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

still in the gorge, which caused such de.
struction to the rebels that they scattered
in all directions and ceased to molest us
any further. .l
THE ENEMY FLANK OUR POSITION.
Intelligence was received on Thursday
night that they we're marching on our flank
by the Bentonville road. Tuesday morning
large force was ascertained to have taken
position directly on our rear, at Elk Horn
Tavern, between three and four miles from
Sugar Greek Valley. The enemy were al
so ascertained to be pouring in at this
point, along road behind Leetown, in
countless numbers.
GENERAL CURTIS CHANGES FRONT.
General Curtis, impressed with the criti
cal condition of affairs, changed his front at
right angles to our former position. Col.
Carr was Immediately sent forward with his
division to Elkhorn, to effect dislodgement
of the enemy under Price and Van Dorm,
at the same time that the forces under
McCulloch and Mcintosh, pressing forward
to join the former, were observed by Gene,
rails Davis and Sigel in the vicinity of Lee
town, small hamlet, some two miles west
of Elk Horn Tavern. The two battles,
which ragged nearly all next day near these
two points, were severely contested and ter
ribly 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 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
nambers were unknown. Colonel Vande-
ver's brigade formed and plunged bravely
forward into the bush on the left of the
road. The enemy were encountered and
driven from their places of concealment j
Their batteries, which sent shell and ball
crashing through the brush, were silenced
or forced to take new position. The Iowa
Battery, which was brought to play on the
rebels, caused them to fly over the brow of
the hill, which at one time was covered
with Louisiana white coats. '.te-c
The first skirmishing that ensued mum.
Der OF our men were killed and wounded.
The contest getting unequal, from the im~
mense force the enemy displayea, Col. Carr
sent orders from time to time to drop back.
At two O'Clock the enemy endeavored to
flank US, when new line was formed, and
the front was changed along the north side
of an open field, facing the enemy. Three
regiments of rebel infantry and regiment
OF rebel cavalry had outhanked our posi-
tion. They advanced and poured in ter.
rife fire, while the grapeshot from their
batteries swept through our ranks, crash
after crash. At this time the ammunition
gave out of our battery, and the latter was
taken from the field. A section of Gers
man battery was brought into the field to
take the place of the First Iowa battery.
The lighting ragged until our regiments
were badly cut up, when an order was re-
ceived to move to an open field a mile
nearer to our camp. The enemy pursued,
and the cannonade did not cease in that di-
rection till dark. In abandoning our posi-
tion held in the morning, fears were enter
tained that the enemy would, in the exulta-
tion OF supposed victory, surprise our camp
during the night. Our men fought gallant
y all day, without hnching, as is evident
by the loss sustained.
The enemy had fifteen thousand to our
three thousand FIVE hundred, disparity of
force almost unequaled. Some Quarter
masters stores at Elk Horn tavern tell into
their hands, all of which were used By them
except the desccated vegetables and pota
toes, they having no idea tor what purpose
they we're used. Our loss in killed and
wounded was severe. Lies. Col. Chandler
was captured with twenty men. Col. Carr
was wounded in the wrist, and grape shot
grazed his neck. '' ''.
Col. Dodge went into the fight with CLIO
men, and at night had 10 killed and 80
wounded. Col. Vandever could count only
175 men. Half his commissioned officers
were killed or wounded. Col. Phelps had
four horses shot under him, and half his
officers were killed and wounded. sg'
a Lieutenant Colonel Heron, Of the Ninth
Iowa, was captured, with several of his men.
His horse was shot under him, and, his ankle
being fractured by the fall, be fell into the
enemy's hands, when our line fell back, and
they started in the direction of the camp,
the command being much scattered. Lieut..
Colonel Trimble was shot in the face by a
MIME ball, the latter entering the cheek
and coming out under the ear; but he was
able to leave the field on his horse, Colonel
Bussey rallied the, other detachments of
cavalry, and got them in position, when the
cavalry returned sOf two hundred and
Fifty men composing the Third Iowa which
went into the charge, iorty>tiye were killed
and wounded. The enemy having taken
three pieces and pressed us closely, we fell
back into large open field q quarter of q
mile west of Leeville, where the second brig
ade OF General Gsterbaus' division, under
Colonel Grenseb of the Thirty. sixth Illinois,
bad taken position early in the day. The
cavalry stampede caused confusion, but
order was soon restored by Colonel Gre1sel
who commenced throwing shot and shell