directions. Sigel was able, however, to get his
men together and march out of town to cover of some woods, where his
artillery drove back the Confederates, who charged them, and the retreat
was resumed.

This performance was repeated several times along the road, which ran
around the ridges through a growth of scrubby blackjacks, which broke up
Sigel's men and also the eager Confederates who were trying to cut them
off.

Col. Elijah Gates, 1st Mo. Cav., Price's Division, led the pursuers with
great activity and skill. There were incessant assaults with constant
volleys of artillery, until Col. Osterhaus, who had reached Curtis's
line, was ordered back to his relief, preceded by Col. Bussey with the
3d Iowa Cav. When they met Gen. Sigel he had just broken through the
Confederate cavalry, which was still making efforts to surround him, but
the arrival of the reinforcements caused the Confederates to withdraw,
and the Union troops marched back to the camp which had been formed at
Sugar Creek. The Union loss in this affair was reported as 35 killed and
wounded.

321

After a forced march of 42 miles from Huntsville, Col. Vandever's
Brigade reached Pea Ridge at dusk, and Curtis had his whole army
together. A night attack from the south was confidently expected, and
every preparation was made for it.

When night came on Van Dorn built fires, pretending to go into camp,
but moved forward until he came upon the blocked road, which halted
him until after midnight, when he moved forward much embarrassed by the
obstructions Dodge had placed in the wretched roads. Dodge on his return
from blockading the roads notified Gen. Curtis of Price's movement to
the rear, but Gen. Curtis did not believe it, as other reports were to
the effect that Van Dorn's attack would be on the Sugar Creek front.

Price having been delayed until after midnight, did not reach the
telegraph road, a mile or so north of Elkhorn Tavern, until 7 o'clock on
the morning of the 7th.

McCulloch, in the meanwhile, was forming his men in the fields and woods
near Leetown, west of Pea Ridge, with Albert Pike's Indians behind him.

While, therefore, Curtis's men were straining their eyes southward from
his strongly fortified position on Sugar Creek for the advance of the
enemy, the whole Confederate army had gained their flank and rear,
with Price's Division directly across their line of communication and
retreat.

322

Seeing no enemy in front, Curt