New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-12
TIE RATTLE AT BELMONT.
Correspondence of he Chiesgo Evening Journal
CAIpO Noy z

Correspondence Of he chicsgo Evening Journal
CAIRo Nov. Z, 1861
Having returned from the disastrous yet glorious,
expedition down the river at too late hour to furs
rish you The full information for your payer Of TO-
day. by the telegraph, avail myself Of one hour's
leewsy IN which to wTite TO send by train that ID
now making up 10 leave.
When it was proposed 70 start an expedition down
the river, the best reformation that had been
ceiyed at headqurters Lett tie impression tht there
was but small garrison Of rebels at the little town
OF Belmont, 30 nearly opposite Columbus, and is
proximity to Columbus, the rebel Headquarters, nsde
I.s occupation desirable az "A strateelcal polnt ID
order tint ia oc paliOn should be effected With the
Last Uoeibe exrendture Of blood and without pre-.
cipitali1g general battle, the movement was kept,
or attempted to be kept profound secret. Bat tle
result royeE that there were traitors in the camp,
who avHled themselves Of the earliest possible ins
formation aud not UNLIKELY Of fall details of the exy
peciiion, which were Transmitted without delay &c
The rebels IN ample tine for them 10 complete per.
! feet preparations fOf our reception.
Last evening tie detail ior The expedition was an.
nouuced, composed rs foows:
9Th Illinois Regiment, Cob Buford 9th Illinois, CoIs
Fogts a @ lgSs xeEsis % cR Loss o d ao EEsj
lori trcaso Battery tp lsy4oFi Two companies u NsVs'
~, Captai4s Desno snd D3ila
Tie whole was under the command Of Gen. Grant,
Gen. NcClernqnd accompanied the expedition ana
rendered very valuable assistance, taking the imme1
date command Of the Cairo troops division y
the advance the Bird Point troops constituting q
second division nrder Cob Doughery.
The lurce embarked upon the 81 amers Alex. Scott,
Chancellor, Memphis and Keystone State, the whole
under TIE escoIt Of the gunJoats III. o. Tyler and.
Lexington.
The total available force of the expedition wac
about $500.
Tire design was TO reach Belmont just before day.
light, but owing TO unavoidable delays in embsrk9
ing il was o. clock before the feet reached LuesS
Bend the point ixed upon for debarkati0D. This s
about three mIes north OF Columbus, Ky, on tie
Missouri side. The enemy were euoamped upon the
high ground back from tue river, and aooat miles
| from tic landing. From their poiion they eolla
easily see our landing, and bad ample time 10 disposg
their forces TO receive us, which they dld Win al,
dispatch. They also sent a Getachment OF hight ar
tery and infuntry out 10 retard our march ana an'
hoy as much as possible.
4 h.e OF battle was formed at once on the leyee,
/ Col, Fouke taking command Of the center, Col
I Butord of The right, and Col Logan OF the leit.
The advance from the river bank 10 the rebel en-
campuent was a running fgnt the entire oistsnee,
the rebels firing aud falling back all the way While
our troops gallantly received thsir IRE wiInouI
Alnching' and bravely held on their way, regardless
OF the missiles of death tiat were flying thick ana
fast about them. Tie way was OF tue most indi1er'
ent character lying through woods Win thcK uloeIt
brush, and only here and there path or rouge
country road.
The three divisions kept within close distance os
each other pressng all obstacles and oyercoili
ing ell opposition, each striving for the honor Oh
being frst in the enemys camp. Lbs honor ien 70
the right division, led by Col. Buford. Ii was the
Gallant 9th Illinois who with deafenng cheers, frss
waved the Stars and Stripes in the midst of th1
rebels camping-ggoUnd. The scene was terribly
exciting one--musketry and cannon dealing death
and destruction on ell sides; men graphing With
men in feariuldeath strngglei column after columY
rushing eagerly up, ambitious TO obtain post y
danger; officers riding hither and thiher In tie
thicSest Of the fight urging their men on, and en-.
couraging them TO greater exe'tions; regiments
charging into the very jaws Of death With frighitul
wells and shouts more effective as they Ie upon we
ears of the enemy than q thomand rhe-balis-an1
in the midst Of oil is heard Gle long, loud, connu
GUS round # cheering Us the Star Spangled Bannsi
is unfred In the face Of the foe and denany usarF
the mongrel colors that had but moment before
designated the spot as rebel ground.
In the hurry in which am compelled 10 wri'e
this letter. have no tine 10 arrange clear sne
concise narrative Of the batt If that were posslol';
in the excitement now existing here. But as con.ui
sion and excitement prevail all sides, and part %
tine regiments now at Birds Point, and ldst now
inaccessible from here, and others are away IN camps
on this side Of the river, the particular exploits o'
the different corps cannot be given In this comrau
nicati0n.
The I'D boys have the honor Of having senest
and captured battery OF twelve pieces, which hae
been dealing destruction with marked success Ing
3Oth had beer badly cut up by this battery, snd
were straining every nerve TO capture It. ihsy eA
press c0neiOreaDic disappointment lnas Wv f.rS
was sna;ched from them. They turned away U
search of new laurels and charging In tue vetS
midst OF the camp, were drawn into an amoasesuh
where they were again suffering terribly, thooss
maintaining their ground untinchingly wDsn Wv
3lst came to their assistance. ...,.
An impetuous and irresistible charge Mss VIZ aod
made, that drove the rebels in all directons' TSs
lett the field in possession OF the Union ioees
rebel camps were tired and with al tnei, ssPrnJ
ammunition baggage, &c., were to'siy '' ,Sss We
The discovery, on the Kentucky aee, 'u", o.n;as
were in possession of their camp leo 70 al ne,
of the rebel batteries from that direction ~ ss Ws
Their fire was very annoying, ITO H""'
were not In position 70 return ". -. h,ouoht To
Jnst Of th,s ;nncture the report was StoIS; 4;n,sS
Gen. Grant by Lieut.. Pttnaa " sT IN been OF
Regiment, who had, with his conpany p..smspts ver,
rn ~ The rebels from the opposite SuI a.
,;vsr Iadsod the discovery was also maus am ~u
river. rs noaring over the river IN Immense
| bers. and the danger was iiin''HeA'
"gS,a nS order oU 10 fall back to the boats was sy VS.
x;...m h,t not moment too soon. lno vs. md
si,saIv allied with rebel trocps, sne :. ve we're
Fought our way up to the encampmen'' .Ss;nst des-
obliged TO fight back to our boats spa In corr
,ora,e odds. But tho men were nos E''.ns deuep.
ACE and fought like veterans, gyins rsaiuep! 81
Station sSs, Of their detsrpinstion Every w.