Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-09-27
BATTLE OF BLUE MILLS LANDING.
THE IOWA THIRD.


A few days since, in an article on the
condition of affairs in Northern Missouri, VIC
mentioned that on Monday last Gen. Pope
dispatched a column from St Joseph, under
Col Smith, another from Cameron under
Lieut.. Col. Scott, and third from Mexico, in
pursuit of the rebels who recently plundered
St. Joseph am; i. the adjacent country. Col
Smith and Lieut.. Cvoii. Scott starting smu...
tancously, and having about the same dis
lance to march, were expected to meet at
Liberty, and uniting their forces, to march
on toward Blue Mills Landing, where it was
believed the enemy intended crossing the
river.
Col Scott with part of the Iowa Third
a few Home Guards, and part of German
artillery company from ST. Louis, with one
six pounder, numbering in all $50 men, reach
ed Liberty Wednesday morning, and learn
ing that the enemy, under Boyd, Patten, and
others, numbering $500, were in strong po-
siton near Blue Mills Landing, he despatched
a messenger to Col. Smith, who, having been
detained br rains and bad roads, was still ten
miles from Liberty, and without waiting for
Col. Smith to reinforce him, he advanced to-
ward Blue Mills. The attack was made about
three clock in the afternoon. The enemy
opened a strong fire on his skirmishers, who
slowly retreated to the main body. The ac-
ton soon became general. The ix-pounder
was brought to bear and two shots fired with
telling effect. The enemy opened heavy
fire on this, our only piece and killed one
gunner and wounded two others, whereupon
several of the gunners abandoned the piece,
carrying with them the primer and matches,
and rendering the gun useless.
The action was continued for an hour after
this, the men fighting like veterans, but ex-
hausted by the long marches of the preceding
days, without artillery, and opposed to an
enemy six times their number, the struggle
seemed hopeless, and they slowly withdrew
to the open ground adjacent, bringing off
with them their wounded and dragging the
6-pounder by hand, the horses having all
been killed or badly wounded
Col. Smith, on receiving the message sent
by Lieut.. Col. Scott, hurried forward his ar
tillery and mounted force at full speed to his
support. AS it was quite dark when these
reinforcements reached Col Scott, and the
troops were exhausted by their forced march,
it was concluded not to attack the enemy,
whose force was more than double the united
corces of Col. Smith and Lieut.. Col. Scott,
Early the next day our scouts brought in
word that the enemy had abandoned his po-
sition the night before, and crossed the river,
the last party crossing little after 8 A. NJ
Having three large flats and steam ferry for
transportation, they were enabled to cross the
river quite rapidly.
The enemy numbered, by their own show
ing, 4, 500 men. s.
Although we may condemn the want of
prudence displayed by the Iowa Third in not
awaiting the arrival Of Col Smiths column.
according to Gen. Pope's orders, we cannot
but admire the courage and gallantry they
displayed in thus engaging and successfully
withstanding force six times greater than
their own; and this, too, after they had been
abandoned by the gunners who went into the
engagement with them.
The Third Iowa was engaged in the Shell
bina fight, and have ever since been burning
to effaee the stigma cast on them by this dis.
graceful affair. They have at last had the
opportunity they SO anxiously desired, and
no one who reads the list of killed and wound
ed will attribute that disgrace to the officers
who led, nor to the men who fought with SO
much bravery and steadiness at Blue Mills.
We might relate particular instances of
bravery on the part of officers and men, but
where all fought so calamity and steadily il
might seem invidious to mention individuals.
This force driven out of Northern Missouri
leaves that section Of the State clear of large
bands of rebels, and now that Gen. Prentiss
has replaced Gen. Hurlbut, we are sure tina,
he will be able to maintain the peace in this