, 1861-11-11
The BATTLE OF Belmont.
The Enemy Defeated and their
Camps Destroyed.
0IR EaRCEs COMPELLED TO RETIRE TO
THEIR Be&fS,
BIoodyEngsgement on the River.
TAYLQk'S ARTILLERY CAPTURE TWO
LOUISIANA GUNS.

baked on several hoats, and moved out iato
The etream. Generals Grant and McClernand
we're on board. 1t Birds Point the
II,iuo;s 22cd. and lows 7th we're put
on heard; also, Taylor'5 battery Of light at
siEery. At late hour in the night, our Aeet
got fully nnder way, when tie fact YVES re-
yenlsd that We we're bound down stream-of
course to Columbus. After moving doTn
scne eight or ten miles, We stopped and lay
BY urtil ncar daylight, when we moved down
10 point some three miles shove tie Cclum-
buE latteries, the two gu1boats Lexington !
ard Tyler leading the way. Here our fleet,
consisting CT FIVE noble steamers and two !
guatoats, went to tle shore OIL the Missouri
side, and our forces we're soon disem.
ho1ked and formed in order. By order
ef Ger. McClern2nd, the Illinois eth, under
Col. Baft7d, took the leading aud attaeking
position. In 4 few minutes the whole moved
off from the river. Il Has aes'l 1no1cn what was
obs done. The whole camp at Belmont Was
to be taken aad destroyed.
Scarcely were the troops out Of sight of the
beak1@hen cur gun boats dropped dowa q
lie in the stream, and opened fire On the
R1,nbus batteries. The response WAS
prchrpt, AID for near two hours little Was
heard but the rosr OF heavy guns. Many shot
ten nea1 US, Some short, aad others be
yord, aid not few fearfully near
us- Shells were eeen to burst at
great heights; others, after drinking the water.
Their large shot, eighteen inches long and
terminating In cones, we're protested from RI
fed cannon. These maGe horrid nus!c as
they passed near us. One struck the river
h.nk within few fest Of the stern Of the
boat on which yonr correspondent had been
left in charge. Only ore shot struck the gun
beat Tyler and killed one gunner; two others
we're seriously wounded. The firing went on,
However, until Most Of tie rebel batteries
were silenced. We have since learned that
cur gurs had done great execution,
Hln the meantime, the attack on the rebel
camp twas brought On By Col. Buford, accord
lEg to programme, with great spirit, Every
regiment fell into it's place, and the whole
movement was sustained with vlgor worthy
Of veteran troops. The enemy proved to be
choice body oftroope, well armed, and num-
| herring from four to six thousand. They fought
| desperately; but in an incredibly short tine,
lie work was done. The enemy had surren.
| dered. or abandoned their artillery, aud we're
| il fun flight. Over two hundred were taken
p1i1o1ere. Their flag pole Was cut down,
:h=;z colors taken possession Of, and their en-
campnent enveloped in hsnes. The number
Ct guns, pistols, sabres, and horses taken, was
very crest.
Just at this time, hovever,a : leet Of bosts
YES observed approaching from Columbus
l
tine a terrific FIRE Of bail and shell opened
cn OUT uea from the Columbus b>ttczi=s
Or field pieces opened on tbs fleet O. boats
} doing fearful work. Nothing, however, de
layed their progress In te" minutes VI
ws1e In hotter battle than betsre. Our mel
fought nobly, but they were already fatlgued
and betwhen the ete1m Ct shot from tn
heavy batteries Of Columbus, which cause'
thin to falter. It was found the plac
y cGnld not be held. In truth, this had nc
been intended. Many Of the prisoners had e
caped, and our men We1e falling fast. Gzadua
s II, tie regiments drew of, in good order, III
e til ali we're safe but the 9th. First On th
IS field, Gel Buford was the last to retire. iii
: ptril wss imminent. The way Of retr2at b.
% tween him ard our boats was closed, and b
| YES obliged tc find another route. AL but tt
:. 9Th reached the boats in order The woun
~ I'd had been coming in some time befor
u Scarcely had all embarked when the enen
e appesred in strength On the shore, with sew
!, | ral pieAs Of artillery. twas judged best Fl
l. the boats to push out into Il
d | stream. At that moment, the best mus
~ Of the dsy eet in. The two gu
- boa:s turned their heads to the s5c1e, Az
n each with sj1 heavy cc1umbiade, began
pcur their death-dea]ing missiles among Il
Zoe. Beside these, We had oa board Taylor
IL SPLENDID brass Chicago battery-au b1oug1
eafely awsy--together with two fac bra
re pisces which We hsd to7roued of the enemy
e, belmont. These had plenty Ct canister 1t
=, slrappel, aua never did boys make better u
Of of ammurition. For half an hour, It is /
~ ucrea tha1 We averaged gun for every :,
. end. while our men. standing b,ayaly On t
hurricane decks, kept up IN ipecssant fire
~ ou.ketry.
~ Fer ar an hour. As VIZ ,a,y.5 f1ow1z
se ~. strean, the enen,v hnap IN the she
Tc .n6eaxnr7nc r. for,, a-a a.. 4bc;r p,,,s
ad ,,,s;.7o, Pn+ ,.,r cr.,n, ri. 10 e,re s,o mn
I'D .:,-t:cu sev.ra1 1;nr. ~ tho f1.sn of q
Die ,L.m, observed dozen men and hos1
m ;rr, so.ne,san1te tape.he7 Several fin
- ho,~ z.~a ot,.sruod 10 t.1a 7,,a;+;,
ina moment more were observed ten +,
- IN the air. bottom uppermost. Never {
iA1 fellows frht. or try to frbt. mi
set brsyelv. Tbey seemed actually to CO,
Id. desth at the Verv muzzles Of Cur heavy pn,
We and yast numbers of them sought it not
ad, vain, But gradually ttey fell back, and ab
ITS doned the pursuit, Such bravery Was nor1
,m- of suc,ets.
r. In the nea1tIme the gallant eth WAS q
;e roeed to have been cut off snd made nris
.oa. ems, We came avay with ssd hes,ts. Bat
~. sorrow was Of short Duration. The det.
~, which Col. Buford had found necessarr to
Oft the ftld, had thrown him hack nes- a r
'1o from the river. On hearing the t.,,~ a,
ne at the boats, he Judged it prudent to l.,
can back, and move parallel with tha i,
tor SHOT and shell, As We susnectna -
thrown toward him. Int. "a "a h,n
passed entirely over the he.d. of hi, r :
rday ment. When cur fz;re ceased. h.. ind,
At .ha1 1oe enemy hao 1aAen back, and Ventu
thor to approach the river. His sigma, Has rea,
understood. end a. ,,o;,t g
isae- ~ 49, ~ 49, Fus A,e naaes NJ
with 49,. "l"e .oe t4AsA " LIZ otne1 troops,
:ope. a was 'sAen on IL gooa ofaer, aud