un- 

 dertakings. The pressure of my engagements has 

 prevented me from writing you, but I will do so fully 

 in a day or two. 



EDWIN M. STANTOX, Secretary of War. 



As Gen. Price retreated Gen. Curtis followed 

 rapidly in pursuit. On the 16th his army had 

 advanced sixty-nine miles south of Springfield, 

 and on the 18th had crossed the Arkansas line. 

 Several skirmishes took place in the mountain 

 defiles. The following despatch was sent to 

 Washington by Gen. Halleck : 



ST. Lotus, February 18, 1S62. 

 To Maj.-Gen. McClellan, Washington: 



The flag of the Union is floating in Arkansas. Gen. 

 Curtis has driven Price from Missouri, and is several 

 miles across the Arkansas line, cutting up Price's 

 rear, and hourly capturing prisoners and stores. The 

 army of the Southwest is doing its duty nobly. 



H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. 



On the 19th Gen. Price had been reenforced 

 by Gen. McCulloch, and made a stand at Sugar 

 Creek crossing, but was defeated after a short 

 engagement, and retreated. Squads of recruits 

 from Missouri, on their way to join the Con- 

 federate force, were captured at this time, 

 among whom was Brig.-Gen. Edward Price, 

 son of Gen. Price. On the 26th Gen. Price had 

 been driven from his stronghold at Cross Hol- 

 lows, leaving his sick and wounded, and such 

 stores as he could not destroy. He burned hia 



extensive barracks at that place. The Federal 

 forces had now, for some days, been subsisting 

 chiefly on provisions which they had captured. 



On the 27th, Gen. Halleck sent the following 

 despatch to Washington : 



HEADQUABTKBS, ST. Louis, February 27. 

 Maj.-Gen. McClellan: 



Gen. Curtis has taken possession of Fayetteville, Ar- 

 kansas, capturing a large number of prisoners, stores, 

 baggage, Ac. 



The enemy burnt a part of the town before they left. 

 They have crossed the Boston Mountains in great con- 

 fusion. We are now in possession of all their strong- 

 holds. 



Forty-two officers and men of the Fifth Missouri cav- 

 alry were poisoned at Mud Town by eating poisoned 

 foo'd which the rebels left behind them. Ihe gallant 

 Capt. Dolfort died, and Lieut. Col. Von Dutch and 

 Capt. Lehman have suffered much, but are recovering. 

 The anger of our soldiers is very great, but they 

 have been restrained from retaliating upon the prison- 

 ers of war. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. 



Gen. Price thus reported his retreat from 

 Missouri, under date of Feb. 25 : 



About the latter part of January my scouts 

 reported that the enemy were concentrating in 

 force at Rolla, and shortly thereafter they oc- 

 cupied Lebanon. Believing that this move- 

 ment could be for no other purpose than to at- 

 tack me, and knowing that my command was 

 inadequate for such successful resistance as the 

 interests of my army and the cause demand- 

 ed, I appealed to the commanders of the Con- 

 federate troops in Arkansas to come to my as- 

 sistance. This, from correspondence, I was 

 led confidently to expect, and relying upon it, 

 I held my position to the last moment, and, as 

 the sequel proved, almost too long; for on 

 Wednesday, February 12, my pickets were 

 driven in, and reported the enemy advancing 

 upon me in force. No resource was now left 

 me except retreat, without hazarding all with 

 greatly unequal numbers upon the result of one 

 engagement. This I deemed it unwise to do. 

 I commenced retreating at once. I reached 

 Cassville with loss unworthy of mention in 

 any respect. Here the enemy in my rear com- 

 menced a series of attacks running through 

 four days. Retreating and fighting all the 

 way to the Cross Hollows in this State, I am 

 rejoiced to say my command, under the most 

 exhausting fatigue, all the time with but little 

 rest for either man or horse, and no sleep, sus- 

 tained themselves, and came through, repulsing 

 the enemy upon every occasion with great de- 

 termination and gallantry. My loss does not 

 exceed four to six killed and some fifteen to 

 eighteen wounded." 



On the 1st of March, Gen. Curtis issued the 

 following address to the people of the South- 

 west: 



HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE SoimrwEST, } 

 CAMP HALLECK, ARK., March 1, 1862. J 



I have received a private communication from an in- 

 telligent writer, a citizen of Arkansas, who says : " We, 

 as citizens, have left our homes and firesides for the 

 purpose, as we supposed, of having to defend ourselves 

 against a brutal soldiery that would lay waste our hum- 

 ble homes, and outrage the chastity of our wives and 

 daughters, and place our own lives in jeopardy. We 



