Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-11-14

A terribly bloody battle was fought
at Belmont, on the right bank of the
Mississippi river, opposite Columbus,
on the 7th inst. Generals Grant and
McClernand commanded. Our troops
landed at 8 o'clock A. NJ. The battle
commenced at eleven, and contin.
ued until shutdown. Our boys drove
the enemy from their entertainments
with great loss, burned their camp
and stores, with all their baggage,
took all their cannon, brought home
their horses and mules. their field
pieces and $50 prisoners but we're
finally forced to retire to their boats,
the rebels having received . reinforce
mcnt from Columbus.
Our force was $500. The rebel
force was about 1000.
Generals Grant and McClcrnand,
and Cololonels Dougherty, Logan,
Fouke and Buford behaved with great
gallantry, and we're everywhere found
in the thickest of the fight. Both the
Generals horses were shot. Gen.
McClernand had two horses killed and
his saddle rigging and clothing were
riddled with balls.
Capt. Beilaski, one of Netherlands
aids, was killed and Capt. Dresser,
his other aid, had his horse killed.
His holsters each caught ball, an
other grazed his head and another pen
etrated his blanket. He was the first
to mount one of the guns captured,
which is now in camp.
Col. Lauman of the Iowa 7th was
severely wounded. Col. Dougherty
was wounded and taken prisoner.
To the heroic conduct of our officers
and men the country owes a lasting
gratitude. Capt. Hatch, Qnartermas-
ter, was the last aboard the boat, stay
ing behind to assist all on board.
Our loss in killed, wounded and mis-
sing will be between three hundred
and FIVE hundred.
Our force consisted of the following
regiments 9th, 3Oth, 3lst, and 32d
Illinois, It'll Iowa, Taylor's Chicago
Artillery and Capt. DaIlen's Cavalry
attached to Logan's Regiment, and
some scattering companies. They left
Cairo on the steamers Alex. Scott,
Memphis, Keystone State, and Chal-
lenger, accompanied by the gun boats
Lexington and II. o. Tyler. They
were landed at Lucas Bend, three
miles above Belmont, and formed in
line of battle, Gen. McClernand in
command Of the Cairo troops and Col.
Dougherty in command of the Birds
Point troops. They were then en-
countered by the enemy and fought
every inch Of the way to the enemy's
camp, making sad havoc in the enc
my's lines. Col. Buford was assigned
the right, Col. Foulke the centre, and
Col. Logan the left. Col. Buford was
the FIRST to plant the Stars and Stripes
in the enemy's camp. Col. Dougherty's
regiment captured the rebel battery
of twelve pieces but Col. Fouke's
WCH cuuctCu SIc@tiy, % Iucy WeTc III
front of the batteries at the time of
their being taken. The 3Oth then
charged on an ambuscade and were
by Col. Logan's regiment,
and routed the enemy. Col. Foukc los.
ing ten men. They fired and entirely
destroyed the encmy's camp. The
rebels, finding our troops in posses
sion Of their camp, opened fire up
IN them from the Kentucky side.
Lieut.. Pittman, of company F, 30th
regiment, sent out as scouting par
ty by Col. Fouke, discovered that the
enemy were crossing over from Ken
lucky for the purpose of attacking US
in the rear. The order was given to
return to the boats when our men
were attacked by reinforcement Of
several thousand men from Columbus,
and another engagement took place
in which our men suffered severely.
We have taken ESQ prisoners and Kill
led 800. The ground was completely
strewn with dead bodies.