The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-21
Alrhmm1 pispatrb.
THURSDAY MORNING -. NOV. q. 1sel.
BATTLE OF BELMONT, MO.
FEDERAL ACCOUNTS.

From both the Federal and our own nc.
counts of the late fight opposite Columbus,
Ky, we are inclined to the opinion tnat none
has yet occurred during orr pending war with
the Government OF that brutal tyrant. Lin
coin, which surpasses it In point of terrible
loss of life, particularly to the Yankees, con-
sidering the number engaged. From the St.
Louis Republican we extract the following:
CAMP MCCLERNASD
Cairo, Nov. sth. 1851
Ere this reaches you, you will have heard
OF the engagement OF our forces with those of
Gen. Pillow, at Camp Belmont, opposite Co
lumbus. On Tuesday evening orders were
received from headquarters by the officars
commanding the various regiments, TO be
ready at o'clock with two days raIions
The Thirtieth regiment, Colonel Fouke. and
Thirty first. Col. Logan, embarked on the
steamer Aleck Scott, Capt. Riley the Tween
ty-second regiment, toI. Uougherty, the
Twenty Seventh, Col. Ruford and the Sey-
enth Iowa, Col. Lanman. upOn the Memrhls
and Montgomery; Taylor's battery of artil-
lery and battalion OF Col Mobiles cavalry
also the Centralia cavalry, Capt Burriu At
five O'Clock all was in readiness and the
steamers, preceded by the gun boa Is TYLER and
Lexington, passed down about five miles be-
low Norfolk, and anchored for the night
Gen Grant and staff Were upon the Mem.
phis, and Gen McClernand and staff upon
the Ateck scott. At daybreak Gen. Grant
OuPTtu us 10 ledNe ABOUT O'CLOCK A. NJ
We reached Lacas's Bend and disem parkeL
and General Grant ordered the gun boats 10
proceed as TAR as practicable and she'll their
batteries, anu III about an hour the firing
commenced from the gun-boats and WAS re-
turned by the enemy from a battery on thp
Iron Bluffs. No damage was done to the
boats, although the balls passed over them
l was standing on the deck of the Scott with
Captain Riley, watching the battery with
glass, when they threw Il shell which passed
directly over our heads and landed about
tbree-Quarters OF a mile q bpve the Scott. but
did not explode. Mr.. Reeder, the clerk, sent
some men for it, and they found if buried in
the earth over ten feet.
At this time the yarous regiments were
forming, scouts having been sent out that the
enemy We're formed in line of battle, two
miles from thejr encampment. Oar troops
then took up the line of march, ready and
eager for fight At nine O'Clock the line of
battle was formed. The 9TH Iowa, 22d and
9th Illinois on the right, Col. Fouke in the
centre, and the S1st, Col. Logan, on the left
and two guns from Taylors battery. the
other four being in corn field in tn . rear
A nine clock the fight began, Col. Buford,
of the 27th opening. Our boys gave three
cheers and fired, and 1t was returned hy ~
tantry, and the artillery firing she'll The
first she'll exploded in the ranks Oft the Seventh
Iowa, wounding three and killing private
Col. touke received an order TO charge and
he did il, and was ably sustained by Col Jo-
gan. After few more rounds they were
driven into their eDcampment, and coloneIs
Fouke and Logan We're IL their position on {;
rising hill.
At this time, Col, DOugherty came up with
the twenty second. Another charge was
made, and our troops were in possession of
their encampm ent, passing over large mum
Der of dead bodies. This was a bout o clock
when an order came to burn their encamp-
nent, which was done with good will. 1t
was a splendid encampment, and Lieutenan
Colonel Dennis, Of the Thirtieth, fred one of
an artillery officers, which. with all its
i
less than $500. And now comes the saddest
part. 1t is not TO De supposed that all this
was done without any loss on our part. At
this time Generals Grant and McClprnand
Col. FOuke, and Capts MCCook, and Dresser
had their horses shot from under them
Captain Challenor, of the twenty second
regiment, company X, and seven of his men
were killed Instantly.
