The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-11-19
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT III THE BAT
TIE OF RELMONI.

report OF the Belmont battle
On The evening of the 6lh inst, left
this place with 1850 men, of all arms,
to make a reconnaissance toward Column
bus. The object Of the expedition was
TO prevent the enemy from sending out
reinforcements TO Prices army in Mis-
Souri,, and also fr protecting columns
that | had been directed to send out
from this place and Cape Giraedeau in
pursuit of JEFF. Thompson. Knowing
that Columbus was strongly garrisoned,
asked Gen. Smith, commanding at Pa
duaah, to make demonstrations in tie
same direction. lie did 50 by ordering
y small force to Mayfeld and another in
the direction Of Columbus, not to ap.
raoach nearer, however, than within 12
Ur - miles. | also sent small force on
lhe Kentucky side, with orders not to
approach Il arer than Elliou's Mills, some
II niles from Columbus,
The expedition under my immediate
command was stopped about nine miles
below here on the Kentucky shore, and
rca;,i.ed until the next morning. All
this served to distract the enemy, and led
him to think he was to BE- attacked in. his
strongly fortified position. At daylight
We proceeded down the river to a point
just out of range of lh4 r-bel guns and de-
baked on the Missouri shore. From
here the troops were marched by flank
for about one mile toward Belmont, and
then drawn up in line Of battle, a battal
ipn aisD hay ny been left as a reserve,
near the transports, two companies from
each re-, IN ut Five comptni-s, skele
tons in number, were then thrown out as
shirmishcYs 1, aocgstain The position of
The enemy. Il Was but few minutes
before we met them, and an engagement
ensuei. The balance Of my force, with
tie exception Of the reserve, were then
thrown forward, all as skirmishers, and
The enemy driven from tree to tree, back
10 thrir encampment on the river bank, n
distance of Two miles. Here they had
strengthened their position by telling The
timber for several hundred yards around
their camp aud making a sort Of barri-
Gale. Our men clambered through this,
driving the enemy over the ba"k into
their transports in quick time, leaving US
in possession Of everything not exceed
in3iy portable.
Belmont i, on low ground, and every
foot Of it is commanded by the guns on
the opposite shore, AM Of course could
not be held FOR Il single hour after the
euemy became aware Of the Withdrawal
OF ,heir troops. Having no wagons, |
cJulL not move any Of their property,
consequently gave orders for It's des-
traction. Their tents. blankets, etc,
were set Oh fire, and we retired, taking
their artillery with lis, two pieces being
drawn by land, and one other drawn By
IN inefficient team. We spiked it and
left il in tie woods bringing the two 9th
CT pieces II this place. Before getting
fairly unIet say the enemy made his
appearance gain an attempted to sur
rouAl Us. Our troops were not III The
least discouraged, but charged on the
encnly agaia, an ! defeated him. Our loss
was about 81 killed, $50 wounled-many
Of them slightly -and about an equal
Number missing. Nearly all the miss
in. were from the 7th Iowa regiment,
WHO behaved with great sallantry and
suffered severely.
have not been able TO put in reports
from sub commands, bu. will forward
them as soon as pos, ;ble.
Al lie troops behaved with much
gtl4.alry, mach Of which is attributed to
the goodness ana presence of mind Of the
officers, particularly the Colonies. Ger.
Nc Cleruaul was in the midst Of dan
ger throus hout the engagement, and dis
played both coolneas and Judgment His
horse was three times shot. Ny horse
was also shot under me- To my staff,
Capts. Rollins, Logan and Hillyer, aids,
and Capts. Smith and Graham, | am un-
der mucll obligations for assistance they
gave. CD. Webster, acting chief en-
gneer, also accompanied me, and dis.
played high soldierlike qualities. Col
Dougherty, of the 22d Illinois Volun-
tecrs, was three times wounded and Ia.
ken prisoner The 7lh Iowa regiment
had their Lieutenant Colonel killed, and
tie Colonel aud Major severely wound
ed. Tie reports to be forwarded will
detail more fully the particulars Of our
loss.
Surgeon Brown was in the field dur
ing the entire engagement, and display
ed great ability and efficiency in provi- |