The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-27
OPERATIONS IN THE WEST.
OUR CAIRO CORRESPONDENCE.


.,r..,,,,,, of rn;on mn into the Rebel Service, &c.
That YOU have not hoard from me since Sunday, tho
lSth inst ia ow tho fact that have been assent in
Missouri ON another rebe hunt and did not return I'M
tu today. Ihad scarce retired Monday night when
WAS aroused by tho Information that expedition
as on foot for the uprver country. Immediately re-
sired to headquarters and found unusual degree Of
commotion and ascertaned that messenger had Just
arrived from the village Of Santa Fc, the Mssissp
ri river opposite Commerce, with the information that
large body Of rebels were then occupying Commerce and
intending the river into Illinois, for Of
destroying the bridges upon the Illinois Central Railroad
Santa Fe only about twenty miles from Cairo by land
and Colonel 0gesby, who is in command In Gen Prem
tss' Absence dcsrous Of sending accommodating
force to the vicinity. party OF mounted men. or
whom your correspondent one composed IN part or
squad Of Captain Bnrres (Piko county, cavalry, and
otherwise Of citizens Of Cairo. under tho capancy Oh
Wash. Graham Esq, In all numbering thfrty-sx men,
started past twelve O'Clock to do the country Scr
vcc this particular contingency We arrived ut Santa
Fe sunrise yesterday morning. only to find that the
rebels had retired from Commerce to o former camp,
some four miles in the interior, toward Benton. Wo
learned also that tho evous evening Colonel Marsh,
from Cape Girardeau, w,.h five hundred men and two
pieces artillery had visited Commerce, which probably
the key to unlock the mystery p such sudden
suaon At All events mmo was deserted, and every
thing bid fair guarantee fuitess ride tethor
cd horses and about getting breakfast and
sleep after hard nights march But At about eleven
O'Clock aroused by the noisest kind Of conoton
IN the vage-womon running and screaming mon newly
loading thor old Shot guns and rifles dogs akng, chill
dren cryngevery thing in fact TINT could make noise
making it with all its might, while the cry of 1.-The rebels
have come backi' the watchword from every nook
nd Granny Sure enough, on getting out Of doors, ana
aanly visible Ia large throngng the streets Of
bmmefce. and lying about like bees from house to
puse and store to store, formed in ranks " the
tuh banks OF the river. With my glass counted the
Rivalry and three squadrons Of infantry. The
-Avalry | ascertained to number fully one hun
were full fifteen hundred single iron field piece was
planted upon tho rocks above town. command the
river while some fifty two and four horse teams formed
cavalcade far back the Benton road the eye
could reach II did, indeed look squaly but those who
knew anything Of tho use of artillery were aware of our
perfect safety for between the foe aud tho Mssis
sippi fully halt miles wide Immediately oouri
despatched TO Cairo with tho information, while
sme cavalry anu oMSens OF our party started doWh Inc
Illinois bank to meet the gunboats Tyor and Lexington,
which had been despatched at daylight from Cairo to CO.
operate with fr,maned for half hour to view the
movements OF tho enemy, and then reroined my COM
panions after ascera,ng that there danger Of
their crossing the river We met tho boats about three
miles below town, communicated our news and ih,n
returned, only TO lind that the valiant rebels had
learned Of close proximity had returned TO their
camp tho Benton road, out of rms way taking with
them all the movable property " totunerce, including
fortytw0 wagon loads OF belonging to Unoa citizens
of the town. The rebels wore unter the command OF
Colonel Kitchen. President Of the Cairo and Fulton Rail
road.
witnessed during tho short time had to
observe their movements that would mako the blood or
che veries icud boil with Indignation and could but
wish that tue New York esion eittrs standing
where stood 10 tho oAhn vaor tley Land high
ly One old man VI sixty years, exod resid nj Of
Commerce, had returned Santa 70 that morning.
OF the valuable articles OF hs house
hold goods e was accompanied by hs lie and daugh-
ter When tho advance Of the rcb hSyde entered the
village the trio started from their cd houie, and
ran TO their boat, which already overlooked, bu in
they climbed and tho old piled the with nj tho
vgor his nirmitiss would permit The boat had pro
ceeded perhaps forty rods from the shoro whom ii was
discovered by the valiant Souherness, and vsley "
xnusketry was poured int it. could SEQ the musket
balls strike the water all around them, and feared
for the safety OF tho party but happily 10 one was hurs
Another fired at tho shore and o mDsket
ball struck his boat. A party OF women and children
who were returning to their old homes fired al in
the middle OF the river before thoy had time
their Tho town most thoroughly sacked. and
had not the gaAboats suddenly up would undoubtei
ly have been fro Tho gunboats remained noored In the
river opposite tho owa all night, and this morning OF
them came down ~ Cairo, your humble servant havng
sent his horse down by and) coming as passer ger.