[ can only learn the names of five al pre-
sent, as the official reports are zat made p
Foghn, T. BoWies, H Straul, j. NcCauiev
and p. WEIGH, and eighteen missing, includ-
ing Captain Challenor, Col II. Dougherty
badly wounded, and Cap. Abbott, pany
q, and Lieut.. Fraleck, supposed 10 be killed:
Il. Phillips, Sergeant Welch, Joseph Adams.
and M Hartnor, wounded. There is at least
seventy five wounded now in the hospital
and one named Zimmerman died this morn.
ing on the boat.
Major McCIurken, OF the 2ist, was badly
wounded, and fell from his horse while gai-
lantly encouraging his men, and missing -
capt RiaEkit, OF com pdnf Ii. -pIu regiment,
was instantly killed while receiving an order
from Col. Fouke, his last words, " Colonel!
am killed." and died instantly, being hot in
the head. Lieut.. foake, seeing him fall,
rushed to him, but could not save his re-
mains, but under heavy fire he saved his
sword and revolver.
Lieut.. Dougherty. Company az, - was also
killed. Surgeons Gordon and Whitnell, OF
the 2lst, are also prisoners, they refusing to
leave the wounded. G. White, Of FAY ior's
Battery, was shot through the head, very
serious wound. Col. Lauman, of the eth
Iowa, is badly shot in the thigh. OF the 20th
regiment, "A ara killed and missing IS are i'll
the hospital and wounded in camp
Some four five regiments proba bly,
crossed over. They commenced an attack
upon our troops, pouring il murderous vol
lies, before which our men did not stand
long, but retrea ted towards their boats
which had gone about half q mile above
Hunter's Some reports say that the retreat
was made III good order, and others that il
was a regular rout. Certain it is that the
men rushed pcll NELL on board of the boats
which hurried Oft as quick as possible. None
of our wounded Were brought Off except
those wounded in the first combat, which
shows the nature OF the retreat.
A round shot came through the side OF the
Lexington, Killing one man and mortaliy
WOnnGing another, ,WhereupOn both gun boa IS
went up the river four mites above the fight,
and stayed there until the retreat. They did
good service, however III covering the re-
treat, by throwing shot and she'll into the pur
suing energy. They We're we'll peppered with
rifle bullets, but not seriously injured.
AS soon as the Belmont camp had been ia
ken the troops appear to have scattered and
taken 10 picking up things. and scarcely any
effort seems TO have been made 10 prevent the
troops from crossing over from Columbus.
II is in possible to form any estimate of our
loss It is supposed, however, tn It the mum
Der Of killed, wounded ard missing, will not
fall short of seven hundred.
The enemy have gained their victory very
I.ata sNl
Wright, formerly member of Congress from
Tennessee, was killed.
Our surgeons refused TO come away, de-
claring that they would not leave their
wounded. Surgeon Gordon, of the 18th Illi-
nois. was killed at his hospital, for which Il
log house was used.
The troops crossed from Columbus under
the fire of their batteries, and handed in on /
rear. Our men had fought their way through
them.
With the Belmont camp we took sixty two
prisoners and TWO batteries. We brought
away two cannon ard lost one.
The 18th regiment, Col. Fouke, suffered
most severely. i. led the entire of the ad-
vance and covered the rear IN the retreat. 1t
lost many men In taking the batteries, but
more in the retreat
The troops that left Paducah were ighting
near Mayiield at last accounts. Orders have
been sent 70 them TO return.
A courier has been sent to our Missouri ex-
petition 10 order their return. 1t is possible
tIItJ tneN nave " ngnt on tnelf H3nuS as the
was heavy firing heard III that direction ali
last evening.
The Seventh Iewa led the attack with Tay-
lors batteries, but fell back ana the Tween .
ty-second Illinois took the le8d. Taylor ;
battery did splendid service. They brought
off two guns and spiked two.
The Twenty second took the batteries AZ
Belmont
The Thirtieth and Thirty first charged an
mbascade galiantly, and routed the enemy.
Orr men are not in the least discouraged or
demoralized, but ready and anxious 10 meet
the enemy again.
The following account is furnished the St.
Louis Republican, by its special corresp po ndent
dated Cairo November 9th