It was thought expedient to keep his troops
from the knowledge of this sad ami deplorable
fact, as it was feared it would have n very in
jurious effect. Owing to tho secrecy thrown
around his death, it was not generally known
for several days thereafter.
What seemed to be a victory at the time of
General McCullough s death proved after
wards to be a complex rout, ami we were
fvlvT'J to leave there hurriedly and without
order. Tnas in tho wilds of northern Ar
kansas on the eve 7fb -"■Larch,
was a noble, generous and heroic spirit caiied
to yield up his life in tlio defense of those
principles which ho conceived to bo right. By
reason of his death tho loss to the confederacy
was incalculable, as ho was to the trans-Mis
sissippi department what Forrest, Ashby and
Stewart were to tho east side.
