Union guns, from this position,
wrecked the Confederate lines to their north. CS Major General Earl
Van Dorn, believing he had beaten the Federal troops, on March 7, did not
make preparations to get his supply train up, in the overnight hours.
Unprepared, on March 8, when the Union guns opened on them, Van Dorn
determined to retreat from the field, heading southeast on the Huntsville
Road. This happened so quickly, that US commander, Brigadier General
Samuel Curtis, was unsure which way Van Dorn retreated. Unfortunately,
over the coming month, Curtis was unable to catch Van Dorn's rear guard.
