five thousand men, under Ben. McCulloch, had been gathered from Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. They were supplied with arms by the Confederacy, by way of the White River. Gen. Price, with a force of State Guards, variously estimated at from nine to twelve hundred men, was encamped about fifteen miles south-west of Sigel, at Neosho, in Missouri. Jackson was about forty miles north-west of Sarcoxie, and Gen. Rains was a day's march further north. The combined forces of these three rebel leaders in Missouri were about five thousand men. Col. Sigel was thus placed between two armies. On the south of him were between six and seven thousand men. On the north were over five thousand. To oppose them, he possessed but a little, if any, over twelve hundred men. And though additional forces were on their march to Springfield, the exigency of the case did not permit him to await their arrival. To allow a junction of Jackson and Rains on the north, with Price and McCulloch on the south, was to ensure his own destruction.

His plans were quickly laid, Napoleonic in their sagacity and the vigor of their execution. He determined to attack the rebel forces separately, before they could form a junction. The risk of a battle was great, but the risk of delay was greater. On the morning of the 29th of June, he took up the line of march for Neosho, determined first to give battle to Gen. Price, and then, turning north, to meet Jackson and Rains. As he neared Neosho, reports came in that a part of the Arkansas forces had joined Price, swelling his army to thirty-five hundred. The issue of a contest between such unequally balanced forces seemed doubtful. But the odds were not sufficient for the chivalry. The consciousness that they were in rebellion, utterly without excuse, made even brave men cowards. Price retreated without firing a gun, and Sigel marched beneath the banner of the Stars and Stripes into Neosho, unopposed. To pursue the flying host, leaving an army of five thousand men in his rear, was out of the question. He, therefore, turned his attention northward. Leaving a small detachment to protect the Union citizens of Neosho, and sending out one or two other detachments to guard certain roads, and act as scouts, he advanced, with a force now reduced to nine hundred and fifty men, with two batteries of four field-pieces each, to find the enemy. On the fifth of July he came upon them. They were strongly posted on an elevation, about nine miles north of Carthage. Their force, which was over five thousand, was chiefly cavalry, but with some infantry, and several field pieces.

Col. Sigel immediately prepared for an attack. A hazardous proceeding, truly, to attack an enemy in his own position, and outnumbering the Union forces five to one. It was a case in which prudence demanded apparently the most reckless daring. Col. Sigel was the man for the hour. In the wars of Europe he had acquired the reputation of being the most accomplished artillerist in Germany, and on this day he heroically sustained his reputation. The rebels were found, carefully posted on an elevation rising gradually from the Dry Fork Creek. His centre was composed of infantry, cavalry, and two field-pieces. Two regiments of cavalry formed his wings, with interspersed artillery.

Col. Sigel, advancing within effective range, opened a very vigorous

and deadly fire upon the centre of the foe, from seven pieces of artillery, which his skill had admirably manned. It was half-past ten o'clock in the morning when the battle commenced. The enemy responded promptly, but very soon it was perceived that his fire began to slacken, and in about an hour his central battery was silenced. The enemy's line was manifestly wavering, and it could be perceived, that it was only by the most strenuous efforts of the officers, that the rebel infantry were held together. Col. Sigel now ordered a steady advance, under the rapid fire of his guns, resolved, by this resistless, solid charge of infantry and artillery, to take the height. As his line moved up the hill, the enemy's centre broke. But, unfortunately, just at that moment, the ammunition of one of the batteries gave out; and the enemy's cavalry, which constituted the two wings, nearly a thousand in each, and scarcely inferior as horsemen to the famed Mamelukes of Murad Bey, with yells and gleaming swords, came swooping around his flanks, like a thunder tempest, to seize the baggage train, three miles in the rear. To advance under these circumstances was certain ruin. The heroic little band of patriots, numbering in all but 950 men, were now almost girdled by their 4,000 opponents. With great reluctance, Col. Sigel ordered his troops to fall back to the baggage train. As coolly as if on a parade ground, they accomplished the movement, assailed all the way by the foe, crowding upon them. The train was on the other side of Dry Fork Creek. With the quick glance of the accomplished general, Col. Sigel selected his position, and so stationed his forces on the banks, that for two hours he held the enemy at bay, inflicting upon him the heaviest losses.

In the meantime, the enemy's cavalry, though thus baffled, succeeded in getting into Col. Sigel's rear, with the purpose of cutting off his retreat, and capturing all his force. They stationed themselves on the banks of a small creek, which the Union troops must pass. Col. Sigel ordered his artillery, accompanied by a portion of his infantry, to divide, and move to the right and left, as if to pass around the rebel horsemen. Deceived by this manœuvre, the cavalry left the road, and advanced to meet the Union forces on either side. Suddenly the artillery wheeled around, and, from both sides, poured a terrific volley of grape and canister upon the foe. At the same moment, the infantry charged at double-quick step, and so impetuously, that the rout of the opposing cavalry was immediate and complete. Hardly a show of resistance was made. Eighty-one horses, sixty-five double shot-guns, and many revolvers, fell into the hands of the victors. Fifty prisoners were taken.

