jackson and approximately 4,000 of his untrained and poorly armed militia fled to carthage, missouri. in order to find jackson and his militia, lyon had split his forces. he sent colonel franz sigel with about 1,000 soldiers into southwest missouri to search for jackson. on july 4 jackson learned that sigel was camped at carthage. the next day jackson led his militia to attack the smaller union force. the battle line was about ten miles south of carthage. he waited for sigel to attack him. sigel, in turn, opened the battle with artillery fire. he then attacked the militia. however, after seeing a large confederate force moving around him on his left flank, he moved back to prevent being surrounded. he did not know the force to his left were mainly unarmed militia. sigel fought a successful rearguard action as his small army fell back to carthage. he then retreated to sarcoxie, missouri. the battle had little meaning but it encouraged the pro-confederates in missouri with news of their first victory. jackson was the only sitting governor to have commanded troops in a battle.