About three o'clock P. M. the road emerged from the woods, and ran for a mile or so over a bushy plateau about the centre of which stood a log-house. As the head of the column issued from the wood, some twenty horsemen or more were seen grouped around the loghouse, evidently awaiting their appearance.

Captain Totten, who was in advance, instantly unlimbered a twelve-pounder and sent a shot crashing through the beams of the roof, not more than two feet above the heads of the party. "Boot and saddle!" was instantly the order of things, and scarcely had the report ceased reverberating among the peaks and hollows of the Ozark Mountains, ere the whole crowd had disappeared in a cloud of dust of their own raising, as they spurred southward.

About a mile further on the road ascends a steep hill and is lost in the timber; beyond which in the valley — which was covered with low oak brush

was a white frame house, and a couple of log shanties, which constituted the place known as Dug Spring, and is situated in Curran township, nineteen miles southward of Springfield, on the Fayetteville road. Just beyond, the enemy were encamped at the opening of a prairie valley, and chiefly in a southwestern bend, separated from our forces by a moderate sized but steep hill.

General Lyon immediately sent forward two companies of cavalry, under command of Captain Stanley and Lieutenant Kelley, and Captain Steele, Second Infantry, with orders to hold the enemy in check, effect a reconnoissance, and, if necessary, to retire slowly. This detail pushed ahead, -the cavalry deployed to the left in front of a cornfield that lay to the left of the road and in front of the opposite hill; the infantry marched into the timber at the right, and advanced upon the enemy as skirmishers.. In the mean time the balance of the column had marched down into about the centre of

the valley, and within half a mile of the further hill was halted.

The artillery was posted on the hill-sides commanding the valley. At four o'clock in the afternoon the engagement commenced. The fight was carried on chiefly by artillery and cavalry; the infantry were not engaged. The enemy seemed to have but two pieces of artillery, and with these only ten rounds were fired, while an equal number were fired by the National batteries. Early in the engagement, a detachment of twenty-seven United States cavalry, led by a lieutenant, rode over the hill toward the part of the valley where the enemy were supposed to be posted, to observe and ascertain if the rebels were approaching. As soon as they had passed the ridge they found themselves directly upon a large body of rebel infantry, variously estimated at from two to four thousand. There was no retreat, and so putting spurs into their horses, and grasping their sabres, the brave twenty-seven rode directly into the midst of the enemy. So sudden and unexpected was their charge, and so little did the enemy judge rightly of the force of the cavalry, that a stampede took place among the infantry; and, taking advantage of the confusion, the horsemen cut their way through the formidable mass of opposing men, came out to the valley, and rode back to camp, having lost but five men. One of the killed was the lieutenant commanding, who had fought most fearlessly. He had killed six rebels, struck a seventh to the ground, and was trying to meet the attack of an eighth, when the prostrate man, taking advantage of his position, shot him. He still had strength to finish the work of death with the first, and then avenge his own fatal wound upon the foe who had given it. After that, he turned and rode away, but had not gone two hundred yards before he fell dead from his horse.

The fight lasted till dark. In the morning it was dis

covered that McCulloch had again fled, and intelligence was brought that he had encamped a few miles south, at a place called McCullough's Store.

On Saturday morning the army moved forward with great caution. About a mile from camp, and in the field of the last night's action, a wounded soldier was found who belonged to the United States Dragoons. He stated that he was caught by the enemy, being wounded by a bayonet thrust. Soon after they took him Captain Totten fired his shell among them with such a terrible effect, that they fled, but before going struck him from his horse with the butt of a musket, leaving him for dead where he fell. On approaching Curran, the rebels were seen in force on the hill-side, immediately southwest of that place. Their advance was three thousand strong, under the command of General Rains. General Lyon immediately formed his army for battle, and gave the order for them to advance.

As two columns were approaching the timber, to flank the enemy, Captain Dubois opened a spirited fire from his battery of artillery upon the position of the enemy, causing them to retire in hot haste.

The army encamped for the night at Curran. On Sunday morning, General Lyon determined to retrace his steps and return to Springfield, fearing, as most of the rebels were mounted, they might flank him, cut off his retreat, and, as Springfield was almost entirely defenceless, enter and occupy that place.

About a mile from the scene of the battle or skirmish was a farm-house, in which were found five wounded men and one dead, all of whom belonged to the enemy. One was shot through the hip, another had his ankle shattered to splinters, a third was shot through the shoulders, while the others had wounds of minor consequence. The house also presented a horrible appearblood was all over the floor in rivulets and pools;

ance,

it was tracked up the stairway, and stained the bed-covering; in short, it existed in gory hideousness everywhere.

The loss of the Confederates was forty killed and left on the field, and forty-four wounded; eighty stand of arms, fifteen horses, and a wagon loaded with bacon, besides a few prisoners, were captured. The whole appearance of the field showed sharp fighting on the part of the Federal troops. Men were found with their heads fairly cloven through from scalp to chin by the fierce sabre-stroke of the cavalry. The Confederate forces under Generals Rains, Price, and Parsons, at Dug Spring, was twenty thousand, while General McCulloch had four thousand well-armed and effective men. The Union loss was eight killed and thirty-nine wounded.

Fort Fillmore, New Mexico, was traitorously surrendered by Major Lynde, who had seven hundred and fifty men, yet made very little resistance.

Lieutenant-colonel Baylor, commanding the Confederate forces at Fort Bliss, Texas, left there on the 24th ultimo, with the forces under his command, about three hundred men, for the Mesilla Valley; and after a tedious march of four or five days, arrived and took position within six hundred yards of Fort Fillmore, where pickets were placed out, and every precaution taken to storm the fort by surprise the next morning at daybreak. The plan would have been a complete success but for the desertion of a ricket, who went into the fort and gave the alarm. The fort was alive in a few minutes, and it was evident the surprise was a failure.

The Confederate force then moved across the river, and at daylight took the town of Sante Thomas. Two companies of Federal troops had been stationed there, but had left on the approach of the Confederates, evidently in great haste. Clothing, provisions, ammunition, and supplies, were left behind in considerable quantities.

Eight prisoners were taken, disarmed, and then discharged, after being sworn not to fight against the Confederacy, Colonel Baylor telling them that he would rather fight them than feed them.

About ten o'clock the Confederate forces entered Mesilla, and were received with every manifestation of joy by the citizens. Vivas and hurrahs rang them welcome from every point. Preparations were immediately made to receive an attack from the Federalists, and about noon on the 1st of August the Federal troops were reported crossing the river. About five o'clock the clouds of dust indicated their approach, at the southern end of the city, and the whole force of the Confederates was moved to that point.

Several of the principal streets of Mesilla converge at the southern end of the town, the houses forming an angle, and they are quite scattered; old corrals, and the proximity of the cornfields make the position a very advantageous one for defence. The companies were stationed on the tops of the adobe houses and behind the corrals. Captain Coopwood's company was mounted. The citizens posted themselves on the top of the houses, on the principal streets, prepared to render assistance.

The Federal troops advanced to within five hundred yards of the Confederates' position and halted, and formed in line of battle, with two howitzers in the centre and the infantry, and on the wings cavalry, the whole force appearing to be about five hundred men. A flag of truce was then sent to the rebels, with the demand to surrender the town unconditionally. The reply was, "that if they wished the town, to come and take it." They unmasked their guns, and commenced firing bombs and grape into a town crowded with women and children, without having, in accordance with an invariable rule of civilized warfare, given notice to remove the women and children to a place of safety. Several shells