The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-21

Fouke's regiments took the lead There wn.
n severe fight of m usketry, and Taylor's bat
terry played neayly on the enemy, driving
them back. We then marched along the road,
the 22d Illinois and 7th Iowa behind, return
ing a heavy fire from corn-feid.
There was no more firing except from BE-
hind trees until our men reached their boats
We were at the boats in good order half an
hour before the enemy came up, but the boats
were not ready for US.
Bufords regiment was below Belmont. and
h ai orders to return. Percei wing the firing
they left the Charleston road and lost Il o men
in returning.
The Columbus batteries shelled our men.
but not one of them was hurt.
All the field officers of the Seventh Iowa
were killed or wounded. The Lieutenant
Colonel and Adjutant were killed, and The
Major was wounded and taken prisoner.
Under The flag of truce we buried sixty
eight of our men on the field, and brought up
thirteen wounded.
The enemy report that they have one hum
dred and eighty prisoners. Fiftyf four are
wounded-ot whom forty seven belong to the
I'D Illinois and eth Iowa.
Capt. Trevis, of the 10th Illinois, Captain
Crabb, of the 7th Iowa, and Lieut.. Smith, Of
th~ I'd Illinois, are in their hands. Also,
captain Challouer, of the 22d Illinois and
Lieut.. Gates, of the eth Iowa, both wounded.
1T rs stated by persons com mpetent to know,
that our loss. III killed and missing, Will reach
one thousand
The rebel prisoners here state that they
had not more than seven regiments engaged
IN all, including reinfrcementS from Co.
lumhus
Col Buford's boys arrested Major Harris
of Tennessee, and brought home their Con-
tederat tie tag rs a trophy. The seventh Iowa
and the Twenty second have suffered pretty
badly. We captured two prisoners.
At o'clock Col. Fouke detailed COMPANY
as scouting party. They returned and
reported that q force of nearly five thousand
had landed from Columbus to reinforce Pill
low, and their object was to cut off our re-
~ nj
fought their way out, the balance coming
after them. Just as the boats were about to
leave, the enemy were seen approaching the
levee. The Twenty second received the first
shot from them, which they returned. The
Ihirteth and Ihlrty-tIrst then fired from the
Aleck Scott. None of our troops were killed,
but some were badly wounded.
Capt DIETRICH, company j, 22i regiment
was in command of three com panies from the
I'D, aud two from the Iowa lst, in a rav vine
opposite the Iron Bluff where their battery
was placed. They fired at him for a Ion Z
time, but all their balls and shells p4 ssed
over him, and not man of his command was
injured until they fired upon the Mem phis,
when 1--we OF his company were shot. When
they came to the levee, they had $500 infan-
Try ana 300 caTatry-all fresh troops. We
took POO OF their men prisoners, and two pieces
OF artillery belonging to the Washington Ar
tillery OF New Orleans, named Lee and JeT.
Davis. All we lost We're TWO caissons.
An expedition which left Paducah for Co.
lumbus has also returned.
No reliable news from Col. Oglesby's com :
mand, but it is announced that he has ell =
cOuntered Thompson's force, killing three
hundred aud losing fifty. q man who es-
capped from Jet'S camp, two days ago, reports
that he has 2,l00 infan try and 500 cavalry.
Another correspondent of the RcgQ5iicaa,
dated Cairo, Nov. S, 3 A M says:
AT this late hour it is Impossible to give
more than a few hurried sketches of the
| fight near Columbus yesterday. Accounts
are very conflicting, and, indeed, but little
information OF any kind can be obtained as
yet.
The programme was to attack and take the
rebel camp 1T Belmont, opposite Colum bus,
from which point an attack was to be m aIe
on Columbus in conjunction with a force
that was sent from Paducah, and the Mis-
souri, expedition which left here Sunday
night, Was 10 march down by way of Bloom
field.
The gun-bo1ts took position yesterday
morning short distance above Columbus
so as to cover the landing of the troops, and
commenced throwing shell into the camp at
that place causing considerable commotion
The troops landed at II un ter S farm in I.u-
casS Bend, struck over the road, ana march :
ed down towards Belmont. About Il mile
from Hunters they met q large force of the
enemy--some say five regiments, and some
eIeyeA--urawn up behind . sloGgn. The fight
commenced here, and continued with vary
ing success for nearly five hours, when our
men drove back the enemy, captured their
artillery, and burned their tents and caml
equlpage. The rebel forces appear 70 have
concealed themselves under the bank Oul
| troops stayed upon the field, and at . o CLOCK
Gen. Polks forces commenced crossing over
from Colum bus N steam boats, neither The
gun-b boats nor Our troops being able to pre-
vent them.