a long line of battle, so that in falling
back, in case the troops were repulsed, he could rally the
men on the wagons. I did not like the tactics, but, of
course, obeyed the order.

The line moved on to Springfield, and took the town without resistance,
the enemy having fled southward, in the direction of Pea Ridge, the
preceding day. Of course, our success relieved my anxiety about the
wagons; but fancy has often pictured since the stampede of six-mule
teams that, had we met with any reverse, would have taken place over the
prairies of southwest Missouri.

It was felt almost certain that Price had only abandoned Springfield in
order to offer battle more advantageously in the rough hills south of
the town where Wilson's Creek had been fought. The spirit of the army
was up, and it moved promptly forward to engage him in his chosen
fastness. The Secessionist historians and the admirers of Price,
Marmaduke, Shelby and others give thrillingly sanguinary stories of
the fierce resistance offered in the defiles and passes through the
foothills of the Ozarks, but these statements are not supported by
either the official reports or the regimental histories of the Union
army. These all concur in the statement that while there was a great
deal of noisy cannonading, Price's troops yielded ground quite easily,
and all were surprised that no more effective resistance was made at
places that offered such wonderful opportunities for defense.

307

In his report to Gov. Jackson Gen. Price gives this succinct statement
of his share in the movement:

About the latter part of January my scouts reported that the
enemy were concentrating in force at Rolla, and shortly
thereafter they occupied Lebanon. Believing that this
movement could be for no other purpose than to attack me,
and knowing that my command was inadequate for such
resistance as the Interest of my army and the cause
demanded, I appealed to the commanders of the Confederate
troops In Arkansas to come to my assistance. This from
correspondence I was confidently led to expect, and, relying
upon it, I held my position to the very last moment, and, as
the sequel proved, almost too long, for on Wednesday, Feb.
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