The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-03-20
THE GATE CITY


We extract the following items from
the correspondence Of the Missouri Demo
crat. con6ning ourself simply to such pass
ages rs allude to Iowa troops
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 al>e densely
wooded. The Fayetteville road winds
through here, and on both sides of the
latter our troops we're deployed to meet a
contested enemy whe had his batteries In
position, and whose numbers were I'M
known. Col. Wanderers brigade formed
and plunged bravely forward into the
brush on the left of the road. The enemy
we're encountered and driven from their
places Of concealment. Their batteries,
which sent shell and ball crashing through
the brush, we're silenced, or forced to
take new position. The Iowa battery,
which was brought to play on the rebels,
ca1sed them to fly over the brow of the
hill, which ct one time was covered with
Louisiana white coats.
The Iowa Ninth and Col Phelps's reg
iment both suffered severely, and were
badly cut up.
Col Dodge went into the fight with 610
men, and at night had 70 killed and SO
wounded Col. Vandever could count
only Its men. Half his commissioned
officers were killed or wounded. Colonel
Phelps had four horses shot under him,
and half his officers were killed aud woun-
ded.
Lieut.. Col. Heron, of the 9th lows,
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 having been much
scattered.
Lieut.. Col Trimble was shot in the
face by mimic ball, the latter entering
the cheek and coming out under the car
but he was able to leave the field on his
horse. Col. Bussey rallied the other de.
tachments Of cavalry and got them in DO.
sition, when the cavalry returned. Oh
two hundred and fifty men composing the
Third Iowa which went into the charge
IS were killed and wounded.
INCIDENTS.
In the battle near Elk Horn Tavern
Sergeant Major Wooster, Of the lows
Third, was hit by cannon shot, taking
away the side Of his skull, while he was
engaged in untangling the horses from
the Dubuque battery, having bravcly vol.
unteered to 60 ahead on the dangerous
GRAND, in the face Of plunging FIRE from
the enemy's battery. Calling to his boy
after he was shot he said: "Johnny, Oh,
Johnny, must go!'
THE BATTLE NEAR LEE TOWN,
This holly contested engagement, fought
the same day at Lee Town, two miles
north Of our camp, resulting in the death
of McCulloch and Mcintosh, had an i'm
portant bearing on the general result. II
served to keep the enemy divided and
prevented large reinforcement partici
pating in the action at Elk Horn Tavern
The battle was opened in the morning b,
Gen. Osterhaus, Of Gen. Sigels division
who was sent by Gen. Curtis to obsery,
the enemy in that vicinity.
About 8 o'clock Col. Bussey, with til,
Third Iowa Cavalry, Col Ellis, with th,
First Missouri Cavalry, Lieut.. Col. Val
Deutch, with Benton Hussars, and Col
Albert's battery (three pieces J, repaired t
the same point to reconnoiter. Gen. O.
terhaus ordered Col. Bussey forward
The battery went in front, supported b,
TWO companies Of the First Missouri Cav
Airy. On passing through dense thickel
the open field was reached, whore the en-
envy was discovered about four hundre,
yards distant, moving forward. Gen. o.
terhaus Immediately ordered the batter
TO open fire on the enemy, he being i
advance Of his whole command, which ha
not yet reached the Geld. Five or si
rounds Of grape we're fred with telling 81
feet on the enemy, who were seen to fal
Gen. Osterhaus then ordered Col. Busse
to send forward ! detachment Of cavalr
TO charge the enemy in the road. TIL
cavalry charged along narrow road, til
cannon still firing obliquely. They wer
led calamity forward by Lieut.. Col Trim
bic, the men cheering the while. AS the
swept down the narrow deiiie, about 25
rebel infantry fred upon them from .
ambush within twenty feet Of the road.
This deadly FIRE was succeeded by .
attack OF rebel cavalry, who charged q
them aud also on the battery. Our ca,
airy wheeled on the latter, aud emp,ied
number Of saddles. But We were bad
cut to pieces, and the Benton Hussa
were ordered to the support Of the Thi
Iowa.
At this time the battery was captur
BY the enemy, who rushed from the bus
Meantime the Third Iowa, not being !
inforced, fought their way through 4