The vocal music around me was not calculated to encourage drowsiness.  Close at hand was the quartermaster’s train, with the mules ready harnessed for moving in any direction.  These mules had not been fed for two whole days, and it was more than thirty-six hours since they had taken water.  These facts were made known in the best language the creatures possessed.  The bray of a mule is never melodious, even when the animal’s throat is well moistened.  When it is parched and dusty the sound becomes unusually hoarse.  Each hour added to the noise as the thirst of the musicians increased.  Mr. Fayel provoked a discussion concerning the doctrine of the transmigration of souls; and thought, in the event of its truth, that the wretch was to be pitied who should pass into a mule in time of war.

With the dawn of day every one was astir.  At sunrise I found our line was not quite ready, though it was nearly so.  General Curtis was confident all would result successfully, and completed the few arrangements then requiring attention.  We had expected the Rebels would open the attack; but they waited for us to do so.  They deserved many thanks for their courtesy.  The smoke of the previous day’s fight still hung over the camp, and the sun rose through it, as through a cloud.  A gentle wind soon dissipated this smoke, and showed us a clear sky overhead.  The direction of the wind was in our favor.

The ground selected for deciding the fate of that day was a huge cornfield, somewhat exceeding two miles in length and about half a mile in width.  The western extremity of this field rested upon the ridge which gave name to the battle-ground.  The great road from Springfield to Fayetteville crossed this field about midway from the eastern to the western end.

It was on this road that the two armies took their positions.  The lines were in the edge of the woods on opposite sides of the field—­the wings of the armies extending to either end.  On the northern side were the Rebels, on the southern was the National army.  Thus each army, sheltered by the forest, had a cleared space in its front, affording a full view of the enemy.

[Illustration:  SHELLING THE HILL AT PEA RIDGE.]

By half-past seven o’clock our line was formed and ready for action.  A little before eight o’clock the cannonade was opened.  Our forces were regularly drawn up in order of battle.  Our batteries were placed between the regiments as they stood in line.  In the timber, behind these regiments and batteries, were the brigades in reserve, ready to be brought forward in case of need.  At the ends of the line were battalions of cavalry, stretching off to cover the wings, and give notice of any attempt by the Rebels to move on our flanks.  Every five minutes the bugle of the extreme battalion would sound the signal “All’s well.”  The signal would be taken by the bugler of the next battalion, and in this way carried down the line to the center.  If the Rebels had made any attempt to outflank us, we could hardly have failed to discover it at once.