Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-07-26
Full Account Of the Fight at Monroe.


it in his country's service.
G. W. COUCH County Judge.
Full Account of the Fight at Monroe.
coRREsroxDEScE CT THk GAZETTE
CHILLIcoTuE, July II, 1861.
You, no doubt, have all heard of the fight
at Monroe Station from the various newspa-
per accounts that have been given of the az
far the past week, some of which it would
be difficult for one to recognize.
On the sth of July we took the train and
proceeded to Palmyra. We, that is, part
Of six companies of the Iowa Sd and por.
ton of the Illinois troops, in all numbering
perhaps little less than $50 men, with one
field piece, six-pounder. On the evening
of the 9Th We returned as far as Monroe Sta
ton, intending to 60 out to secession camp
some / 6 miles from the Station, near place
called Florida. We got out Of the cars and
Immediately made preparations for a march,
not waiting for our supper, but intending to
make force march for the place of destina-
ton. just as we were ready to start it COM
menced raining, raining no, it poured down,
and by the time we were wet to the hide we
were ordered to 60 into the cars, so in We
went, and there remained, sleeping as we
could in our wet clothes until morning, when
after hastily swallowing little bread and
raw pork we started for Florida. 1t was al
most an interposition of Providence the rain
occurred and prevented our march in the
evening, for surprise would have been i'm
possible. and the force Of the rebels under
the command of Owen and Harris, was much
larger than we had any idea Of
On our way, which was over a broken
country, we continually came in sight of
scouts, so that we were certain that the enc
my were perfectly posted upon our move
ments. After marching some ten miles we
came to hill covered with timber, up this we
marched at quick pace, and as the head
column reached the opening, word came back
that the enemy were drawn up in line of bat
tie on the prairie before us. We took not
double quick step, but run up the hill out
upon the prairie, in the heat of the day, and
formed ourselves into line of battle And
this was Our first experience in forming in
line, with the expectation that the enemy
would fire into Us from the woods Just in adj
vance of us, bat no enemy appeared, and we
had our labor for nothing. SO we sent back
for our blankets. which in our hurry we had
thrown down by the wayside, and after rest
ing prepared to move on. 1t seems that
there was an advance guard of some so
horsemen drawn up, which were seen by the
advance guides, but as soon as we began to
APPEAR they disappeared, and we saw moth
ing more of them for sometime. Taking up
our line of march again we went on some
thing less than mile, and halted for a lunch
of bread and raw pork.
After rest Of perhaps two hours, we
started and passed on for two or three miles
meeting with no incident of interest-only
that we observed upon all sides line of
scouts observing our movements, and occa
sionally a good Union man would pass thro'
our line and scan our numbers. At length
we came upon a long trail road leading in
the direction Of Florida; a long this we passed
At the end of this road it proved to be inter
sected by lane upon the right and upon
the other side of the road were two tall stone
chimneys, the ruins of former dwelling
house, also, an old house with high garden
fence, in the junction of the lane and road
there were also to old log barns, and back of
all was a thick forest descending rapidly.
When we were within five rods of the cross
lane we were suddenly fired upon by the foe
from behind the fences, buildings and woods,
we halted little, as you may have seen a
balky horse sometime, formed into line and
Immediately began to reply to their fire,
where ever a man showed his head The
bullets whistcd around our heads, but the
boys stood the fire well, and all were eager
to get shot at the foe. The firing lasted, per-
haps ten minutes, when our cannon sent a
grist of shot and grape down among the fen
ces and bushes, and in short time none
but Union men were to be found. We sent
ont scouts, who brought in 7 horses and
drove in or prisoners, but they had been
to mill and were just returning home, though
strange to say, they had forgotten their grist
We had none killed, but three wounded
one Capt. McAllister, was quite severely
wounded, three buck shot having hit him !;
he is, however, doing finely, or was at last
reports, and no doubt will in short time be
able to join his company. wounded one
of the rebels MORALLY, and he stated that
some four or five others were as severely
dealt with. And this was our first fight
Learning from reliable sources that there
were some 1000 rebels in camp, with artill-
cry, and many Of us having but four or five
rounds of cartridges each, it was thought best
not to advance further, SO resting ourselves
until nigh shutdown, we commenced a retro
grade march, going back some two miles, we
entered wheat field, taking the cut grain
for beds, and laying down with our arms at
our side, in line OF battle, without even a
soldiers rude supper, and slept undisturbed
until morning, when taking little repast of
what little provisions we had, which consist
ell of little dried beef, pork and few crack.
crs, we started for Monroe Station, marching
slowly and cautiously and keeping good
lookout. Coming up to piece of woods and