Reports of Major General Earl Van Dorn, C. S. Army, commanding Trans-Mississippi District.
HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT,
March 9, via Hog Eye, March 10, [1862]
General A. SIDNEY JOHNSTON,
Decatur
Fought the enemy, about 20,000 strong, 7th and 8th, at
Elkhorn, Ark. Battle first day from 10 a.m. until after dark; loss heavy on both
sides. Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh and Colonel Hebert were killed; Generals
Price and Slack were wounded--General Price, flesh wound in the arm; the others
badly wounded, if not mortally; many officers killed and wounded; but as there
is some doubts in regard to several, I cannot yet report their names. Slept on
the battle-field first night, having driven the enemy from their position. The
death of Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh and Colonel Hebert early in the action
threw the troops on the right under their commands in confusion. The enemy took
a second and strong position. Being without provisions and the right wing
somewhat disorganized, determined to give battle on the right on their front for
the purpose only of getting off the field without the danger of a panic, which I
did with success, but with some losses.
I am now encamped with my whole army 14 miles west [of]
Fayetteville, having gone entirely around the enemy. I am separated from my
train, but think it safe on the Elm Springs road to Boston Mountains. The reason
why I determined to give battle at once upon my arrival to assume command of the
army I will give in report at an early day.
EARL VAN DORN,
General, Commanding.
[Copy to the Secretary of War.]
-----
HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT,
Van Buren, Ark., March 18, 1862.
Hon. J.P. BENJAMIN,
Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.
SIR: I avail myself of the opportunity offered me by the
departure of Dr. O. B. Knobe for Richmond to inform you that the entire army I
marched against the enemy some days since is now in camp a few miles from this
place, and that I shall march in a few days for Pocahontas, to make a junction
with whatever force may be assembled at that point.
It is my intention to fall upon the force of the enemy in the
vicinity of New Madrid or Cape Girardeau and attempt to relieve General
Beauregard, and, if practicable, I shall march on Saint Louis, and thus withdraw
the forces now threatening this part of the State of Arkansas.
The army cannot be subsisted here any longer; neither do I think that the enemy
can make any serious demonstrations from here until later in the spring.
I send several thousand cavalry off in a few days via
Forsyth, on White River, to burn up the depots of the enemy at Springfield and
to destroy his immense trains, which go to and fro nearly unguarded. They will
then join me at Pocahontas. I shall order Pike to operate in the Indian country
west of this to cut off trains, annoy the enemy in his marches, and to prevent
him, as far as possible, from supplying his troops from Missouri and Kansas. He
cannot supply them here. I have debated this movement in my own mind and think
that it is the best I can make.
I attempted first to beat the enemy at Elkhorn, but a series
of accidents entirely unforeseen and not under my control and a
badly-disciplined army defeated my intentions. The death of McCulloch and
Mcintosh and the capture of Hebert left me without an officer to command the
right wing, which was thrown into utter confusion, and the strong position of
the enemy the second day left me no alternative but to retire from the contest.
A heavy blow was struck them, however, and they are somewhat paralyzed. I shall
march to another fie1d before they recover, and before their re-enforcements
arrive, which they are daily expecting.
If I give battle to the troops near New Madrid I relieve
Beauregard. If I find this not advisable or practicable, I shall march boldly
and rapidly towards Saint Louis between Ironton and the enemy's grand depot at
Rolla. I think I shall accomplish something in that direction. I shall at all
events task my humble abilities to their utmost to achieve some success for our
cause; and I earnestly hope that I may be successful.
I shall not be able to make my report of the battle of
Elkhorn for some time on account of the difficulty I have of getting subordinate
reports. Our loss was not as heavy, however, as I had thought and as was
reported to me, not being more than 800 or 1,000 killed and wounded and between
200 and 300 prisoners.
The enemy's loss was about 800 killed and 1,000 or 1,200
wounded and about 300 prisoners. We also took two batteries of artillery, one of
which was destroyed by fire--burnt up.
The enemy's position was a strong one, but we drove him from
it and slept on our arms on the field of battle, night closing the first day's
battle.
The second day we found him at daylight in a new and stronger position to the
rear of his first, about 2 miles off. From all the circumstances which
surrounded me I determined to withdraw. I therefore made a demonstration in
front to cover the movement and put the army on the road towards Huntsville,
towards the east, and retired with a heavy heart, but with a determination to
recover as soon as possible and fight again. I was not defeated, but only foiled
in my intentions. I am yet sanguine of success, and will not cease to repeat my
blows whenever the opportunity is offered.
Very respectfully, sir, I am, your obedient servant,
EARL VAN DORN,
Major-General.
-----
HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT,
Jacksonport, Ark., March 27, 1862.
General Beauregard, Commanding, &c.
GENERAL: I have the honor to report that while at Pocahontas
I received dispatches on February 22, informing me that General Price had
rapidly fallen back from Springfield before a superior force of the enemy, and
was endeavoring to form a junction with the division of General McCulloch in
Boston Mountains. For reasons which seemed to me imperative I resolved to go in
person and take command of the combined forces of Price and McCulloch.
