The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-08-13

lent us by the State until we could. get
rifles. This was in the morning, and by
nine o'clock nine companies from the
9th and 9th regiments, were on board
the cars and steaming away for the land
of Secession. Many citizens, some with
double barreled shot guns and revolvers,
accompanied us. also brass band. We
were cheered tremendously at starting,
and on the route maidens fair smiled up
on us. Old ladies tottered TO the doors,
and waved their night caps, or any 9TH
er article they could get hold of, vigor.
ously, while cheer upon cheer, caught
up and prolonged by a thousand throats,
were waited over the waters Of the Miss.
issippi. We passed up the valley of the
Demone River, through low and bro
ken country, but sparsely timbered, and
poorly watered, and but little Of the land
in state of cultivation. Secession has
plainly stamped its impress here, as evil
denced by the number of deserted hou.
ses and other abandonment, and lonell-
ness that everywhere reigns. Not far
mer did we see to work in the fields
not carriage upon the roads, but in lieu
thereof werN sentries and squads OF
mounted horsemeA,ss,uAt every turn it
looked warlike. Arriving. within two
miles of Athens the train stopped, and
the FIVE companies Of the 9Th regiment,
together with number of citizens, got
out, while the 9Th were to remain on
board, and proceed at once to Athens.
We forded The Demoine at this point,
and marched up the left bank, while the
others were to outfiank the rebels if pos.
sible, thus attacking them both in front
and rear. We had gone but short dis.
lance when we were met by party Of
horsemen, who informed us that the Mis-.
sourians, sixteen hundred strong, and
supposed to be under the lead Of Nc Gof
fin, had attacked them at four O'Clock
that morning, but had been repulsed by
Col. Moore and three hundred and fifty
men. who drove them out of town, killed
four men, captured sixteen prisoners
and took forty horses. On the part 0
the UnIonists three We're killed, and fouI
taken prisoners. The rebels then left 70
the south. On learning this, Lieut.. Col
Maheis who had command Of our diyis
ion, gave orders for immediate pursuit
as The seceshers were supposed to be en-
camped at no great distance, marched
! five or six miles, and finding no traces o
them, bivouacked for the night on ;
smooth open prairie, and awaited new de
velopments. Here we learned, from rel
able authority, that the rebels were six
teen miles distant, still in full retreat
/ anu 40 tiIe must VI liicHl we're HlOuHteu
it was folly to think of continuing thu
pursuit longer. In the morning we re
turned TO Athens, and rejoined the 9th
Here we begun TO see some evidences o
the fight that bad taken place The Mis-
sourians had attempted TO enter the tow
/ by the main road, but were driven bacl
and sought cover in corn field on tn
left. Here the strife was hot and fierce
a small house near by was completed,
riddled with bullets. An old man wa
captured here by the rebels, and being
unable TO keep pace with them, was, il
spite of his prayers for mercy, shot, ant
his lifeless body trampled beneath tn
horses feet. We saw his hat and blooC
still upon the soil. The graves of tw,
secessionists are close by. The uniol
people are pouring in by hundreds
The 9th regiment will remain here for ;
short time, the 9Th returns to Keokuk
and will probably start for st. Louis in ;
few days. l find that | have omitted
many important particulars but have nc
time 10 write longer.
Respectfully yours.
T. II