The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1861-11-14
THE BATTLE AT BELMONT. MO.

thS >'+e"5'' "|"'HGR, uniting some DOT
tons which relate exclusively to Illinois
troops. The 9TH Iowa Regiment was il
the fight, and from all we can learn the
sustained the we'll earned reputation O
the Iowa First. They went into the bat
tie with ranks thinned by sickness, ant
yet their missing numbered $50. Later
reports will, most likely, reduce thi.
number. Lieut.. Col. Wentz was among
the killed. Cd I,auman and the Maio,
were wounded, and the Adjutant miss
ing. Several members Of Capt. Reeds
company, from Nuscatine, are among the
missing
The whole was under he command Of
Gen. Grant. Gen. McClernand accom-
panied the expedition and rendered very
valuable assistance, taking immediate
command Of the Cairo troops ss one di
vision of the advance, the Birds Point
troops constituting second division un.
der Col, Dougherty.
The force embarked upon the steamers
Alex. .Sc0r, Chancellor, Memphis ard
Keystone State, the whole under the gun.
boats Ii. 0. Tyler and Lcrington.
The total available force of the expc.
ditlon was about three thousand five
hundred.
The design was to reach Belmont Just
before daylight, but, owing to unavoida-
bic delays in embarkipg, it was 8 o'clock
before the fleet reached Lucas Bend, the
point fixed upon for debarkation. This
is about three miles north of Columbus,
Ky, on the Missouri side. The enemy
were e@camp@a Upon the high ground
back from the river, and about two and
half mills from the landing From
their position they could easily see our
landing, and had ample time to dispose
their forces to receive us, which they did
with all dispatch They also scnt a de-
tachmcnt OF light artillery and infantry
out to retard our march and annoy US as
much as possible.
\ ilue Of battle was formed at cGcc on
the levec, Col. Foukc taking command Of
the centre, Col. BuIord of the right, and
Col Logan of the left.
The advance from the river bank to
the rebel cncampment WIS running
fight the entire distance, the rebels firing
and falling back all the way, while our
troops calamity received their fire with
out tilnchlng and bravcly held on their
Y ay, regardless of the missiles Of death
that were flying thick and fast about
hem. The way was Of the most indif
'erent character, lying through woods
With thick underbrush, and only here
md there path or rough country road
The three divisions kept within close
distance of each other, pressing over all
obstacles and overcoming all opposition,
each striving for the honor of being first
n the enemy's camp. This honor fell
o the right division, led by Col. Bufori
t was the gallant 9Th Illinois, who with
'eatonlng cheers, fist waved the Stars
nd stripes in the midst Of the rebels
amDln@ ground. The .Uenc was ter
IDLY exciting one-Mu.ketry and car
on dea..og death and destruction On al
1dcs men graphing with IDen il a fear
III dt"th struggle column aftCr column
ushlng eagerly W, ambitious to obtain
post OF danger; officers riding hither
nd thithcr, in the ,hickest of the foht
lrglng their men on, and ENCOURAGING
hem to greater exertions; regiments
harging into the very jaws of death
With frightful yels and shouts. more
Effective as they fell upon the ears Of the
ncmy than thousand rife ba!lg-anJ
n the midst of all is heard one Ioar
oud continuous round Of cheering as the
Star Spangl.d banner is furlcd ia the face
If the foe and deiantIy usurps the mon.
7rel colors that had but moment befnra
the spot as rebel ground.
m Impetuous and irresistible CHARGE
was then made, that drove the rebels in
III directions, and left the field in nos.
session of the Federal forces. The rebel
camps were fired, and with all their sun.
plies, ammunition, baggage, etc, was to-
tally destroyed.
The discovery on the Kentucky side,
that we were in possession of their camn
e1 TO an opening Of the rebel batteries
from that direction upon US Their fire
was very annoying, the more so as we
were not In position to return it.
Just at this juHcture the report was
brought to Gen. Grant by Lieutenant
T. altman, Of the 3Oth Illioois Regiment,
who had with his company, a. been
On scouting duty, thai heavy reinforce.
nents were coming up to therebeIs from
the opposite side Of the river. Indeed
the discovery was also made that the en-.
envy were pouring over the river in i'm.
mcD,r numbers, and the danger was i'm ,
ml4cnt that CIR retreat would be cut off
The order to fan buck to tie boats was
therefore given, bat not moment too
Don. The way was already h!Ial with
,ebeL troops, and as We had fought orr
Fay up to the encampment, so we were
obliged to light back to cur boats. and
against desperate odds. But the men
@-fe not lacking in courage, and FOUGHT
Ike veterans, giving ample damonStrq-.
non 81 ther determination. Every req
lmcht Of Federal troops suffered more or
lees severely III their return march, but
l"e G~a4I1I opinion prevails that the
rebeis suffered lar greater losses tina, yUa
" heTeVcr they made stand we out them
to fight, and although we los, mapv
brave men, either killed, wounded. or
taken prisoners, We made at least two of
thelr men bite the dust for every one
that ieil from our ranks. Churchman's
all reached their boats though with CON.