about 75 miles to the southwest of springfield, the pro-southern missouri state guard were camped. they were under the command of major general sterling price. price was joined by confederate generals benjamin mcculloch and nicholas bartlett pearce. combined their forces numbered about 12,000. in late july both forces started moving closer to together, each army trying to learn what they could about the other. there was a skirmish at dug springs, missouri on august 2. this is near present-day clever, missouri. the union forces won but this is when lyon realized the confederates had more than twice the forces he had. the union forces retreated back to springfield.