The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-06-29
THE BATTLE or BoONvILbE.
Correspondence Of the St! Ioui, Democrat; ]

II LOulslapa, ieit JeHeTSOn Sity sycsteiuay uitS'
noon, nj. two o'clock, and reached point mil
below Providence last night where 1t na
. thought best to lay up few hours. Three com
! panes of Bernstein's regiment, under his con-
mand, were left to protect the Capitdir We ewet
4 cheered enthusiastically 10y the little town .
Marion as We passed them yesterday evening =
This morning we took an early start and reach
ed Rocheport before six O'clock, where we mad
short stop, but found the people mostly sur |.
and not disposed TO be communicative. WI
learned, however, that the enemy were In con
siderable force few miles below this place, aiit
preparing to make vigorous defence. Leaving
there, and taking the steam ferry boat Paul Il
cox with US, we ran up steadily till we had pass
ed the foot of the island eight miles below here
s and seeing a battery on the bluffs, and scouts
fastening to report our arrival, we fell back "a
point opposite the foot Of the island. and att
o'clock, A. NJ, disembarked on the south shore,
where the bottom land between the river and
bluffs is some mile and half WIDE No traitors
were visible there, and the troops at once took
the river road for this city. Following this ROAD
somewhat over mile and half to where it a'
cends the bluffs, several shots Fl ON our scouts
announced the driving in OF the enemy's pickets.
We continued to ascend gently unduiatipg
slope for nearly half mile, when the enemy
were reported in full force near the summit Of
the next swell of ground, about three hundI Ell
yards from our front. The enemy were exceed
inglg well posted, having every advantage in the
selection Of their ground but as you will see, it
! has been clearly demonstrated, that one seces
sionist is hardly superior to many more than his
equal number.
| Arriving at the brow of the ascent, Captain
Totten opened the engagement by throwing a
few FOUNDER explosives into their ranks, while
the infantry ied oblique righ. and left and COM
| n,,p vollny rtn whi iel,w wn
for short time well replied to, the balls flying
| thick and fast about our ears, and occasionally
| wounding man on our side. The enemy were
posted in u lane running toward the river from
| the road along which the grand army Of the
United States were advancing, and in a brick
| house on the northeast corner of the junction
o. the two roads. A couple of bombs were
| thrown through the east wall of that house,
scattering the enemy in all directions. The well
directed fire of the German infantry, Lieut.. Col
| Schaeiier on the right, and Gen. Lyons com
| pany of regulars and part of Col Blair's regi.
inent on the left OF the road, soon compelled the
enemy to present All ingoious aspect. They
| clambered over the fence into field of wheat
and again formed in line just on the brow OF the
hill. They then advanced some twenty steps TO
| meet US, and for short time the chnnons
were worked with great rapidity ard effect =
just at this time the enemy opened calling
fire from grove just on the LETT Of our centre
and from she'd beyond and still farther TO the
left . Naa
The skirmish now assumed the magnitude Of
battle. The commander. Gen. Lyon, exhibit
ed the most remarkable GOODNESS, and preserved
throughout that undisturbed presence of mind
shown by him alike In the camp, in private life,
and on the field OF battle. Forward on the ex
treme right Give them another shot, Capt.
Totten, ECHOED above the roar OF musketry clear
and distinct from the lips of the General, who
led the advancing column Our force was 1000
in all, but not over 500 participated at any one
time in the battle The enemy, rs we have since
been reliably informed, were over 1000 strong,
yet twenty minutes from the time when the first
gun was fred the rebels were in fall retreat, and
troops occupying the ground ON which they
first stood in line. The corsummate cowardicc
displayed by the seceshers viii be more fully
understood when add that the spurs or success
sive elevations now became more abrupt, steep
and rugged, the enemy being fully &C tuainted
with their ground, and strong positions behind
natural Gefences, orchards and clumps OF trees
Offering themselves every few yards. Nothing
more however, was seen OF the fying tugitives
until about one mile west OF the house OF W.n
NJ Adams, where they were first posted. just
there was Camp Vest, and a considerable force
seemed prepared to defend the approach to it.
