Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-04-15
TIE nArrLE OF rLKHoRN.

P0JtaT furnishes that paper with the following
account of the battle at Elkhorn. As Mr. Doug
las participated in the battle, his statement may
be relied on:
VAN buren,, March -, 1862
Within the last ten days much of interest has
trauspued in this region, accounts OF which you
have doubtless had before tius. On the morning
of the Sd Of March, Gen. Van Dom ordered US
on a forced march 90 the vicinity OF Curtis
army, in Benton county. Accordingly we moved,
and on the 9th our cavalry encountered 5000
Fedarals near BentOnyiIe, surprising them, cap
turing their foTagers, aud engaging the main
body and killing thirty or forty Of them, and
ijsilg tour or FIVE. We were in hearing Of
SiVels cannon, as he fred retTeating but did
not reach the scene until he was gone Greer's
regiment did good service I'm the engagem tnt.
On the 9Th, after marching all night, we at
| tackled the main body of the enemy, in his rear,
and on his right, thus cutting OF his retreat,
/ Price moving ou him from the north and Nc
Culloch from tEe west. At 81 O'Clock, Price
opened his cannon which WIS responded to, and
at I04 o'clock Culloch commenced the attack,
myself firing the first gun, which struck well in
the midst of the battery, which was promptly
charged and captured by our cavalry. Our in
tartry was ordered forward on the left, and our
battery planted in the center We opened on q
fine battery in front az distance of 400 yards,
and for an hour paid but liJtle attention to the
progress Of the battle generally, as the belcding
mouths OF the euemy's big guns refused 10 be
( silent
But at the end Of that time, with my entire
appreciation, our antagonists limbered to the rear
and hurried away, leaving the field to US, TO-
gether with seventeen dead FedeTals, the captain
among the number Our loss was four men
I wounded and three OF four horses killed lt
| seems that no more damage was done Us in this
| deal as the shot and shell fell in showers around
US besides, the enemy bad two rihed guns,
/ whose fire was SO accurate As 20 compel us sev-
! eral times to move our guns out of their range.
During our engagement, McCulloCh had led
| the infantry toward TO our leit and inch by inch
/ had driven back the enemy around the slope Of d
! mountain near haF mile. The general rode up
/ to our battery after we ceased firing, with the
| glow Of victory in his face, and asked our sue
| cess He paused but a moment and rode away
/ Soon I heard a tremendous roar Of musketry to
/ our left of which I learned that Gen McCu loch
bsd led the old 81 Louisiana and some other
regiments in person TO d charge, which proved to
be a very dangerous one. The enemy, being
driven back several hundred yards concentrated
Ou the right wing, and resisted him with a three
fold f1rce-slsO opening on him a masked bat
terry The infantry promptly drove back the
superior numbers ana took the battery but IN
the moment of victory the noble patriot McCul-
loch, fell, Almost simultaneously with him fell
the gallant Gen. Mcintosh Col Hsbert, COM
mandjng the % brigade was about the same
time, cut Off and captuTed also MAJ. TaneTd,
commanding the ID Louisiana.
Our troops, not aw2Te of the mistortUaes Of
their leaders, fell back and formed and awaited
orders. The battle ceased; our troops awaited
orders; and at about 3 o'clock p. 81. Gen. Pike
ordered us 20 move by the road to Prices rear
which we accordingly did, reaching him after
dark. We found that the work had gone bTsvely
on with Price, Gen. Van Dorm Commanding in
person. H. had surmOUnted hin after hill until
until be had reached and driven the enemy from
the commanding summit where is situated the
Elkhoru tavern had captured one fine battery,
ana the enemy c0mmIsssry and quartsrmaster's
stores, with extensive supplies The day seemed
ours without doubt; all rested on their oars
during the night. A complete capture of the
enemy seemed to be the aim.of cur general
Early in the morning Gen Van Dorm ordered
up the best battery Ours was Carried up by his
aid We were posted on the south slope Of the
hill, IN the center, nearest the enemy. Two
other batteries and some infantry were posted
near us. At sunrise we opened on the euemy's
batteries 30 our front, at distance OF 600 yards
Our FIRE was answered with great spirit, and
soon the roar became ceaseless and sublime.
The battery TO Our left [6 pieces) fred few
rounds and fell back Ine one TO our right
fred slowly, while the enemy, with eight bat
tsries, poured a torrent Of shot, shell and can
mister upon our little band.
Our boys manned the guns with co0lness and
great rGpidity. Soon many Of them wsTa wound
ell. and finally Charlie Irwin, the brave boy, fell
uobly by his gun. Our numbers being finally
diminished to about one-hslf the proper number
Of cannoneers, took my position at gun No. ,
as gunner LeUts. BJreu and Davis also acted
as gunners. We stood their fire for an hour and
a half. when the twelve-p0uuders ammunition
failed which We reported, aud,were ordered to
fall back Capt. Har5's battery took our place.
We moved back tc Teplenish cur ammunition
chests
In about forty minutes the enemy moved no
with infantry four deep, and cavalry in ear, and
broke our center, when Gen. Y an Dorm ordered
the forces 70 fall back 90 the left which they did
IN perfect order, and were marched away to the
southeast-save cur battery, which, with three
pieces Of Prices artillery, one regiment Of infan-
try. and one company OF cavalry and some
/ s!Tagglers, failed 10 gei the order, and moved
down the Springfield road. We were pursued
by the cavalry about one mile The infantry
formed once and drove them back.
Our battery and Capt. Teel's, two miles from
the field took a dim road over the mountains to
our right while the other batteries moved up to
Keetsvi'ie aad turned 10 the right. " marched
RaTd all day almost without 3 road, and the
evening shades found us fifteen miles away in
the White river mountains; and, by marching all
night and the next day, VIC succeeded in out
fanldng the enemy and making our escape. We
continued our march over an almost impossible
road, and on the fourth day were met by Greers
regiment as al escort, the presence of which
made Us feel quite agreeable.
All the artillery got out salelyi besides, We
brought away tl-ss fine pieces OF the enenys
(The other captured guns were spiked and the
woodwork bumed.) l have not time TO com
msnt OF give many details, which might be OF
iEteI-sL The battle, though prot-acted, was not
the most destructive, being fought principally
with artillery. The grand, ar Of the battle is
iudescrioabie, as we had sixty guns and the
enemy greater number The boys say Oak
Hills was a baby IN comparison with II.