Taken together-the land ride by moonlight tho
of the day and the sleeping board, within stone Is
throw Of shore occupied only by rebes In oro-twas an
exciting trip. There eight, If do moi call lAtle
mstake-hat amounted to nothing -such and returned
10 Cairo 10 learn the details OF
niB BAnIE or CHARLESTON.
On Monday last tho 19th Colonel Wallace, commander
OF the post at Birds Point, ascertained that force
Of FIVE hundred rebels had encamped at Charleston twelve
miles Of the Point the Cairo and Fulton Railroad
and at night he sent force of about the number to
attack them. Tho rebels under the command Of
Colonel Hunter of Missouri ana were tho Same that have
been committing depredations in this vicinity tho past
two weeks, details of which have written you The
Union forces made up as follows
Commanding officer, Colonel Dougherty, Twenty second
regiment; Lieutenant Coonels Hart, Of Twenty Second,
and Ransom, of Eleventh regiment; m anes A, b, c,
each and Capt Homan's 1censraIia) cavalry, ty men
The Union men started from Birds Point at eight O'Clock
in tho evening and marched cut TO the treeto bridge
two and half miles from Charleston, when two comPa-
mics left the main body and marched around the town 10
the south TO attack the rebels simultaneously The cava
ry, let it be remembered, being able mach by
the march, and did mos reon them force really
was but about three hundred men AS soon as tho main
body of infantry reached the town, they received
orders, when in sight Of the enemy's camp fires,
TO "hte low, and sail in,' which they did IN gal
fired by the main body under Lieutenant Hart and Colonel
Ransom, than the left wing Of two companies. undW
Colonel Doughe " made an attack from the south and
the lighting became general The rebe!s were taken By
surprise and our troops took every advantage possible
They had cavalry 70 aid them while that Il tts esany
numbered nearly three hundred The moon shope nearly
bright day. and light wind cleared the battle field Of
smoke, so that it was impossible for mistake to be
made. After hours hard fighting The Untou
found themselves Of the fsil aad In paassoa
OF large number q prisoners, having sustained loas Of
only one man killed and eight woandad-a fun lst Of
or which--lrsoners Killed and mamed-I give below.
The enemy were from JET Thompssns ,ncAu,ymsat al
sykesion Tho rebel prisoners do not report how nany
they lost in killed bit think thai FROM twenty s,rty
went to sleep f< the laSs une We have e.gh, u thlr
wounded here az prisoners in our Hospitals uay having
boon forsakeA on this fleld by A.ar Comrades.
About four hours afes the fight at CAreson Captain
Homan's cavalry came up with scostg party II shout
seventy I'VE II tho aneny cavalry, 10 whom they gave
battle, but the reb0ls did not seem 10 wish to asw Eight
and thirty thsee prkcndrs and thirty aght horses NJ
into os- hands wahou. gun having boen nrsa NM
injured In tho two asagsncns our boyv took my owe
prisoners, seventy stand Of arms and my three horses
together with large amount Of camp eauipage. should
here state however tha. two OF Tie prsoors aso
dentay wounded by the careless banalng 1t their owa
towiiug pieces.
rIE SIGr or AUGUST 10, 1861, By TROOPS UNDER co.,
DovGnKRry.
Oscar Z: walker. Edward Coleman. VIM. Harr,s, VIM.
Adams VIM, B. Thompson, John Beale, Cyrus Godieit
VIM o. Gibson, Qiarmaster Second regiment Missouri
state Guard; N. A. Qamby, W. r. Sharp, Jerry Vaughn
Reuben Il. Brown, Levi Macstp and James ". Price.
NAMES OF REBEL rRisoN#s TAKEN IbofMAS's
CENTRALLY CAVALRY On THE AUvrs1 3D.
Henry Swan, J. II. Cobb, Second Lieutenant; Lewis
Young, Sergeant; Thomas 0TTin, VIM. II. Crpp, j. n.
Hamil w. Barrett, Samuel F Wcarren, s. b. johnson
j. r. Baily, Theo. Cyiand, Samuel Kerr, VIM Jester
Joseph Davis, Samuel Mondy, N. S. Dunoain John w.
hsIcomb, JOS. NJ. Farris W. 7 Chipain Mark f Flora
Marx NJ ToneY IOhn Il Cline Radford Coleman