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late in the night. But for this good fortune, the Regiment would have been without rations of any kind; Gen. Curtis' Army were destitute and the country being sparsely settled afforded but limited supply. After rising at Sugar Creek [for] two or three days, Gen. Curtis' Army moved to Osage Springs and Cross Hollows. The 3d Iowa Cavalry went into Camp near Gen. Curtis Hd Frs [Headquarters ?] at Osage Springs. The Regiment was without Camp equipage of any kind, the wagon not having arrived and did not for nearly two weeks after the arrival of the Regiment. Feb 22nd: An expedition was organized under the command of Brig. Gen. Asboth to make a reconnaissance [investigation] towards Fayetteville about 2 o'clock P.M.. Col. Bussey with 3d Iowa Cavalry had the advance. When near the town a force of enemy were discovered. A charge through the town resulted in killing one rebel and capturing forty or fifty more. Here we learned the rebel army were at Boston Mountains, nineteen miles distant, Fayetteville being their advance. We remained one day at this place and returned to camp at Osage Springs. Col. Bussey visited Fayetteville three times with his regiment during the next week without anything of special importance occurring & the regiment was kept constantly on the march, endeavoring to learn the struggle and intentions of the enemy. On the 4th of March were ordered back to Sugar Creek where Gen. Davis was encamped. The rebels were not expected to advance. Gen. Curtis' army was not large enough to extend his line of communications farther and determined to enable him to advance to do this, it was necessary to draw from the country as much as possible. The mills on this route had all but been destroyed by Generals Price and McCulloch and it was necessary to scatter the army to enable them to procure supplies from the country. Gen. Sigel was ordered to Bentonville, fourteen miles west of Cross Hollows, where Gen. Curtis had established his Head Quarters and where Gen. Carr was encamped with his division. Gen. Davis' division was encamped at Sugar Creek, twelve miles northeast of Cross Hollows and eighteen miles from Burtonsville, while Col. Van Dever was encamped at Huntsville, more than 30 miles from Cross Hollows. On the morning of the 5th of March, a private soldier of Co. M, 3d Iowa Cavalry named William Miller, called on Col. Bussey, and requested permission to go to Gen. Price's army as a spy. Miller stated that he lived near Lexington, MO and that he was a member of the 1st Ill. Cavalry, was captured and