Lesson 58: Battle of Elkhorn, Arkansas - Part II

General McIntosh, it seems, committed a great blunder in not forming his men and notifying the respective commanders of his design to charge. We were all marching by twos, and were stretched out for a mile or more along the road that wound around the hills.

When the order to charge was given, I seriously doubt whether over two hundred men heard it, and those two hundred knew not, neither did the officers know, where nor what they had to charge, except those few men that had shown themselves; but we soon found out where they were, and that too, before two-thirds of our men knew anything about what was going on. We could have formed ourselves, and by a little manoeuvering, kept them at bay until Gen. Price could have marched upon their rear, he being only a mile or two behind. Col. Young and the Missouri regiment had, while we were going around, driven out what were left in the town. This may be said to be the commencement of the fight. That evening a part of our artillery came up with a part of theirs and exchanged a few salutes. We killed several more of them in our charge than they did of us; besides they left four wounded at a house close by. We slept none that night, but marched to within four miles of the enemy by daybreak; and about half after nine the fight commenced in earnest. Van Dorn and Price engaged the first division, under Gen. Curtis, near the Elkhorn tavern, on the telegraph road leading from Fayetteville to Springfield. There the fight first commenced on the 7th. Van Dorn and Price had gotten above the enemy, and we were ordered to come up on their rear. But suddenly, as we were going around, and just as we entered an old corn-field, the selemnity of the hour was broken in upon by the quick and lively tune of "Yankee Doodle" from a brass band. This was not in the least agreeable to the ear, which has been so long accustomed to hear with delight the patriotic song of "Dixie." But this Yankee Doodle, altogether disagreeable, was soon followed by another far more so, and which creates within those who hear no disposition whatever to dance.

The bass of this music is like unto mighty thunder, and the other notes are produced by balls, shell and shot passing in close proximity to one's head or person. As soon as this terrific instrument, known by the name of a battery, has sounded its first notes, the brave and daring McIntosh shouted out, charge! and then there was one of the most sublime and gallant charges that Mars ever feasted eyes upon. All our cavalry force was in this brilliant charge, except Col. Greer's regiment, which was ordered to remain for the protection of our batteries. This battery, with all its supporting forces, were secreted in a dense thicket of second growth, or old field, to our right; while our forces received their heavy firing in an open corn field.

In consequence of all the horses being killed that belonged to the battery we took it was burnt. For a while all was silent until our batteries were moved up to an effective position. And then commenced a most rapid and furious cannonading. Col. Greer's regiment was now ordered by Gen. McCulloch to flank one of their batteries and charge it, but while moving around to carry into execution this order, the battery was ascertained to be farther off than at first supposed, and we were ordered to halt till he (McCulloch) could ascertain its exact locality, and whilst reconnoitering he fell a victim to the fatal shot of a party of skirmishers. While impatiently waiting the expected orders from Gen. McCulloch, all the cavalry received orders to dismount. Col. Greer's regiment was ordered to ascend and hold possession of a high hill, called Round Mountain, which was the most advantageous position on the battle ground, and to which the enemy directed their whole efforts and bent every energy to obtain. Shortly after we reached the top of the mountain, the sharp, rapid and destructive fire of the small arms, joined in with deep-toned thunder of the cannon, and for hours the dreadful storm of battle raged most furiously. All nature seemed to be impressed with the awful sublimity, the dreadful grandeur of the passing hour.

The enemy bravely and desperately contested every inch of ground; but they were forced gradually to fall back before the onward and steady advance of our destructive and blazing column. Here the enemy deserted another battery, but soon being reinforced, they rallied and recaptured it, the left wing of our infantry first giving way to a body of cavalry; then they came down with a combined and irresistible force upon the bravest of the brave, Col. Hebert's Louisiana regiment, who occupied the centre. It was during this dreadful storm that the heroic and gallant son of Georgia, Gen. McIntosh, lost his life. Afterwards, the fearless and gallant Col. Hebert was taken prisoner, his horse having been killed under him. By this time it was growing late, the sun as if sick of beholding the terrible and bloody conflict, was fast hastening to his golden couch, beneath the Western hills. Gen. McCulloch had for several hours been cold in death. Gen. McIntosh's fearless and noble heart had been pierced through by a fatal ball. Col. Hebert, the senior Colonel of the infantry, was in the hands of the invaders. Thus cruelly and sadly bereft of our Generals, with none to assume their places, our troops began slowly, sullenly and mournfully to fall back upon the ground we had first occupied in the morning. Our cool and brave Col. Greer here assumed command, and with his own regiment went over the battle-ground and brought off a battery. He then had the artillery planted in the field, and formed his men in the timber close by and silently and cooly awaited the coming of the enemy till darkness spread his silver mantle over the wearied warriors. Both armies struck up their camp fires within three hundred yards of each other. About midnight we received orders from Gen. Van Dorn to move over on the telegraph road, near where Gen. Price was encamped, some few miles distant. Generals Van Dorn and Price, with the brave and hearty sons of Missouri, had successfully engaged the enemy from half past nine in the morning until an hour in the night, having driven them back some nine miles. All day long until late at night, the cannon's roar was heard; and the next morn, with the coming of the sun, comes the cannon's thundering peal summoning the weary and hungry soldier to the bloody battle again. For four hours there was one long and tremendous roar of artillery and an almost unremitting shower of small arms. Suddenly all was hushed, and then began, as I before remarked, our mysterious retreat, Col. Greer's regiment bringing up the rear, we moved off slowly and in perfect order. We camped about eight miles from the battle ground the first night of our retreat.

The retreat occupying eight days, during which time we lived mostly upon broiled meat; occasionally we could get a little bread baked; sometimes we could get a little meal, which we baked upon thin, flat rocks. Thus ended the fight of the 6th, 7th and 8th of March, 1862, in the region of Elkhorn Tavern, Benton county, Arkansas.