Lawrence read the paper through and, as he expected, it was a detailed account of the plans of General Hindman. It stated that Hindman had just received dispatches from several sources in Missouri that if he did not hurry up and invade the State the cause would be hopelessly lost, but if he could defeat Blunt and invade the State, thousands were ready to flock to his standard. Hindman had answered that he was ready to move on Blunt with twenty thousand men, and anticipated an easy victory as he (Blunt) did not have more than five or six thousand men. "He estimated my force closely," said Blunt. "There must have been spies in my camp," but read on. "Great Scott! He says Hindman will commence his movement on the fourth or fifth; and this is the third," exclaimed Lawrence. "Yes, and I have only this small division to oppose him." "Where are the other two divisions?" "Up around Springfield, seventy-five miles away, and Schofield's orders are to hold this position at all hazards." "Herron can get here," cried Lawrence. "I know his Western boys; they are greyhounds to march." "But just think, seventy-five miles in two or three days," said Blunt, "and then go into battle. But it is my only hope." It was twelve miles to the telegraph office at Fayetteville. A swift courier carried the message there and from there it went on the wings of the lightning to General Herron. It was a little after midnight on the morning of the fourth that General Herron received the message, and by three o'clock his little army was on the way--a march of seventy-five miles before them and then a battle. There was no lagging, no grumbling. "On to save Blunt" was the cry. That army was accustomed to long marches, to hardships almost incredible. Hardly ever stopping, through the nights as well as days, they marched, and on the evening of the sixth the advance of Herron's army reached Fayetteville; the rest would be up during the night. Blunt's army was still twelve miles away, and the boom of the cannon told them the conflict was on. Hindman knew that Herron was coming, and he made haste to strike before his arrival. On December fifth he instructed General Marmaduke to take his division, turn the right flank of Blunt's army, and throw his men in between Blunt and Fayetteville, thus preventing the union of Blunt and Herron. The clash came at Cain Hill. Lawrence, with his troop, was in the advance, and the rapidity of their fire so astonished Marmaduke that he thought he was fighting a much larger force than he was, and his men fell back in confusion. The movement was a failure. All through the next day Hindman's forces kept pouring through the passes of the mountains, and though the Federals resisted gallantly, they were gradually pressed back, and the evening of the sixth found the two armies confronting each other, ready to grapple in deadly conflict.