Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-11-15

3lst III. regiment, Col. oean.
| ed LII. regiment, Col. Dougherty.
9TH Iowa regiment, Col Lalinan
Iaylors Chicago Battery, Capt. Taylor.
Two companies Of cavalry, Capts. Deano
and Dcllen.
| The whole was urder the commanl of
Gen. Grant. Gen. McClernand accompa MED
the expedition and rendered very valuab as
sistance taking the immediate commanl of
the Cairo trool as one division of the ad-
vance, the Birds Point troops consisting f a
second division under Col. Dougherty.
The forces embarked in the steamers Mex
Scott, Chancellor, Memphis and Keystone
State, the whole under the escorts of the gun
boats H. o. yler and Lexington.
The total available force Of the expedition
was about $500.
| The design was to reach Belmont Just be-
fore daylight, but, owing to unavoidable de-
lays in embarking, it was eight o'clock before
the fleet reached Lucas Bend, the point fixed
upon for dcbarkaton. This is about three
miles north of Columbus, KY, on the Mis-
souri, side.
The enemy We're encamped upon the high
ground back from the river, and about two
and half miles from the landing. From
their position they could easily see our land
ing, and had ample time to dispose their
forces to receive US, which they did with all
dispatch. They also sent detachment of
light artillery and infantry out to retard our
march and annoy us as much as possible.
A line of battle was at once formed on the
levee, Col. Fouke taking command of the
centre, Col. Buford of the right, and COL Lo-
gan Of the left.
II no a6c ha ~ ho,,1 70 <I,a
rebel encampment was running fight the
entire distance, the rebels firing and falling
back all the way, while our troops received
their fire without flnching, and bravely held
on their way, regardless of the missiles of
death flying thick and fast about them. The
way was of the most Indifferent character,
lying through woods with thick underbrush,
and only here and there path or rough coun-
try road.
he three divisions kept within close dis
lance of each other, pressing over all obstacles
and overcoming all opposition, each striving
for the honor Of being first i, the enemy S
camp. This honor fell to the right division,
led by Col. Buford. Ii was tie gallant 9th
Illinois, who with deafening cheers, first
waved the stars and stripes in the midst Of
the enelny's camping ground The scene
was terribly exciting one musketry and
cannon dealing death and destruction en- all
sides; men graphing with men in a fearful
:!eath struggle; column after column rushing
eagerly up, ambitious to obtain post of dan.
ger officers riding hitler and thither in the
midst of the fight, urging their men on, and
encouraging them to greater exertions; reg
ments charging into tie very jaws of death
with frightful yells and shouts. more effective
as they fell upon the ears of the enemy than
: a thousand rifle bails-and in the midst of all
is heard one long, loud and continuous round
of cheering as the Star Spangl.d banner is
unfurled in the face of the foe and detiantly
usurps the mongrel colors that had but mo-
ment before designated the spot as rebel
ground.
The 22d boys have the honor of having 81
fenced and captured a battery of II pieces,
which had been dealing destruction with
marked success. The 3Uth had been badly
cut up by this battery, and were straining ev-
cry effort to capture it. They express cen
siderable disappointment that the prize was
snatched from them. They turned away in
search Of new laurels, and in charging into
the very midst of the camp, were drawn into
an ambuscade, where they were again suffer
ing terribly, though maintaining their ground
unflinchir ely, when the 3ist came to their
assistance.
An impetuous and irresistible charge was
then made, that drove the rebels in all dircc-
tons, and left the field in possession If the
federal forces. The rebel camps were fired,
and with all their supplies, ammunition bag
gage, etc, were totally destroyed
The discovery on the Kentucky side, that
we were in possession Of their camp, led to an
iopening Of the rebel batteries on that side
upon U.S. This fire was very annoying, the
more so as we were not in position to return
lit.
Just at this time the report was brought to
Gen. Grant by It. Pltman, of the Seth Hi
nois regiment, who had with his company. F)
been on scouting duty. that heavy reinforce
ments were coming up to the rebels from the
opposite side Of the river. Indeed, the dis
covery was also made that the enemy were
pouring over the river in immense numbers,
and the danger was imminent that our retreat
would be cut off. The order to fall back to
the boats was therefore given, but not a mo-
ment too soon. The way was already filled
with rebel troops, and as we had fought our
way up to the cneampment, so we We're
obliged to fight back to our boats, and
against desperate odds. But the men were
not lacking in courage and fought like veter-
ans. giving ample demonstrations of their de-
termination. Every regiment of Federal
troops suffered more or less severely in their
return march, but the general opinion pre-
walls that the rebels suffered far greater losses
than We. Wherever they made a sand we
put them to flight, and, although we lost many
brave men, either killed, wounded or taken
prisoners, we made at least two of them bite
the dust for every one that fell from our ranks
Our regiments all reached their boats, but with
considerably thinncd ranks.
| We also brought away, as near as can be
ascertai. led, two hundred and seventy-five
prisoners, two cannon, and a quantity of mus
kets, small arms, equipments, blankets, &c.
Taylor's Chicago Bait: ry lost one of their
guns, but captured two from the enemy in
| return.
The battery captured in the engagement in
| the III: DIST of the encampment we were obliged
to leave behind. The guns, however, were
first carefully spiked.
Gen. Grant was everywhere in the thick
est of the fight, and performed wonderful
deeds of bravery. The men never tire OF
landing his gallantry. He had two horses
shot from under him.
Gen. McClernand was also among the BRAY
est of the brave, and won imperishable laurels.
! He lost one horse from under him and sec
ond one was wounded, when he mounted a
gun that had just been captured, and rallied
his men to fresh onslaughts.
Capt. Bielasker, of Gen. Netherlands staff,
was killed by a cannon ball.
Capt. Dresser, of the same staff, had a
horse shot from under him.
Assistant Adjutant Gen. Broeman, though
equally conspicuous in the fight with the Off
GERS, was the only one of the Generals staff
! kl.x M dod x.bx,arod