Meanwhile, shot from the iron howitZer on the
Mcdowell announced to us that Capt. Wooster
with his artillerymen, and Capt. Richardson's
company of infantry, who were left In charge OF
the boats, we're commencing operations on the
battery over mile below Camp Vest This but
increased the panic among the invincible(:)
traitors, and Capt. Totten lad but to give them
a few rounds before their heels were again in
reqisition, and Captains Cole and Miller, at the
head o. their companies, entered and took pos
pft ha doc, .tpb fablps
About twenty horses had by this time arrived
within our lines with vacant saddles, and the
corps reportorial were successfully mounted on
chosen steeds. The amounto of punder secured
in Camp Vest, or Bacon, as the citizens here
call it, from the name of the gentleman owning
fine house close by, was very large. One
thousand two hundred shoes, twenty or thirty
tents, quantities of ammunition, some fifty guns,
of various patterns. blankets, coats, carpet
sacks and two secession fags were included in
the sum total.
Leaving Capt Cole in command of the camp.
we pushed on toward Boonville, chasing the
cowardly wretchrs, who outmanned us two to
one. The Mcdowell now came along up in the
rear, and off to the right from our troops, aud
having more distinct view OF the enemy from
the river, and observing their intention to make
another stand at the Fair Grounds, one mile east
of here, where the State has an army extempo-
rived, Gnpt. Wooster again sent them his com
plnents from the old howtzer's mouth, which,
with couple of shots from Capt. Totten, and
voles from LothrOp's detachment of ritles seat
tered the now thoroughly alarmed enemy in all
directions. Their flight through the village
commenced soon after eight o'clock, and con
tinued until after H. Some three hundred
crossed the river, many went south, but the bulk
kept wcstwardy. good many persons
were taken at the different points of battle, but
it is believed the enemy secured none of ours.
Capt. Richardson had landed below. and With
the support of the hOwitzer from the steamer
Mcdowell, captured their battery, consisting of
two 8 Founders with which they intended to
sink our feet), twenty prisoners, one casson,
and eight horses with military saddles The
enemy did not fire shot from the caunon.
Speaking of prizes, the brilliant achievement
in that line was by our reverend friend VIM
A PHI, chaplain of the First Regiment. He bad
charge of a party Of -four men, two mounted and
two on foot, with which to take charge of the
wounded. Ascending the brow OF Hill, he sud-
denly came upon company OF twenty-tour re-
bels, armed with reviewers, ana fully bent upon
securing place of safety for iheir carcsses.-
Their intertons, however, were considerably
modified when the parson ordered them to halt,
which they did, surrendcrlng their arms, Sur
rounded by the squad of FIVE men, the,
then m irch d on board the Louisiana, prisoners
of war. The parson also captured two other
seecssionists during the day, and at one time,
needed wagon and horses for the wornded,
and finding friendly suggestions vast on
stubborn old rebel placed revolver at his
head, and the desired articles were forthcoming.
In time OF peace the preacher had prepared for
war.
After passing the Fair Grounds, our troops
| came slowly towards town. They were met on
the east side of the creek by Judge Miller, of the
| District Court, and other prominent citizens,
bearing lag of truce, in order TO assure our
troops of friendly feelings sustained by three
tourihs of the inhabitant.; and If possible pre-
vent the shedding of innocent blood. They were
met cordially by Gen. Lyon and Col Blair, who
!, promised, if no resistance made to their en-
trance, that no haim need be feared. Major
G'Brine soon joined the party from the city, and
formally surrendered it to tie Federal forces
The troops then advanced, headed by the Major
and Gen. Lyon, and we're met at the principal
corner of the street by party bearing and
wearing that beautiful emblem under which our
armies gather and march forth conquering and
! to conquer. The flag party cheered the troops,