Elkhorn Tavern Taken

Confederate commander Earl Van Dorn had pushed his army relentlessly for a week to catch the Union army by surprise. Now, after hours of hard fighting up the Telegraph Road, here in sight of Elkhorn Tavern, Van Dorn gambled by committing all his reserves. As the Missouri State Guard regiments drove back the last Federal defenders, Elkhorn Tavern appeared to be a bold Confederate victory.<br><br><i>Like magic the word 'Charge!' ran along the line... a battery [of six Union cannon] opened upon us...tearing through our lines...[we] recoiled for an instant under the iron hail...when 'On to the battery!' was the cry, and with a yell..we closed upon the opposing ranks...the thunder of the artillery and the opening roll of the muskets...were deafening...the torrent of lead and iron poured through the surrounding smoke.</i><br>Ephraim Anderson, private, 2nd Missouri Regiment