shot. He now had trouble about getting his troops into line, and
it was 8 o'clock in the morning before he finally took his place on the
left, notwithstanding the fact that he was ordered to have his divisions
in line before daylight. Curtis had now all his artillery up, and though
it was not so numerous as that opposed to him, it was better equipped
and drilled, and promptly opened the battle with a fire to which the
Confederate guns could make no adequate reply. The whole line then
moved forward with blazing rifles, sweeping unchecked up the hillsides,
straight for the enemy's front. In a few minutes the Confederate line
parted in the center and disappeared. Most of the Missourians fell back
toward Keetsville, directly north. Greer and his remnants ran around our
left toward Bentonville, pursued by Col. Bussey's cavalry. Van Dorn
and Price with another remnant broke around our right, going through
an obscure hollow and taking the road to Huntsville. Like most men of
impetuous initiative, Van Dorn when he was whipped was badly whipped. He
sent riders post haste to order his trains burned, but Gen. Green,
who commanded the train guard, was of cooler mettle, and succeeded in
getting the trains away safely.

Gen. Sigel pursued the central portion through Keetsville, seven miles
to the north, capturing nearly 200 prisoners and a great quantity of
arms and stores. He believed Curtis would retreat, and was well on his
way to Springfield when ordered back by Curtis to make his camp on the
battlefield with the rest. Gen. Curtis officially reported his loss as
follows:

335

UNION LOSSES.

Command.

Killed.

Wounded

It will be noticed by the above figures that Davis's Division lost
four officers and 42 men killed, 18 officers and 256 men wounded, while
Sigel's two divisions lost only three officers and 28 men killed, seven
officers and 149 men wounded.

The heaviest loss fell upon the 9th Iowa, which had 39 killed, 176
wounded and four missing. The next heaviest was upon the 4th Iowa, which
had 18 killed, 139 wounded and three missing.

Gen. Van Dorn estimated his loss at 1,000 killed and wounded and 300
missing. This is known to be inaccurate, because more Confederate than
Union dead were buried on the battlefield, and Gen. Curtis sent 500
prisoners to the rear.

The question naturally occurs: Why did Van Dorn relinquish such a
supreme effort with such a small loss?

336

Our amusing acquaintance, Gen. P