The road to Carthage was thus opened, and Sigel reached that town without further fighting. Here the road to Sarcoxie, which passes to the north and east of Carthage, enters a dense wood. To gain this was Col. Sigel's object, since there the rebel cavalry being rallied anew, could not follow him. The enemy, aware of his design, had taken a strong position to prevent his further advance. And the Union forces, wearied with a march of twenty-two miles the day before, and one of eighteen upon that day, famishing for want of food, and fatigued with two battles already, were, after a short rest, compelled to prepare for a third. For over two

hours, the unequal contest raged. At length, as darkness gathered over the field, the rebels gave way, and Col. Sigel's heroic little band won their third victory. It was now half-past eight o'clock in the evening. But the labors of the day were not yet over. The enemy was too near, and in too overwhelming numbers, to make the woods a safe resting-place. After a brief respite, the word to march was given, and not till the Sabbath sun dawned upon them, did they reach Sarcoxie, and gain an opportunity for much-needed rest and refreshment.

Thus ended the battle of Carthage-the first hard-fought battle in the West. The Union loss, as officially given, was thirteen killed, and thirtyone wounded. The rebel loss, as ascertained from prisoners, is variously estimated at from three hundred and fifty to over seven hundred men. This great disproportion was due partly to the superiority of the Union artillery, but more to the splendid generalship of Sigel. In twenty-four hours, after a march of twenty-two miles the day previous, his little band, scarcely equal in number to one full regiment, marched over thirty miles, fought three distinct engagements, besides continual skirmishings-each time met the enemy in overwhelming numbers, and on ground of the enemy's choosing, and each time put them to flight with heavy loss. The fact that lack of ammunition, and the necessity of keeping open communication with Springfield, made an eventual retreat necessary, in no sense detracts from the well-earned laurels of so glorious a victory.

Col. Sigel, in his modest report of the battle, says:

"It affords me intense pleasure to he able to say in justice to the officers and men under my command, that they fought with the greatest skill and bravery. Although attacked by an overwhelmingly disproportionate force, they conducted themselves like veterans, without a man swerving from his place. Major Bakoff and Adjutants Albert and Heinrichs were of great service to me in this battle."

Of others he makes honorable mention, particularly Lieut.-Col. Hassendenbel, Col. Wolff, Captains Essig, Stephany, Golmer, Densler, Stark and Messner.

CHAPTER X.

GEN. FREMONT'S CAMPAIGN IN MISSOURI.

RECALL OF FREMONT FROM EUROPE, AND APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMAND OF THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT.-THREATENING ASPECT OF AFFAIRS IN MISSOURI.-GEN. POPE IN NORTHERN MISSOURI. SERIOUS EMBARRASSMENTS CROWDING UPON GEN. FREMONT.-HEROISM OF GEN. LYON.-VALOR OF GEN. SIGEL.-BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK.-DEATH OF LYON.-TRIBUTE TO THE HERO OF WILSON'S CREEK.-SKIRMISHES.-ENERGY OF FREMONT.-PROCLAMATION.— MODIFICATION BY PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

EVERY glorious era in the world's history, bright with courage, honor and patriotism, is, alas! marred with some exhibition of envy, jealousy, and the spirit of detraction, which causes one to blush for human nature. To every lover of his country and of his race, there is, in the history of the American Revolution, that which is sadder than the picture of Valley Forge and the retreat across the Jerseys. These scenes are brilliant with heroic endurance and lofty patriotism. But not one redeeming quality relieves the dark history of Arnold's treason, or the intrigues and malicious aspersions of rivals against General Washington. To such an unwelcome page we turn, in the history of this rebellion, as we commence the recital of the campaign in Missouri, under Major-General Fremont.*

At the time of the breaking out of the rebellion, John C. Fremont, then a colonel in the United States army, but retired from service, was, with his family, in Europe. He was born in Savannah, Georgia, on the 21st of January, 1813. His father, a French gentleman, died the year of his birth, and his mother, with a limited income, took her son to Charleston, South Carolina, where he was reared. The studious boy educated himself, and at the age of fifteen entered the Junior Class in Charleston College, where he distinguished himself by his mathematical proficiency. In 1833, he commenced active life, as teacher of mathematics, on board the United States sloop-of-war Natchez, bound to South America. For two years he held this position, and on his return received the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts from his alma mater.

Abandoning a sea life as uncongenial, he engaged in railroad engineering, and assisted in surveying the route from Charleston to Cincinnati. In the years 1838-39, he explored the vast wilderness between Missouri and the British line, and, while thus engaged, was appointed by President

*The reader will excuse us for burdening this chapter with notes. But Gen. Fremont's campaign in Missouri has been involved in so much misunderstanding, and has been the subject of so much misrepresentation and dispute, that it seems important to give official authority for all important statements.