, 1862-03-19


Corporal j. H. Rowlcs, while spik1ng gun,
was shot in both legs, not mortaliE. Capt
Hayden, Of Dubuque battery, lost t"o men
killed, and had is woundec-seFersl n1oftalty-
wounded Col. Smith, Of the Twenty-Gfth
nIirois, was wounded in the leg and bre lst.
Col. Dodge went into the fight with CLIO
uru, aud 1T night had 70 killed and so wound
cd. Col Tandever could count oaly 1s5 men.
Half lis commissioned officers we're killed or
wounded. Col Phelps had four horses shot
under him, and half his officers were killed
and n Founded.
Lieutenant Colonel Heron Of the 9th Iowa
was captu1ed with several Of his men. His
ing fractured by the fall, he fell into the ene-
my's hands when our line fell back, and they
started in the direction Of the camp, the COM
MaEd having been much scattered Lieuten-
ant Colonel 1fimble WIS shot in the face by
i mimic ball, the latter entering the cheek and
coming ont under the eur; but he was able to
leave the field on his horse. Colonel Bussey
rallied the other detachmente Of cavalry and
got them in position, when the cavalry return
cd. Of two hundred and fifty men composing
the Third Iowa which went into the charge.
IS we're killed and wounded. The enemy
having taken three. pieces and pressed
us closely we fell hack to large
open field quarter Of q mile west
Of Leeyille, whcne the second brigade
Of General 0sterhaus's division, under Colonel
ClCN@E1s VI Liz -e1AEH 4l4lOlb, I'LL kAkCu
position early in the day. The cavalry stan-
pede c,used confusion, but order was soon
restored by Colonel GreuEel, who commenced
throwing shot and shell from Hofman's bat
tery on the enemy's cavalry, just On tho point
threw forward Captains Miller and Parkhurst,
Of companies and G, Thirty-sixth Illinois,
as skirnlishers to find the position Of the enc
my in the brush. Mi1ier's men advanced in
tine style, fired on the enemJ's pickets iustas
E1]-E l.
is claimed that Ben McCu]loch was killed by
Peter Pelican, a Frenchuan, who saw him roll
cf his horse.
4 hotly contested engagement, fought the
same day at Leetoxn, two mics north Of
our camp. resulting in the, death Of McCul-
1oeh and Mcintosh, had an important bc1ring
On the general result. It served to keep the
enemy divided and prevented a large rein
forcement participating in the action at Elk
Horn Tavern The battle was opened in the
morning bJ General Osterhaus, Of General
sigers division, who was sent BY General
Curtis TO observe the enemy in that vicinity.
About Q o'clock Col Bussey, with the Third
iowa cavalry, Col. ELLIS, With tile First Mis-
| souri, cavalry, Lieut.. Col. Van 0eutch, with
| Benton Hussars, and Col Albert's battery,
th1se plee;stz,] repaired te ss the same point
Colonel Bussey forward. The battery
vent IN front, supported by two compa-
| MICS Of the First Missouri cavalry. On pass-
| ing through Z dense tAicket, the open field
vas reached, where the enemy was discovered
forward. Gen. OsteThaus Immediately or
t slered the battery to open fire on the enemy,
| he icing in advance Of his whole command,
which had not Yes reached the field. Five or
six rounds Of grape were fired with telling
effect on the enemy, who were seen to fall
send forward q detachment Of cavalry to
charge the enemy in the road. The cavalry
charged forward along a narrow road. the
cannon sill firing .ohlique1y: They were led
gallantly forward by Lieut.. Col. TrImb1e, the
men cheering. As they swept down the nar-
row dctile, about :250 rebel infantry fired upon
1hem from an ambush within twenty feet Of
the road.
This deadly FIRE was succeeded BY an attack
ofrehcl cavalry, Sho charged on them and also
.. on the battery. Our cavalry wheeled on ths
latter, and cmptied number OF saddles But
We were badly cut to pieces, and the Benton
: AnssaIs were ordered to the support Of thu
Third Iowa.
AT ibis time the battery was captured By
: the enemy who rush from the bush Mean
tlme, the Third Iowa not being reinforced
fought their way through the rebel infantry
:nd were cut of from all snccor.
At this juncture, IL o'clock 4. Il, Genera
Davis arrived, bringing the Third Division
along tho Leetown road: CoE1iog into tht
Held, which was surrounded by woods on ali
sides, Gen. Osterhaus being on his left, tht
.. Central sent forth 4 line Of slir1nishers, ex
! tending across tue open field, to feel the enc
my, WHO were not visible. On reaching the
fence on the opposite side, the enemy opened
: | 4 CALLING fre OIL our sk1rmishers from th,
!, brush, and the latter retired, slowly firing.
