Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-11-18
From the Memphis Avalanche, Nov. ILL.,
Rebel Account Of The Battle Of BEL

|
this city, Who was an eye witness OF the
battle ut Columbus, and from him We
gather the following interesting particu-
lars:
To prevent the Federals from erect.
ing batteries on the Missouri shore op.
posite Columbus, and TO act as scouts
Col. Tappan's Arkansas Regiment, Col
Marks Louisiana Regiment, and some
cavalry, had been for months encsmped
on the Missouri 81 ore opposite Colum.
bus. News was brought 10 the encamp-
ment about 7 O'clock on Thursday
morning that the enemy was coming
upon them in large force, and was &C.
tualy only three miles distant. lmme-
dlately information OF the tact vas cent
over to Columbus, when Gen. Pillow,
with ColoneI's Picketl's, Kussell's and
Wright's regiments, and Logwood's cav
airy, was transported to the Missouri
shore. They had only lpnded, and gone
about halt mile from the boats, when
he enemy appeared in full force IN the
woods, and the fighting immediately
commenced. The light battery which
had been stationed on the Missouri
hore was frs, brought into requlsiton,
Tut the enemy kept advancing and
| irving in our force as they moved, till
finally, by II O'Clock, they had taken
our battery aud entire encampment, our
troops being forced under the bluff to
The waters edge.
The enemy, flushed with victory,
then partially ceased their pursuit aud
engaged in setting fire to our tents, Ia
kng prisoners, and committing other
Iepredaions. They shortly after open
I'd a fire upon the steamers Prince and
Charm, which were engaged in bring
| M over rcinforcements, sending ball
| through the warehouses of both, but
Mt seriously inlurng either. This act
led our friends at Columbus to suspect
that our side had been repulsed, and i'm
mediatcy heavy caunonade was
opened from the Columbus side on the
-nemy then in our camp on the Missouri
hore. The l2S FOUNDER did fearful cx-
ecation. In the meantime, Gen. Pillow
having been reinfoTced 10y Colonies Car
rolI'4, Walkers, Freeman's, Stephens
nj The 18th Louisiana Regiments, re-
| formed his forces about mile above
our encampment, on the river, ard exc
cutcd flank movement on the enemy,
rceaptured our battery and was CALAMITY
driving the Federas before hun with
g,eat slaughter, when, about 2 O'Clock,
ne was still farther reinforced by Col
Smiths regiment and BI.,hc's Mlsslssp
pi Battalion IN command of Gen. Cheat
nam, who, on landing on the Missouri
side, briefly but elo4acntiy appealed to
lead them 10 L-ll CT to victorl.' Tne
men, being fresh, soon caught up with
the enemy, AM, IN conjunction with
| Logwcod's cavalry bat allvn, purs ed
| and cut them down to within fifty yards
| OF tie gun-bnats on which the enem,
embarked, the enemy meanw hle keep
ING mp most terrific cannonade upon
our pursuing hosts from the gunboats
We captured a large lot OF ammnnl-
ion, about two thousand stand OF arm',
j few pieces OF art liery, besides KNAPP
sacks, wagons. colors, and ovetcoats
without number.
The enemy had engaged in the fghl
ien regiments, fifteen pieces Of i,ht ar
tidy, aud some cavalry. This report Of
;heir force is from prisoners taken. "
had in the fight at ii st only Col. Tap
pans 18th Arkansas Regiment, ColoneI
treeman's ODD Regiment, Col. } Knox
Walkers I'd and Col. Pickett 81 st beg
iments-in al about 900 effect I'VE men.
These composed the body who tlAnked
the enemy, recovered the battery tina,
had been lost, and were driving them
before hem, v hen Chcatham's reinforce
mcnis came up, and, aiding t. their DIS
comtiture, made them retreat in double
quick time.
Mr.. Iarman SAYS that when he left
| the scene about ~ o'clock THURSDAY
night, 100 Of our killed had been b. fought
IN, and it was supposed that there were
tom so to 100 more scattered about
upon the field. lie estimates the wound.
ed orour side at from 25O to 800.
| uc Wbo'c TIC Was CoNeItu Will
slain Federals. 1t is supposed that from
four to five hundred Federals, at least
were killed, aud as many wounded.
Over two hundred prisoners had beer
brought in on Thursday night. II Is
supposed that the enemy lost in killed
wounded and prisoners, at least 900
Among the prisoners brought j,
were COL Dongherty, in command Of a
brigade, Gen. Bowling, Col. Buford, :
Lieut.. Col, Captain of Artillery, anG
Dumber Of commissioned officers.
We have received from our hight,
intelligent military friend, Maj BIedso'
Harmon, who has Just returned from F.;
Visit to Columbus, the following par,ic
ulars OF the late engagement:
From ten to twelve regiments of thu
enemy effected a landing on the Mis-
souri, side, about five miles above Colum
; bus, by land. Information OF it was i'm
med'ately brought in b the pickets 1
Tappan's regiment, encamp.d opposit
. Columbus, aud communicated to Geu
Polk, who Immediately began prcpa,a
tons to send reintorcements to Tappan
steam having to be raised tor the trans
! poita;ion of troops across t e river. Il
the meantime the enemy came down a
doable quick, and attacked Tappan's reg
} 'ment, which had 10 tAll back whe
. Pillow arrived with Picke,t's. Nri,rht'