The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-03-20

a CALLING fire of mnsketry was poured In
along our whole line, from the top of the
hill along our left flank. The Twelfth
Missouri charged up the hill in face of the
fire, and drove the rebels over the hill
During the charge, Sigel ordered two
piecas forward about a mile to a point
where he could see the hill where the reb-
els supposed they were under cover. The
guns were masked by grove, and were not
observed by the rebels. As soon as this
battery was planted, two cannon shots were
fred from the head of the column in the
valley, producing no effect but deceiving
the enemy rapid advance OF the whole
column was then made, and as We receded
from the enemy the latter covered the hill
in large numbers, advancing on our rear.
The masked battery in front thea opened
on them, the balls passing over our column
still in the gorge, which caused such de-
struction to the rebels that they scattered
in all directions and ceased to modest us
any further.
CAPTURE OF co. B, BOTH ILLINOIS.
90. B, 36th Illinois, and part of Co. A,
were left in charge of a broken down am
munition wagon, and falling behind, were
surprised by 100 mounted secesh. The lat
ter came up SO suddenly that they were
taken for orr men, when the leader SHOUTED
out, Lay down your arms or we will kill
every man of you" Our men, having no
one to command, obeyed the rebel order,
threw down their arms. and delivered them
selves up: About fifty surrendered. A
company of the 18th Missouri coming up
directly after, fred a volley into the secesh,
and nearly all the Illinois boys made their
escape In face. of fire of the enemy
Twenty-Five of the number, including Lieut..
Walker and Sergeant P. Douglas, are stiIl
prisoners. The dead bodies Of the secesh
were observed lining the road near SigePs
rear guard as the attack Of the gallant 9Th
occurred near whore Sigel planted his bat
teries the fret Time.
OUR ORIGINAL POSITION ON SUGAR CREEK.
The valley Of Sugar Creek runs nearly
east and west, and we were posted on the
bluffs on the northern side, in q position
affording great natural advantages against
an attack from the south. Batteries
were planted alsng the bluffs, some breast
works were thrown up, and q traverse bat
terry was erected, so as to throw a cross fire
on an enemy approaching through the val
ley. The enemy seemed to have too good
evidence Of our position to attempt an at
tack on this formidable side. sts
THE ENEMY FLANK OUR POSITION.
Intelligence was received Thursday night
that they ware marching on our flank by
the Bentonville road. Tuesday morning q
large force was ascertained to have taken a
position directly on our rear, at Elk Horn
Tavern, between three and four miles from
Sugar Greek valley. The enemy were also
ascertained to be pouring in at this poin;
/ along q road behind Lee Town, in countless
mum h1ra HH @E Aa ~
GEN. CURTIS CHANGES FRONT.
| Gen. Curtis, impressed with the critical
condition of affairs, changed his front al
right angles to our former position. Col
Carr was Immediately sent forward with
his division to attempt a dislodgement Of
the enemy, under Price and Van Dorm, al
the same time that the forces under McOul-
loch and Mcintosh, pressing forward to join
the former, were observed by Gems. Davis
and Sigel in the vicinity of Lee Town, 9
small hamlet, some two miles west of Ell
Horn Tavern. The two battles, which
ragged nearly all next day near these two
points, were severely contested, and terribly
| destructive on both sides.
THE BATTLE NEAR ELK HORN TAVERN.
Facing towards the north from this point
the eye rests upon high range of bluffs
| half a mile distant, covered with brush and
timber. The intervening ground is low
/ and broken, and also densely wooded. The
| Fayetteville road winds through here, and
/ on both sides of the latter our troops were
deployed to meet concealed enemy, who
| had his batteries in position, and whose
\ numbers were unknown. Col Vandevert
| brigade formed, and plunged brsvely for
ward into the brush on the left of the road
1 MI ,1nsw~
/ from their places of concealment- TheiI
| batteries, which sent shell and ball crashing
through the brush, were silenced, or forced
i to take new position. The Iowa battery
/ which was brought to play upon the rebels
/ caused them to fly over the brow of the hill
| which at one time was covered with Louisi'
ana white coats.
i The Iewa Ninth and Colonel Phelps reg,
imeDs both suffered severely, and were bad
~ cat up.
About half past ten Col. Dodge's brigade
formed on the right hand side of the road
the 36th Illinois, under g. A. Smith, rest
ing on the lett, the 4th Iowa on the center
and one section of the Sd Illinois. cavalry
on the right. They bad one section of the
LIST Iowa battery, commanded by Colone
David. After forming, the enemy opened
upon them with artillery, and kept up the
uf6 iOE lOut 1OuEs.
The first skirmlsh that ensued, q numbel
of our men were killed and wounded. Tn,
contest getting unequal, from the immens,
force the enemy displayed, Col. Carr sen
orders from time to time to drop back. a
two O'Clock the enemy endeavored to fanl
us, when new line was formed, and tn,
front was changed along the north side 0
an open field, facing the enemy. THREE
: regiments of rebel infantry and regimen
Of rebel cavalry had outfanked onr position
They advanced and poured in terrific fire
/; while the grapeshOt from their batterie
swept through our ranks, crash after crash
l At this time the. ammunition gave out O
our battery, and the latter was taken iron
the held A section of German batter
! was brought into the field to take the Diae
) OF the First Iowa battery
: The light ragged until our regiments wer
P badly cut mp when an order was receive,
: to move to an open field, mile nearer I,
8 our camp. The enemy pursued, and tn
: cannonade did not cease in that direction