At this time it became evident to the several commanders that a general contest was inevitable. A decisive combat was, in fact, desired by both of the opposing forces. General McIntosh, confident of success with his large army, under the leadership of Price, McCulloch, Pike and Van Dorn, believed that he could strike a fatal blow at the Union cause west of the Mississippi, by the annihilation of the Federal army. General Curtis, on the other hand, was not less anxious for a contest, even at the fearful disadvantage offered him. With his keen discrimination, he saw the glorious results of a defeat of the four rebel chieftains united against him. Should he prove successful in the almost desperate encounter, it would prove the destruction of the rebel forces in the two States, and leave a clear field for future operation. Should he fail—but no true general even thinks of that after he has made up his mind to fight. At this time his force was divided into three divisions, as follows: GENERAL SIGEL’S DIVISION.—_First Brigade, Colonel Gruesel._—36th Illinois, Col. Gruesel; 25th Illinois, Col. Coler; 44th Illinois, Col. Knoblesdorf. _Second Brigade, Col. Osterhaus._—12th Missouri, Col. Osterhaus; 17th Missouri, Col. Hassendeufel; 2d Missouri, Col. Schaeffer. _Third Brigade, Col. Asboth._—3d Missouri, Col. Friala; Illinois Cavalry, (one battalion,) Capt’s. Jenks and Smith; 3d Iowa Cavalry. GENERAL DAVIS’S DIVISION.—_First Brigade, Col. Benton._—8th Indiana, Col. Benton; 18th Indiana, Col. Patterson; 22d Indiana, Col. Hendricks. _Second Brigade, Col. Julius White._—59th Illinois, Col. Fredericks; 37th Illinois, Col. Burnes; Missouri Cavalry, (battalion,) Maj. Broen; 2d Ohio, battery, Col. Catin; 1st Missouri Light Artillery, one battery. GENERAL CARR’S DIVISION.—_First Brigade, Col. Dodge._—4th Iowa, Lieut.-Col. Galighan; 35th Illinois, Col. G. A. Smith; 24th Missouri, (battalion,) Maj. Weston. _Second Brigade, Col. Vandenier._—9th Iowa, Lieut.-Col. Herron; 25th Missouri, Col. Phelps; 9th Iowa, battery, Capt. Hayden; 1st Iowa, battery, Lieut. David. _Third Brigade, Col. Ellis._—1st Missouri Cavalry, Col. Ellis; 3d Illinois, ——; 6th Missouri, battalion, Maj. Wright. Opposed to the forces of General Curtis, just enumerated, the rebel army had fully ten thousand Missouri State troops under Major-General Price; six to eight regiments of Arkansas troops under General McCulloch; six regiments of Texans under General Earl Van Dorn; three thousand Cherokee, Choctaw and Seminole Indians under Colonel Albert Pike, all under command of Major-General McIntosh. Besides those mentioned, there were two or three regiments of Louisiana troops and companies of Mississippi and Alabama regiments under the command of their respective colonels, majors and captains.