Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-21

| On G0ems Tue O6llU tosOS +,
umn still in the gorge, which caused
such destruction to the rebels that they
scattered 10 all directions and ceased 70
modest W. any further.
CAPTURE OF CO. b, ILLINOIS THIRTY'sixIh
Go, b, Thirtysix Illinois, and part
of Co. A, we're left in charge OF brok'
en.down ammunition wagon, aud, falling
behind. were surprised by $50 mounted
secesh. The latter came up 90 suddenly
that they were taken for our men, when
the leader shouted out, Lay down your
arms or We will kill every man OF you.
Our men, having no one to command
obeyed the rebel order, threw down
their arms, and delivered themselves
up. About fifty surrendered. A com
pany Of the Twelfth Missouri, coming
up directly after fired voIIey into the
secesli, aud nearly all Of the Illinois
bows made their escape in face OF a ire
of the enemy. Twenty-Five Of the num- !
Der, including Lieutenant Walker ano
Sergeant r. Doug,:ss, are still prisoners
The dead bodies OF the seccsn were w.
served lining the road nea; o'eei , ,ea
guard. az the attack of the ga'iah,
Twelfth occurred near where 0'ee'
nlanted his batteries the first time.
oux ORIGINAL POSITION ON SUGAR CREEK
The valley OF Sugar Greek runs nearly
east and west, and We were posted o"
the bluffs On the northern side, 10 Po'
stion afford ing great natural advantages
AGAINST the attack Of the enemy from the
.ou,h. Batteries were planted along
the bluffs, some breast were
thrown up, and a traverse battery was
erected, SO as to throw cross-hre on an
enemy approaching through the valley:
The enemy seemed to have TOO gooo
evidence Of our position 10 attempt al
attack on this formidable side.
TIE ENEMY FLANK OUR POSITION.
Intell,pepce was received Thursday
night that they were marching on our
flank by the Bcntonville road. Tues
day morning large force was ascer-
,alucd to have taken position directly
on our rear, at Elk Horn Tavern, be-
tween three and tour miles from Sugar
Creek valley. The enemy were also as
ce,talncd to be pouring in at this point
along road behind Leetown, In count
less numbers.
GEN. CURTIS CHANGES FRONT.
Gen. Curtis, impressed with the critl-
cal condition Of affairs, changed his front
at night angles TO our former position.
Colonel Carr was Immediately sent for
ward with his division to Elk Horn, to
attempt a dslodgment of the enemy un'
der Prlce and VanDorn, at the same
time that the forces under McCulloch
and Mcintosh, pressing forward to join
the former, were observed by Generals
Davis and Sigel in the vicinity OF Lee
town, small hamlet some two miles
west Of Elk Horn Tavern. The two bat
ties, which ragged nearly all next day
near these two points, were severely con-
tested, and terribly destructive on both
sides.
THE BATTLE NEAR ELK HORN TAVERN.
Facing towards the moth from this
point, the eye rests upon high range OF
bluffs, halt 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 a concealed enemy, who had
his batteries in position, and whose num-
ters were unknown. Col. Naudevel' s
brigade formed, and plunged bravely for
ward into the brush on tho left OF the
road. The enemy were encountere and
driven from their places of conceaIment.
Their batteries, which sent shell and
ball crashing through the brush, were
sienced, or forced to take new posi-
ton. 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.
The Iowa Ninth and Col. Phelps re-
giment both suffered severely and were
badly cut up.
About halt past n'o'clock Col. Dod-
gcs brigade formed on the right hand
side Of the road, the Thirty-ftth Illinois
under 6. A. Smith, resting on the left,
the Fourth Iowa on the centre, ar one
section OF the Third Illinois Cavalry on
the right. They had one section of the
FIRST Iowa Battery, commanded by Col.
David. After forming, the enemy opep.
ed upon them with artillery, and kept up
the tire for four hours.
The first sklrmlshing that ensued a
number OF our men were killed and
wounded. The contest getting uneqra al,
from the immense torce the enemy dis
PLAYED, Col. Car sent orders from time
to Time TO drop back. At two o'clock
the enemy endcay ored 10 flank us, " hen
a new llne was formed, and the front vas
changed along the north side of on open
field, facing the enemy. Three regi-
menis OF rebel infantry and regimen,
Of rebel cavalry had ou,fanked our DO.
s'tion. They advanced and poured in a
terrific fire, wLi.e the grapeshot from
their batteries swept through our ranks
crash after crash. at this time the am.
mun'tlon gave out of our battery, and
the latter was taken from the field. A
section Of German battery was brougL,
into the field to take the place OF the
First Iowa Battery.
The fighting ragged until our regiment.
were badly cut up, when an order was
received TO move to an open field a mile
nearer to our camp. The enemy pur.
sued, and the cannonsde did not cease
in that direction till dark. In abandon
ing our position held in the morning
| fears were ontort.inad tLot tho o,o,,s