ate, by way of Rolla, to cut off the retreat of Price's
force which he (Lyon) was about to drive from Boonville. Col.
Sigel passed beyond Springfield, reaching a point not far
from the Kansas line, and on the main road used by Price's
men in their movement south to join him. Here he left a
single company of infantry in a small town, with no apparent
object, unless that It might fall in the hands of the enemy,
which it did the next day (6th of July). Sigel met Price the
next day, and fought the celebrated "battle of Carthage."
Sigel had about two regiments of infantry, well armed and
equipped, most of the men old German soldiers, and two good
batteries of artillery. Price had about twice Sigel's number
of men, but most of them mounted, armed with shotguns and
common rifles, and entirely without organization and
discipline, and a few pieces of almost worthless artillery.
Sigel retreated all day before this miserable rabble,
contenting himself with repelling their irregular attacks,
which he did with perfect ease whenever they ventured to make
them. The loss on either side was quite insignificant. Price
and McCulloch were thus permitted to join each other
absolutely without opposition; Sigel, who had been sent
there to prevent their Junction, making a "masterly
retreat."

Several days before the battle of Wilson's Creek it was
ascertained beyond a doubt that the enemy's strength was
about 22,000 men, with at least 20 pieces of artillery,
while our force was only about 5,000. About the 7th of
August the main body of the enemy reached Wilson's Creek,
and Gen. Lyon decided to attack him. The plan of attack was
freely discussed between Gen. Lyon, the members of his
staff, CoL Sigel, and several officers of the Regular Army.
Col. Sigel, apparently anxious for a separate command,
advocated the plan of a divided attack. All others, I
believe, opposed it.

On the 8th of August the plan of a single attack was
adopted, to be carried out on the 9th. This had to be
postponed on account of the exhaustion of part of our
troops. During the morning of the 9th Col. Sigel had a long
interview with Gen. Lyon, and prevailed upon him to adopt
his plan, which led to the mixture of glory, disgrace and
disaster of the ever-memorable 10th of Au