Cairo was an easy day's Journey by water,
and transportation abundant To Springfield was a week's
march; and before I could have reached it Cairo would have
been taken and with it, I believe, St Louis.

On my arrival at Cairo I found the force under Gen. Prentiss
reduced to 1,200 men, consisting mainly of a regiment which
had agreed to await my arrival. A few miles below, at New
Madrid, Gen. Pillow had landed a force estimated at 20,000,
which subsequent events showed was not exaggerated. Our
force, greatly increased to the enemy by rumor, drove him
to a hasty retreat and permanently secured the position.

I returned to St. Louis on the 4th, having in the meantime
ordered Col. Stephenson's regiment from Boonville, and Col.
Montgomery's from Kansas, to march to the relief of Gen.
Lyon.

Immediately upon my arrival from Cairo, I set myself at
work, amid incessant demands upon my time from every
quarter, principally to provide reinforcements for Gen.
Lyon.

I do not accept Springfield as a disaster belonging to my
administration. Causes wholly out of my jurisdiction had
already prepared the defeat of Gen. Lyon before my arrival
at St Louis.

The ebullition of the Secession sentiment in Missouri following the news
of the battle of Wilson's Creek made Gen. Fremont feel that the most
extraordinary measures were necessary in order to hold the State. He
had reasons for this alarm, for the greatest activity was manifested
in every County in enrolling young men in Secession companies and
regiments. Heavy columns were threatening invasion from various points.
One of these was led by Gen. Hardee, a Regular officer of much ability,
who had acquired considerable fame by his translation of the tactics in
use in the Army. He had been appointed to the command of North Arkansas,
and had collected considerable force at Pocahontas, at the head of
navigation on the White River, where he was within easy striking
distance of the State and Lyon's line of retreat, and was threatening
numberless direful things.

196

McCulloch and Price had sent special messengers to him to urge him to
join his force with theirs to crush Lyon, or at least to move forward
and cut off Lyon's communications with Rolla. They found Hardee within
400 yards of the Missouri State line. He had every disposition to do as
desired, but had too much o