vernment and closing the war.

Price's outlying detachments were come up with and struck with a
suddenness and vigor that sent them flying in utter rout. It speaks very
ill for Price, with all his means for accurate information, that he
knew nothing of this rapid advance of the Union army until the heads of
Curtis's columns were at his very pickets. He was entirely unready for
battle, and could only hastily gather his men together and make a quick
retreat to the rough hills south of Springfield, leaving all his stores
and his laboriously-constructed cantonments for the Union army. Feb. 13
Curtis had the satisfaction of reporting to Hal-leck as follows:

The Flag of the Union floats over the Court House of Springfield, Mo.
The enemy attacked us with small parties at 10:30 o'clock 12 miles out,
and my front guards had a running Are with them most of the afternoon.
At dusk a regiment of the Confederate cavalry attacked the outer picket,
but did not move it. A few shots from a howitzer killed two and wounded
several. The regiment retreated to this place, and the enemy immediately
commenced the evacuation of the city. I entered the city at 10 a. m.
My cavalry is in full pursuit. They say the enemy is making a stand
at Wilson's Creek. Forage, flour and other stores in large quantities
taken. Shall pursue as fast as the strength of the men will allow.

306

In Gen. Sheridan's "Memoirs" he gives this sidelight on the advance upon
Springfield:

By hard work we soon accumulated a sufficient quantity of
flour and corn meal to justify the resumption of our march
on Springfield, at or near which point the enemy was
believed to be awaiting us, and the order was given to move
forward, the Commanding General cautioning me, in the event
of disaster, to let no salt fall into Gen. Price's hands.
Gen. Curtis made a hobby of this matter of salt, believing
the enemy sadly in need of that article, and he impressed me
deeply with his conviction that our cause would be seriously
injured by a loss which would inure so greatly and
peculiarly to the enemy's benefit; but we discovered
afterward, when Price abandoned his position, that about all
he left behind was salt.

When we were within about eight miles of Springfield Gen.
Curtis decided to put his troops in line of battle for the
advance on the town, and directed me to stretch out my
supply train in