THE PEA RIDGE CAMPAIGN.
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the afternoon, J they were forced back from position to position, until Elk-horn Tavern was taken by the enemy, and our crippled forces, almost withoutammunition, their artillery reduced by losses of guns, men, and horses, theirinfantry greatly reduced, had to seek a last shelter in the woods and behindthe fences, separated from the enemy’s position by open fields, but not fartherthan a mile from our trains. There they formed a contracted and curvedline, determined to resist, not dis-heartened, but awaiting with someapprehension another attack. Fortu-nately, the enemy did not follow uphis success, and night fell in, closingthis terrible conflict. While this en-gagement of our right wing was inprogress, I received an order fromGeneral Curtis at 2 o’clock p. m. toreenforce Colonels Osterhaus andDavis with the remainder of thetroops of the First and Second Di-visions, held in reserve near our orig-inal position, between Sugar Creekand Elkhorn Tavern. Before receiv-ing this order I sent Major Poten withthe 17th Missouri , 2 companies of the15th, 2 companies of the 3d Missouri ,a section of artillery (Elbert’s 2 pieces),and a squadron of Benton Hussars un-der Major Heinrichs, toward the south-west, to try to gain the rear of a hostile force stationed there. Leaving asmall detachment as a guard in our camp, I moved with all the other troopsby Leetown to the battle-field, north of the town. We arrived just in timeto give a send-off to the retreating hostile forces, and, joined by Osterhaus’sbrigade, advanced toward the east, parallel with the curve formed by thechain of hills called Pea Ridge, with the intention of bringing assistanceto our right wing, where the noise of the engagement with Yan Dorn andPrice was unabating.
We had to move slowly and cautiously, as a part of the enemy’s forcesevidently tried to rally on our left flank but withdrew after some little skir-mishing with the 44th Illinois . Reaching finally an open field about half amile from the last spur of the hills, looking down upon Elkhorn Tavern, wehalted, and report was sent to General Curtis’s headquarters, describing ourposition and asking for orders. At that time it had become dark, firing onthe right had almost ceased, and as we had not sufficient knowledge ofthe position of the enemy, or our own troops on the right, I concluded to
i Five companies of the 8th Indiana and 3 pieces Chapman’s battery, 5 companies of the 25th Illi-of Klauss’s Indiana battery; part of the Second Di- nois, a section of Hoffmann’s battery, Bowen’s cav-vision, 4 companies of the 2d Missouri , 4 pieces of airy battalion, and mountain howitzers.—F. S.