I reached their headquarters March 3, and being satisfied
that the enemy, who had halted at Sugar Creek, 55 miles distant, was only
waiting large re-enforcements before he would advance, I resolved to attack him
at once. Accordingly I sent for General Pike to join me near Elm Springs with
the forces under his command, and on the morning of March 4 moved with the
divisions of Price and McCulloch by way of Fayetteville and Bentonville to
attack the enemy's main camp on Sugar Creek. The whole force under my command
was about 16,000 moil.
On the 6th we left Elm Springs for Bentonville, and from
prisoners captured by our scouting parties on the 5th I became convinced that up
to that time no suspicion was entertained of our advance, and that there were
strong hopes of our effecting a complete surprise and attacking the enemy before
the large detachments encamped at various points in the surrounding country
could rejoin the main body. I therefore endeavored to reach Bentonville, 11
miles distant, by rapid march, but the troops moved so very slowly that it was
11 a.m. before the head of the leading division (Price's) reached the village,
and we had the mortification to see Sigel's division, 7,000 strong, leaving it
as we entered. Had we been one hour sooner we should have cut him off with his
whole force, and certainly have beaten the enemy the next day.
We followed him, our advance skirmishing with his rear guard,
which was admirably handled, until we had gained a point on Sugar Creek about 7
miles beyond Bentonville and within 1 or 2 miles of the strongly-intrenched camp
of the enemy.
In conference with Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh, who had
an accurate knowledge of this locality, I had ascertained that by making a
detour of 8 miles I could reach the Telegraph road leading from Springfield to
Fayetteville, and be immediately in rear of the enemy and his intrenchments. I
had resolved to adopt this route, and therefore halted the head of my column
near the point where the road by which I proposed to move diverges, threw out my
pickets, and bivouacked as if for the night. But soon after dark I marched
again, moving with Price's division in advance, and taking the road by which I
hoped before daylight to reach the rear of the enemy. Some obstructions, which
he had hastily thrown in the way, so impeded our march that we did not gain the
Telegraph road until near l0 a.m. of the 7th.
By prisoners, with forage wagons, whom our cavalry pickets
brought in, we were assured that we were not expected in that quarter, and that
the promise was fair for a complete surprise.
I at once made dispositions for attack, and directing General
Price to move forward cautiously, soon drew the fire of a few skirmishers, who
were rapidly re-enforced, so that before 11 o'clock we were fairly engaged, the
enemy holding very good positions and maintaining a heavy fire of artillery and
small-arms upon the constantly-advancing columns which were being pressed upon
him.
1 had directed General McCulloch to attack with his forces
the enemy's left, and before 2 o'clock it was evident that if his division could
advance or even maintain its ground, I could at once throw forward Price's left,
advance his whole line, and end the battle. I sent him a dispatch to this
effect, but it was never received by him. Before it was penned his brave spirit
had winged its flight, and one of the most gallant leaders of the Confederacy
had fought his last battle.
About 3 p.m. I received, by aides-de-camp, the information
that Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh and Colonel Hebert were killed, and that
the division was without any head. I nevertheless pressed forward with the
attack, and at sunset the enemy was fleeing before our victorious troops at
every point in our front, and when night fell we had driven him entirely from
the field of battle.
Our troops slept upon their arms nearly a mile beyond the
point at which he made his last stand, and my headquarters for the night were at
the Elkhorn Tavern. We had taken during the day seven cannon and about 200
prisoners.
In the course of the night I ascertained that the ammunition
was almost exhausted, and that the officer in charge of the ordnance supplies
could not find his wagons, which, with the subsistence train, had been sent to
Bentonville. Most of the troops had been without any food since the morning of
the 6th and the artillery horses were beaten out.. It was therefore with no
little anxiety that I awaited the dawn of day. When it came it revealed to me
the enemy in a new and strong position, offering battle. I made my dispositions
at once to accept the gage, and by 7 o'clock the cannonading was as heavy as
that of the previous day.
On the side of the enemy the fire was much better sustained,
for, being freed from the attack of my right wing, he could now concentrate his
whole artillery force. Finding that my right wing was much disorganized, and
that the batteries were one after the other retiring from the field with every
shot expended, I resolved to withdraw the army, and at once placed the
ambulances, with all the wounded they could bear, upon the Huntsville road, and
a portion of McCulloch's division, which had joined me during the night, in
position to follow, while I so disposed of my remaining forces as best to
deceive the enemy as to my intention, and to hold him in check while executing
it.
About 10 o'clock I gave the order for the column to march and
soon afterwards for the troops engaged to fall back and cover the rear of the
army. This was done very steadily; no attempt was made by the enemy to follow
us, and we encamped about 3 p.m. about 10 miles from the field of battle. Some
demonstrations were made by his cavalry upon my baggage train and the batteries
of artillery, which returned by different routes from that taken by the army,
but they were instantly checked, and thanks to the skill and courage of Colonel
Stone and Major Wade, all of the baggage and artillery joined the army in
safety.
So far as I can ascertain our loss amounts to about 600
killed and wounded and 200 prisoners: and one cannon, which, having become
disabled, I ordered to be thrown into a ravine.
