Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-10-11

We have been requested to publish the following
letter to John Smith, Esq, of Schellsburg, from
his son. who is in the army in the State Of Mssopd
CHILLtcoTHE, Mo-, Sept. %.
DEAR PARENTS :--Once more am permitted to
take my pen and write you few lines, something
few days since hardly expected. We had quite
serious trip the last week, may as we'll give you
the particulars. We were at Macon City when /
received your letter. l bad bnt time to answer
Eza's and we were ordered away again. On last
Sunday morning we were ordered to 60 on the cars
as far Cameron, thirty five miles this side of
est. Jo." There we got off the cars and got dia-
and breakfast together, after which we started
on march south. 1t commenced raining after We
got off the cars, and continued nearly all afternoon
We all got as wet as could be. We mirched ten
miles and then put up in open fell. We were
veFv glad to stop anywhere, got plenty OF hay
to lie upon, so we did well. The next morning we
started again and marched some thirty miles On
the third morning we started about two O'Clock
and arrived at Liberty, about six O'Clock Liberty
is pretty good sized town, very wealthy and Sc
eesson 10 a man. There we learned that three
thousand of the enemy had passed through the
evening before. We sent out our scouts and were
Informed they were crossing the Missouri River with
a large amount of stores taken at ssSt. Jos' We
held position above town hill, With good
view Ofthe surrounding country. More OF our scouts
comming in told US the Kansas boys were eagaped
with them and wanted US to reinforce them. We
three miles, then halted, ami rested for we were
nearly all worn out, having been on forced march
for the last six weeks. w rested and got a drink
then our company and one other sent in front
as right and left skirmlshers. We on the left
sud company /, were on the right. We marched
through the Missouri bottom where the bushes aud
under brush was so thick We could not zee man
. ten feet from us. We bad only marched about
mile when Captain spoke TO the Colonel ami
said he thought be heard orders given by the enc
FOL gbt Mt and IL
w @ had not gone ten yards when we were fired
upon from a concealed enemy. We Immediately
leli down and concealed ourselves. The battle
then commenced We had bnt ona piece Of artil-
I lery, which was Immediately put in position aad
fred twice, wheI the horses were killed, also the
eaunoneer and two of has men. We got on so close
that their old shot guns took tremendous effect
our IneI. We fought them hong and forty
/ minutes. We were completely taken in, but our
boys fought like tigers. There were only five hun
dred of onr men, and only half of them engaged,
as those in the rear could not get up. We fought
! four thousand, four hundred of the enemy. We
never expected to get out alive, and We determined
/ TO fight to the last. They we're in position 10 cut
Hs al 10 pieces5Tbey had us all in hs road and
I 1Inking three sides, intending 10 surround
u.s. but our Major saw the movement aud stationed
/ some Of our men on our right, they ered into them
I killed their leader and caused them to retreat
Finally our Colonel ordered to fail back an gain
new position. We did So bauling our cannon with
and grape. We retreatod in tolerabie order and as
they came up poured into them a heavy FIRE
which made them retreat for good. in the
hottest OF the engagement but did not receive a
scratch Our men good deal cut up. We
| lost eighty six killed, wounded and missing, in
+ cludiug home guards. Only eight OF nine Of our
regiment we're killed, about sixty eight wounded.
/ None Of orr company We're killed, eight were
wounded, five seriously, but all will with
care. At least half of our officers were wounded
I Our T.iaufananI shot tbrOu0h ha On,
7 captain had five holes shot through his clothes
/ We left all our dead and nine of our wounded on
! the field. The enemy took our wounded prisoners
and took them across the river. We kilIel and
wounded one hundred and seventy-two of the ei.e-
my, one hundred were killed. They had so
many Of their own to attend to that they sent us
word to 20 and get our dead 1t said TO bt
the hottest battle considering the number engaged
that has been fought ia this state. got four shots
/ at them, these were the only times could get
4 sight of the enemy, we secured large College fo
| HOSPITAL aud carried our wounded to it. l nevei
saw such sight, il was wonderful how the poo
/ fellows bore up under their afiictens 1t was
| sight to stir up the hardest heart. We were com
PEELED 10 leave sepeyest wounded there and
march towards est. JOe We got to Plattsburg
when we received message from Gen. Sturgis
] who was at Liberty, and wanted our men to gC
back. The Illinois 18th who were nine miles ives
/ of us. The Colonel, chose out of all who wert
wounded and sick, and sent back to camp and tool
the rest TO Liberty. / was not we'll the day of the
battle but would go and consequently com
pleteiy used up / have been unwell ever SINCE
| We arrived at Cameron on Saturday night and re.
manned ali night. Yesterday msrning we came Of
! to this place where we stopped for few minute
and found lot of home guards stationed here, an,
among them lot OF my old friends Of Knoxville
They would have me get off and stay with them al
| night.
/ I viii 90 to caznp on the morning train, where
| win remain Till recruit As soon as our regi
ment gets back think we will be sent some plac
to rest, and recruit our regiment in men, thei
are great many that viii not be fit for service 70
several months. Imsst close for this time. Wi
write soon again, want you to do the same
remain your affectionate son.
I. R. SMITH.