The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-28
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY. MARCH % 1862.

General Curtis decided to commence the
battle at break of day. The greatest ami.
nation prevailed in camp, and all were
eager for the fray. Carr's entire division
bivouaced in the field where their position
was at sunset.
THE GRAND BATTLE OF THE EIGHTH.
The enemy during the night advanced and
took position one mile nearer our camp, oc.
cupying the extensive bluff to the left of
Elk Horn Tavern, where they had batteries
planted which commanded the corn fields
and bottom lands on this side. The open
wood this side the town, was also occupied
by the enemy in formidable numbers. They
had batteries pointed in all available posi-.
tions commanding the approaches from this
side. General Curtis designed to open the
ball at daybreak, and gave the necessary
orders tor change of front, the left wing
having to be thrown obliquely forward.
The cannonade opened twenty-five min
utes past seven, on Colonel Cars division,
and the portion of the latter engaged fell
back. General Davis advanced on the
main road and took position on the right
wing, while Colonel Carr moved to the cen.
tire, and desultory fire was kept up for
short time. About eight O'Clock General
Sigels division marched into the open field
and took position on the left wing. His
batteries were planted along the elevations
in this portion of the field, with alternate
regiments of infantry.
The line es now formed was concave,
with the wings advanced toward the enemy,
while seven batteries were planted along its
whole length. No more beautiful spectacle
could be conceived than the "msgni6cent!y
stern array" presented by our line of battle.
The utmost confidence was at once restor-
ed, and our men felt reassured that victory
was in our reach. The bluffs occupied by
the enemy on the right were covered with
the secesh as thick as they could stand,
while the intervening woods IN front of our
centre were alive with them. Our batteries
were soon opened all along tie line, and q
perfect wall :6fsire blazed out in rolling
volumes The enemy replied briskly
with his batteries, with little effect, except
disabling one of Sigel's guns. The muir
derous cross-fre of our batteries cruahsds
through the timber with terrific effect.
The cannouade was terrible for two hours
and half, during which time the infantry
advanced slowly under cover ofour fire from
the batteries. AS soon as the enemy broke
the infantry advanced with yell in double
quick, sending volley upon volley of WELL
aimed musketry. The Twelfth Missouri
rushed forward and charged on a battery
in the heavy timber, capturing three guns
and flag belonging to the Dallas Artillery.
Nho I'D ole
gun and two caissons. At this time Gen.
Sigel pushed the enemy's right flank, while
General Davis and Colonel Carr drove for
ward his left flank The fight became
general, and the ravine near the Elk. Horn
Tavern was thronged with the flying
enemy. The bluffs on the left, forming
natural fortiication, where they had
several regiments had battery posted,
were stormed by Colonel Greusels brigade.
The precipice here is seventy>6ye feet high.
The Twelfth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth
Missouri and Thirty-sixth Illinois scaled
the hill and drove the enemy out, the brig
ade losing only eight men killed and twenty
two wounded. The top OF the bluff was
completely covered with their dead and
wounded from our spherical case shot and
shells, The arms and accoutrements were
scattered 10 all directions. A prisoner taks
en- here stated that Van Dorm had not been
seen for two hours, and they thought it
time to leave. The victory was complete.
The retreating enemy was pursued for two
miles by company D, of Bowman's battal-
ion, as the pursuit was kept up by the Benz
ton Hussars and Gen. Sigel to Keetsville.
Prisoners, icluding officers, were taken in
large numbers. Our loss in the battle was
comparatively small, but the enemy's was
terribly severe. We killed Gen. Slack, and
young Clark, so of Merriweather Clark, of
st. Louis, who had his head taken off by
cannon ball. He commanded battery
gallantly, aud had just given the order to
retreat when bal! struck him on his horse.
Lieut.. Col. Nc Culloch, son of the General,
was also found among the dead, with his
commission in his pocket, near Elk Horn
Tavern. ot.- s,....g,. y,..., .5..r. I
A secesh doctor who came afterward
into our camp relates that on the morning
of the battle be observed about 300 Indians
daabing their faces all over black from the
coal Of the charred stumps. The doctor
inquired of one Of the chiefs the signifi-
canoe of painting thus, when be was an
swered that " The Indians, when going into
fight, painted their faces red but when
they are pinched with hunger they color
black" These fellows have had nothing
to eat in two days tsq1 d ssas.'ud +
ss MeCulloch was killed in the brush, on,
slight elevation on the opposite side OF the
field, by Peter Pelican, private in COM
pany B, Thirtyssixth Illinois. The attack
in which the ubiquitous Ben was taken off
was led by Capt. Miller. McCulloch wore
dress ofblack velvet, patent leather high.
top boots. and he had on p light colored
broad sbrimed Texan hat. He was on
lightsbay horse. Pelican went up and took
q good watch, now in possession OF Col.
Greusel.