e-ground was in Beauregard's
department. He gave directions to the officers.

Mr. William G. Stevenson, of Kentucky, who was in Arkansas when the war
broke out, was impressed into the Rebel service. He acted as special
_aide-de-camp_ to General Breckenridge in that battle. He escaped from
the Rebel service a few months later, and has published an interesting
narrative of what he saw.[8] He stood outside the circle of generals
waiting by his horse in the darkness to carry any despatch for his
commander. He gives this description of the scene:--

[Footnote 8: "Thirteen Months in the Rebel Service."]

"In an open space, with a dim fire in the midst, and a drum
on which to write, you could see grouped around their 'Little
Napoleon,' as Beauregard was sometimes fondly called, ten or
twelve generals, the flickering light playing over their
eager faces, while they listened to his plans, and made
suggestions as to the conduct of the fight.

"Beauregard soon warmed with his subject, and, throwing off
his cloak, to give free play to his arms, he walked about the
group, gesticulating rapidly, and jerking out his sentences
with a strong French accent. All listened attentively, and
the dim light, just revealing their countenances, showed
their different emotions of confidence or distrust of his
plans.

"General Sidney Johnston stood apart from the rest, with his
tall, straight form standing out like a spectre against the
dim sky, and the illusion was fully sustained by the
light-gray military cloak which he folded around him. His
face was pale, but wore a determined expression, and at times
he drew nearer the centre of the ring, and said a few words,
which were listened to with great attention. It may be he had
some foreboding of the fate he was to meet on the morrow, for
he did not seem to take much part in the discussion.

"General Breckenridge lay stretched out on a blanket near the
fire, and occasionally sat upright and added a few words of
counsel. General Bragg spoke frequently, and with
earnestness. General Polk sat on a camp-stool at the outside
of the circle, and held his head between his hands, buried in
thought. Others reclined or sat in various positions.

"For two hours the council lasted, and as it broke up, and
the generals were ready to return to their respective
commands, I heard Gene