: Capt Alhclt's 1st Flying ARTILLERY was or
dercd to open fire on the cnemy's position
At the came time the Cd Brigade, S2th and 59t
l. Illinois, undcr Col Julius White, were O,
: dered forward on the Leevile road, uad whe'
:, near the enen.y's position were dcp1oyed Il
d the right to turn the left flank Of tic enemy
S sid the engagement at once BECAME genera
by most terrific fire being opened By ne
: Cnl|ctls forces.
c lant}y, in the face Of an overwhelming force
q for three quarters Of IN hour, when they wer
q compelled by five or Elk times their numbc
10 fill back, the enemy folio wing on their rea,
c taking two pieces Of Dayidsoa's battery. Til
r Second Brigade again turned upon the enem
II and engaged his front, when General JEFF {
i Davis ordered tile First Brigade Of his Diyisio
4 10 take position On the right tianl1 OF the en-,
Z, | my, which they quickly did. NcCulloc1l'
y rinforccmcnts, under Mcintosh, pressed tn
q First Brigade composed Of the Eighteent
% and Twehty-second Indiana commanded b.
.. Col Patterson, on III sides. The First br5s
c ace rushed in through the brush under
heavy FIRE, tuning the enemy's right danl
5s and the Eighteenth Indiana retaking Davit
le sons battery-the Second brigade at tue san,
= time charging the e1,cmy's front. Genera
l. NcCulloch and Mcintosh both fell in II
te charge, ard their forces broke aud run.
u Col. j. 4. Hendricks, OF the Twenty~se ~secon
q lndlano, FELL, shot through the heart.
e. Night coming On, the enemy made soe
" their retreat.
We had engaged the enemy for seven 1or
u hours, and our tired aud victorious troo,
q | birouackcd on the field for tho night
II, T. number Of rebel officers were capture
c- nmoug them Col. Hcbcrt, acting Bfigadi
nc General; Col. Mitchell, q major and sever
ell csp1a1ns- THOSE named were taken by Ca[
N Smiths cavalry, attached to the Thirty-slx
~ nlinoi= and some iutantrE.
n The Twenty-seennd Indiana lost The lea
o. lest Of the First Brigade Col Hendric
= killed. Lieut. Perry Watts, company +, kill
ne billed two cousins by the name OF Aifre.
" Lieutenant McGraye1, Company G. wouude
ea TwenE-second I1diana: killed and
ad wounded
1t: Tie IhityserenM Illinois, If cl. Wa',e* q
nj ga<le, {otL119 scouHdtd dnd II &iile7-ths he1
ae CT zoSs # tie army.
Of Fiity-niu1h Illtsiois, (1ate Ninth Missouri
lost Il killed and 81 wounded.
:e$ All the fed officers; Of the Second Brisa
ne were wounded, excepting CH. 5HlsHs Whit.
ea | 3ho a"as il. tic hottest II TIC hatf%r.
.fe The caya!ry met six regiments. one an Iu
oy III regiment under Stands wortz, three piet
'as Of artillery and one Of Welaey'6 guns spik'
~ W. afterwards recovered By company E, Thir
ia Our cavalry in the confusion Of the retr.
ue, Tun ove- Nelaey's m.u. killing two a
Ter 1 wonnding siz. Capt. Wei1ey spiaed his g
N before he left it.
mi The Thirty sixth Illinois and Twelfth 1]
'e5 souri, stood their ground, and saved the stu
sed pede.
at Osterhaus commands the First division.
NIGHT OF. GLOOM AND ACTIVITY,
alt Matters at nighttal1 l,egan to look critic
~ ~ as the enemy bad gained on Us, captu'
4n ae ed one of our hospitals Some began to 10
- gloomy Al our wagons during the day v
nt, moving, Or ready to move in any direct
| necessary. A rumor was circulated in
10 AFTERNOON, and greed3ly believed by Iua
~ that Hu1ltcr was only SIX miles distant II
Up. | reiIfo.cements.
1he 1t was ssid by some that Ha1scck was com
4 Ief. on, and the Illinois Thirteenth was ssmar
y " " Ing down from Springfield on double quIc
: ~ Thcse rrmoss seTsed TO keep up the spirit:
~" The non-eolnbatants But it was evident tG
~, ~ tint our only salvation depended on gafnit
n aes victory over the overwhelming forces OF
oaU cpeIny.
TIC Gen Curtis decided to commence the ba
iges at break Of day. The greatest animation I
ip5, Carrss entire divisien niroua5kcd in the Fl
aai where their position was at sunset.
,en ',sa' TIE GRAND BATTLE OF TIL. E1cu7u.
lille The enemy during the night advanced
IS Of took position one mile nearer our camp, o,
ct + pJang the extensive blr1 to tl6 Lett OF
po- horn Tavern, where they had bate
'Eu. planted which commanded the open Il
lsed and bottom lands on this side. The Q
It Of woods, mile this side Of the town. were
aud occupied By the enemy in formidable Il
lent: be1s. They had batteries pointed in all n