is's men had a good, leisurely breakfast,
but about 7 o'clock their commander was startled to learn of McCulloch's
position on his right and Van Dorn and Price in his rear. With great
promptness he faced his men about and swung his line back so that his
new right--formerly his left--rested on Elkhorn Tavern, while his left
rested where his old right had been, on the slope above Sugar Creek.
This reversed the order of the divisions--Col. Carr's being the right at
Elkhorn Tavern and Gen. Asboth's the extreme left, with Col. Osterhaus's
and Col. Davis's in the center.

It was now about 8:80 o'clock, and Gen. Curtis directed Col. Osterhaus
to advance a force of cavalry, artillery and infantry and bring on the
battle.

There was soon after a swelling up of the firing about Elkhorn Tavern,
where Carr was, which disturbed Curtis. He wanted the battle where he
was preparing for it, and hoped that his opening it would stop any flank
movements to his right. While Osterhaus was getting ready to advance,
Curtis rode over to Elkhorn Tavern to see what the trouble was with
Carr.

During the early morning Price's troops getting into position on the
main road had run afoul of the Union pickets about a mile northeast of
Elkhorn Tavern. A little after 7 o'clock two companies of cavalry and
one of infantry were sent out in that direction to investigate. They
found a force of cavalry, which they drove back until they saw the woods
full of Confederates, when they took cover behind trees and rocks and
began a noisy skirmish, with the enemy slowly pressing forward and
extending out on both flanks, as Van Dorn and Price brought their troops
up and put them into line.

323

The affair showed such seriousness that Col. Dodge came up about 9
o'clock with his brigade, and formed in line of battle to the right
of Elkhorn Tavern, with the 85th Ill. on the left, the 4th Iowa in the
center, the 3d Ill. Cav. on the right, and the pieces of the 1st Iowa
Battery distributed along the line, and immediately moved forward and
engaged the enemy.

In the meanwhile Van Dorn and Price were placing their strong force
of eight batteries in advantageous positions to crush out the Union
artillery and pave the way for the advance of the infantry. When the
storm burst the Confederate artillery quickly overwhelmed the Union
guns, but Col. Dodge was able, after a sharp struggle, to beat back
across the open fields the advance of the very much superior forces