Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-19
EnemY's Account of the Battle of Bel.

Enemy's Account of the Battle of Bel
mont.
PULL PARTICULARS OF THE A~PFAIg-NATIoHAI
FORCES RETIRING BEFORE OVERWHELMING NUN
gERs-REAs0N OF THE REPULsE.
Correspondence CT the Chicago journal"
CAIRO, Thursday, Nov. T.
Having returned from the disastrous, ye
glorious, expedition down the river at too late
an hour to furnish you the full information fol
your paper of to-day, by the telegraph, avail
myself Of one hours leeway in which to write
to send by o train that is now making up tc
leave.
When il was proposed to start an expedition
down the river, the best information that had
been received at head quarters left the impress
sion that there vas but n small garrison Of
rebels at the little town of Belmont, No, near
ly opposite Columbus, and its proximity to
Columbus, the rebel headquarters, made its
occupancy desirable as q strategical point. In
order that its occupation should be effected
With tue least possible expenditure Of blood,
and without precipitating q general battle, the
movement was kept or attempted to be kept,
q p profound secret. But the result proves that
there were traitors in camp, who svailed them.
selves OF the earliest possible information, and
not unlikely of full details of the expedition,
which were transmitted without delay to the
rebels in ample time for them to complete per.
feet preparations for our reception.
Last evening the detail for the expedition
was announced, composed as follows:
Twenty.seFenth illinois Regimen, Colonel
Buford.
Thirticsh Illinois Regiment, Colonel Fouke.
Thirty-6Tst Illinois Regiment, Colonel Lo-
gan.
Twenty second Illinois Regiment, Colonel
D1ugherty.
Seventh Iowa Regiment, Colonel Latnan.
Taylor's Chicago Battery, Capt. Taylor.
Two companies Of cavalry, Capts. Delano
and Dollen.
The whole was under command Of General
Grant. Gen. McClernand accompanied the cy-
pedition and rendered very valuable assistance,
taking the immediate command of the Cairo
troops rs one division Of the advance, tho
Birds Point troops constituting a second d.
vision, under Col. DoushertT.
The force embarked upon the steamers Alex.
Scott, Chancellor, Memphis and Keystone State,
the whole under the escort Of the gunboats II.
O.. Tyler and Lexington.
The total available force Of the expedition
was about $500.
The design was to reach Belmont just before
daylight, but owing to unavoidable delays in
enoarking, It was S o'clock before the fleet
reached Lucas Bend, the point fixed upon tcr
dcbarkation. This is about three miles north
OF Columbus, Ky, on the Missouri side. The
enemy were encaulpcd upon the high ground
back from the river, and about Two and 4 half
niles from the landing. From their position
they co'iid easily see our landing, and had
ample time to dispose their forces 10 receive
US, which they did with oil dispatch. They
also sent a detachment of light artillery and
infantry OIL; 10 retard our march, and annoy
u Is much as possible.
\ line OF battle was formed At once or the
ieyee, Col Fouke taking command OF the cen.
ire, Col. Buiord Of the right, ard Col. Logan
o; the lett.
The advance from the river bank 20 the rebel
encaupmcnt was 4 running light the entire
distance, the rebels firing and falling back al!
the way, while our troops g~allantly received
their tir: Without ll;nching, and braveiy held
death that were dying thick AID fast about
them. The way was o! tho most Indifferent
character, lying through woods with thick
underbrush, and ol!y here ani there = path CT
rough country road.
The t'rcc divisions kept within close dis
lance Of each other, pressing over al obstacles
and overcoming all opposition, each string
for the honor Of being first in tue enemy.
csmp. This honor fell to tho right division,
led by Col. Buford. IL was the gallant TWEEN
tv seventh Illinois who, with desiening cheers,
hrst waved tire Stars and Stripes in the midst
Of the reb3ls' camping ground. Tie Scene
was q terribly exciting one-musketry and
Cannon dealing death and destruction On al
sides; men graphing with men in a fearful
death struggle; column after column rushing
eagerly up, ambitious to obtain a post OF dan
ger; officers riding hither and thiiher in the
thickes: ri The fight, urging their men on, and
encouraging them to greater cxertions; r.gi-
meets charging into the very jaws ct dea:n
with frigh;iul yells and shouts, more ~cffscli"e,
as they Tell upon the cars Of the enemy, than I
Thousand rife balls-aud in the midst OF al
is heard une long, log, continuous rourd Of
cheering, as the Star Spang!ed Banner is I'm
furled Ia the face Of the foe, and detantly
usGrps the moGgrel colors that bad but s mo.
inent before designated the spot as rebel
ground.
In the hurry in which | am compelled to
write this letter, | have no time to arrange q
clear and concise narrative Of the battle,
If that were possible, in the excitement DOW
existing here. But as confusion and excite
ment prevails On all sides, and part Of the rcGi
ments are nov ct Birds Point, and just DOW
inaccessible from here, and others are away in
camps on this side Of the river, the particular
exploits Of the different corps canno, be given
in this communication.
The Twenty. second boys have the hCn0r Of
having Silenced and captured 4 battery Of
twelve pieces, which had been dealing destruc.
ton with marked success. The Thirtie,h had
been badly cut up by this battery, and were
s~training every nerTc to capture it. Thcg ey-
press considt rahie disappointment: taat the
away in search of Few %laurels, and in charg-
ing into The very midst OF the camp, we're
drawn into m ambuscaie, where they were
again suffering terribly, though maintaining
their ground unfinchingly, when the Thirty
first came to their assistance.
An impetunus aud irresistible charge was
then made, that drove the rebels in all dircc-
tons, and left the field in possession Of the
Federal forces. The rebel camps we're fired,
end with all their supplies, ammunition, bag.
gage, ETC., was totally destroyed.
The discovery, on the Kentucky side, that
We we're in possession Of their camp, led 10 ar
opening Of the rebel batteries from that direc.
ton upon US. The fire was very annoying,
the more so as We were no; in position 10 re.
turn il
just al this %junc.lre the report was brought
to General Grant by Lieut. Pittman, Of the
Thirteenth Illinois Regiment, who had, with
bis company, (F,) been on scouting duty, that
heavy reiaforcenents were coming up TO the
rebels from the opposite side Of the river
Indeed, the discovery was also made thu: the
enemy we're pouring over the river in immense
numbers, and the danger was imminent that
our retreat would be cut off. The order 10
fall hack to the boats was therefore given, bu;
not q moment too soon. The way was already
filled with rebel troops, and as We hail fought
,,r .v,, ~. rN tt,o pt,,apf c, IVA u.ern