The best information I can procure of the enemy's loss places
his killed at more than 700, with at least an equal number of wounded. We
captured about 300 prisoners, making his total loss about 2,000. We brought away
four cannon and ten baggage wagons, and we burned upon the field three cannon
taken by Mcintosh in his brilliant charge. The horses having been killed, these
guns could not be brought away.
The force with which I went into action was less than 14,000
men. That of the enemy is variously estimated at from 17,000 to 24,000.
During the whole of this engagement I was with the Missouri
division, under Price, and I have never seen better fighters than these Missouri
troops and more gallant leaders than General Price and his officers. From the
first to the last shot they continually pushed on and never yielded an inch they
had won, and when at last they received the order to fall back they retired
steadily and with cheers. General Price received a severe wound early in the
action, but would neither retire from the field nor cease to expose himself to
danger.
No successes can repair the loss of the gallant dead who fell
on this well-fought field. McCulloch was the first to fall. I had found him, in
the frequent conferences I had with him, a sagacious, prudent counselor, and a
bolder soldier never died for his country.
Mcintosh had been very much distinguished all through the
operations which have taken place in this region; and during my advance from
Boston Mountains I placed him in command of the cavalry brigade and in charge of
the pickets. He was alert, daring, and devoted to his duty. His kindness of
disposition, with his reckless bravery, had attached the troops strongly to him,
so that after McCulloch fell, had he remained to lead them, all would have been
well with my right wing. But after leading a brilliant charge of cavalry and
carrying the enemy's battery he rushed into the thickest of the fight again at
the head of his old regiment and was shot through the heart. The value of these
two officers was best proven by the effect of their fall upon the troops. So
long as brave deeds are admired by our people the names of McCulloch and
Mcintosh will be remembered and loved.
General Slack, after gallantly maintaining a long-continued and successful
attack, was shot through the body; but I hope his distinguished services will be
restored to his country.
A noble boy, [S.] Churchill Clark, commanded a battery of
artillery, and during the fierce artillery actions of the 7th and 8th was
conspicuous for the daring and skill which he exhibited. He fell at the very
close of the action. Colonel Rives fell mortally wounded about the same time and
was a great loss to us. On a field where many gallant gentlemen were I remember
him as one of the most energetic and devoted of them all.
To Col. Henry Little my especial thanks are due for the
coolness, skill, and devotion with which for two days he and his gallant brigade
bore the brunt of the battle. Colonel Burbridge, Colonel Rosser, Colonel Gates,
Major Lawther, Major Wade, Captain MacDonald, and Captain Schaumberg are some of
those who attracted my special attention by their distinguished conduct.
In McCulloch's division, the Louisiana regiment, under Col.
Louis Hebert, and the Arkansas regiment, under Colonel McRae, are especially
mentioned for their good conduct. Major Montgomery, Captain Bradfute,
Lieutenants Lomax, Kimmel, Dillon, and Frank Armstrong, assistant
adjutant-general, were ever active and soldierly. After their services were no
longer required with their own division they joined my staff, and I am much
indebted to them for the efficient aid they gave me during the engagement of the
8th. They are meritorious officers, whose value is lost to the service by their
not receiving rank more accordant with their merit and experience than that they
now hold.
Being without my proper staff, I was much gratified by the
offer of Colonel Shands and Captain Barrett, of the Missouri Army, of their
services as aides. They were of great assistance to me by the courage and
intelligence with which they bore my orders; also Colonel Lewis, of Missouri.
None of the gentlemen of my personal staff, with the exception of Colonel Maury,
assistant adjutant-general, and Lieut. C. Sulivane, my aide-de-camp, accompanied
me from Jacksonport, the Others having left on special duty. Colonel Maury was
of invaluable service to me both in preparing for and during the battle. Here,
as on other battle-fields where I have served with him, he proved to be a
zealous patriot and true soldier; cool and calm under all circumstances, he was
always ready, either with his sword or his pen. His services and Lieutenant
Sulivane's were distinguished. The latter had his horse killed under him while
leading a charge, the order for which he had delivered.
You will perceive from this report, general, that, although I
did not, as I hoped, capture or destroy the enemy's army in Western Arkansas, I
have inflicted upon it a heavy blow and compelled him to fall back into
Missouri. This he did on the 16th instant.
For further details concerning the action and for more
particular notices of the troops engaged I respectfully refer you to the reports
of the subordinate officers, which accompany this report.
Very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,
EARL VAN DORN,
Major-General.
-----
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE WEST,
Memphis, Tenn., April 20, 1862
GENERAL: I regret to find that in my report of the battle of
Elkhorn no mention was made of the excellent conduct of Lieut. L.C. Leftwich, of
General McCullock's staff. After exhibiting great, courage and energy during the
engagement of that division he joined my staff and rendered me very great
assistance during the action of the 8th. I desire to bring him to your notice as
a gallant and meritorious young officer.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
EARL VAN DORN,
Major-General.
Source - The Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
Image Source - The Library of Congress
This page was last updated on 01/28/08
© 1998-2008 The Civil War Archive