Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-10-31
PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE AT
BOLIVAR.
LETTER FROM 4 PARfIc1pAx7
THE CALAMITY OF OUR TROOPS.

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LETTER FROM A PARTICIPANT.
THE GALLANTRY OF OUR TROOPS.
Especial corespoadenee Of fhs PhilsdeiphA
Inquirer.l
CAxP TYEpALE. Point Of Rocks, Oct. II.
/ expect that you have heard that We
have hsd battle, and have been wsit-
ing anxiousiy to hear from me. think
ing fhst ] might be either killed or
wounded; but. rs yet. I am an right.
The battle commenced yrsterdsv.-
About O'Clock, A. NJ. they opened on
us with artillery; bu. We sfood their
Gre for about half an hour. We were
then ordered to fall back under cover
We did so. but kept mp a continual Gre.
with good effrct We took our posi-
tions behind buildings and trees. but
hsd to keep shifting our POSITIONS to get
out Of the range OF their artillery
They fred on as from three different
points-on our front and on both HanLs
We made two or three charges. and
drove them from their positions; and
occasionally, the cavalry would show
themselves and try to drive back our
advance guard: but they found il was
no go. We KEEP, them at bay until our
artillery arrived. All this time the
rebel artillery kept up a continual FIRE.
and their cavalry made repeated char
ges; but We kept our position. and re-
eeived their fire from all points until
our artillery had crossed. Our guns.
from the Maryland side, som silencrd
the battery on LnuIon flights. We
then felt all right. The only thing that
troubled us now was the battery on the
bill, which our battery New York
Ninth). as soon as they had settled
themselves, soon silenced. This bat
terry had 81 2pound coiumbiad =
About this time. Company G arrived.
and were ordered to deploy as skirmish-
ers on the right. The command Of the
L Jeff wing was given to Captain Bert
ram. and the command OF the right To
Nc Cook, an old chap that fights on his
own hook. He is always riding about
with rife at his saddle bow. All this
time our guns were playing with terri
BILE effect. The command was now
given. "steady. forward" We ad-
vsnced within two hundred yards Of
them. firing as we advanced, doing
good execution. Our Colonel now or
dered us 10 "6x bayonets;" then
"charge, forward" and we did charge.
driving them before us like so many
sheep. We soon reached the hill, and
saw them retreating in great confusion;
but they were not soon enough to get
out Of the way of our En6elds, and we
poured our Mimic balls into them with
great slaughter.
They now reached the woods, and
concealing themselves behind the trees.
again brought their artillery to bear on
us; but il was what we call q farewell
shot. for l guess they concluded they
had pressing business nearer home
They fear Geary like they do the -.
We never saw them after this. except a
picket now and then. We now took
our position on the hill. and resolved
never to leave it. We captured the CO.
lumbiad and sent it TO the Maryland
side under guard. Two horsemen ap-
peared after this from thicket. but no
sooner had they showed themselves
than our boys opened on them. and took
one Of them prisoner; he proved to be
their chaplain, and was sent to the
Maryland side for safe keeping. The
battle lasted for eight hours. The force
OF the rebels was between two and three
thousand; they had one regiment of in
fantry, FIVE hundred cavalry. and seven
pieces of artillery. Our force in the
principal part of the fight was not over
two hundred and fifty men, (no exag-
geration, and at no time over three
hundred and fifty. Geary said it was
glorious victory. and the hardest battle
he was ever in; he compliments the
men, and says they behaved like vet
Grams. Co. D was particularly thanked
We were several times very nearly cut
off. but managed to give them the slip
Most all our boys lost their overcoats
and blankets. and we had no breakfast.
dinner or supper until II o'clnck al
night. We were ordered to camp along
with Company F. to refresh ourselves.
The loss Of the rebels was over one
hundred and fifty killed and wounded
On our side the Wisconsin boys suffer.
ed the most; they lost iour killed and
several wounded The Massachusetts
had one killed and several Wounded
We (28Ih) had only two wounded -
Our Colonel was slightly wounded in
the leg in the fore part Of the engage
ment. The boys would not be satisfied
until be took off his boot and showed
us where 1t was. We thought it was
worse than he wanted to let on. Cap
tain Bertrsm had very narrow escape;
a bali passed completely through his
pants. Our loss altogether was not
over six killed and several wounded.
ToD-The following is from Hanity