This is a narrative and analysis of the Battle of Carthage, Missouri, a small battle leading up to Wilson's Creek. The battle provided an example of Union commander Franz Sigel's tendency to operate without sufficient information and to use a straight-ahead battle approach without much provision for contingencies. It also showed his skill at managing a long fighting retreat. The narratives are clear and easy to follow, the background information is appropriately detailed, especially the accounts of how the two armies came to be there. The authors provided a number of pictures of the extended battlesite today, with captions clearly pointing out the importance of the unspectacular landscape features in the evolving battle. The authors' style is easy and pleasant. ( )