The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-11-22

CAIRO, Ill, Nov. 9, 1851.
My DEAR BROTHER i wrote TO you the
morning before We left here for Columbus or
Belmont, the opposite side Of the river from
Columbus. and you have probably heard of
the engagement there before this. We left
here on Wednesday evening, and landed a
few miles below here on the Kentucky side
and rema;"ed till morning, when We pushed
On again to within y miles of Belmont.
where We landed and marched within mile
of the rebel camp. feeling our way through
the wilderness. Shrmishers were sent out
to learn the strength and position of the en-
envy and were closely followed by the eth
Iowa and 22d Illinois regiments, which drove
the rebels back into their camp and under
the bank Of the river. Then the 9th Him
os, Col Buford. and the 3lst, Col Logan
came in just in time from the South and
West, and charged down through the open
field and met within about so rods of the re-
bel camp and river bank and discharged
their pieces, making terrible havoc and driv-
:ng them all down the bank. But as the
fire was returned from behind their extempo,
rzed breastworks, We fell upon the ground
and loaded and fired zouave fashion from
that position. and in the meantime rolled and
-I,l ,cl- L. L
ridge. where We rallied again and rushed in
to the camp and met the enemy face to face,
rs they returned TO their tents from the
shelter of the river bank. Every man for
himself-tiring at whoever could be recogniz
ed as an enemy-it in too close quarters TO
load. striking with our guns. As for in
stance. one of cur sergeants. standing near
me, saw head and gun taking aim at him
from under a tent, and not having time to
+ load had just time to smash the said head
with his gun and save his life. The tents
were soon cleared and our men ran up and
fired down the bank and compelled many to
surrender. Along under the bank the ground
was covered with the dead and dying. while
many had plunged into the river and we're
drowned or shot there, and their bodies float
ed down the river.
4 boat came up from from Columbus to
their relief and cot loaded full when it was
fired on from our side and many rebel was
seen 10 take a cold bath for winding sheet
Another boat coming over with reinforce.
ments was fired into and sent back.
Probably the closest fighting of the da,
was done in log house in which some
frightened secesh sought shelter and were fir
ing on US, when some of our men pushed in
and We're crowded up into so close quarter,
that they could not use their bayonets, and
SO pelted them over their heads with theil
guns, and soon cleared them out and drove
them over the bank after their fellows
Then the field was ours but for few mo-
ments only; long enough, however. for US tc
burn their tents and all that was in them, af
ter removing the dead and wounded. B,
this time they were upon US from another d.
rectlon, having got between US ana our boats
thinking to cut us off and overpower US with
numbers. But the Iowa eth and Illinois ooC
and 3lst being on our right, cut their Wa,
through with considerable loss and mad,
their way back to the boats. As soon a,
they had got to their boats the rebels appear
ed In large numbers on shore and opeueo
tire upon them, but unexpectedly for them
yet fortunately for us, two of our gunboat.
were on hand and returned the fire, which
with the fire of the infantry and artiller,
from the other boats soon drove them back
with heavy loss. Our regiment cath ILL.,,
taking another course, further from the river
got safely back to our boats without Difficult
ty. 1t was the intention to have had Column
bus attacked in the rear by forces from Pa
ducah at the same time We made the attack
on Belmont, and our gunboats opened fire
upon the forts at Columbus from the rive,
with some success, and it is thought that if d
few thousand men had made an attack q, the
same time by land, the place might have
been taken. We could surely have held
Belmont had it not been for the batteries a,
{. and reinforcement from there. AS it was
39oo federals fought 1000 secesh on no bet.