The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-23
General St2ns's Accou.t se his Defeat M
the SaUIs If Belmont

The Cincinnati Ca.ats, Of Ncy.m Der II, has
seen letter of General Grant to his father,
Gurriedly written on the nigh. OF the sth
instant, from which it takes the following
extracts:
Day before yesterday L left Cairo with
about three thousand men in five steamers,
conveyed by two gan boats, and procet drd
down The river IN within ab0ut twelve miles
of Columbus. The next morning the boats
cropped down just ont OF range of The enc.
my batteries, and the troops deharked
During this operation, our gun boats exer-
cised the rebels by throwing shells in to their
camps and batteries.
When ali WAS ready we prcceetlad snaur
one mite roN2 rd Belmont, opposite Comm.
bus. When rormed the troops into lire, and
ordered TWO companies from each regiment
70 oepioy as sairmishars Ind push Oa through
the woods and discover the position oil the
enemy. They had gone bnt q little way when
they were fired upon and the ball may be
said TO have fairly opened
Ihe whole command, withthe exception OF
small reserve, was then deployed in like
manner and ordered forward. The order w $
oheyfd with alaCrity, the men all showing
great courage. can say with great s atisfac-
ton that every Colonel. wi thout Il siugle excep.
tlon, set An example TO their commands that
inspired confidence That VIII III wtvs insure
victory when there l. the slightest possibility
OF gaming ON" l feel truly proud 10 com
manC snCh men.
From here we fought our way from tree TO
tree through the woods to Belmont about
two ard Il half miles, the emmy contest.
ing every foot of the ground. Here the ene,ly
had siren gthened their position by telling the
trees Tor two or three hundred yards, and
sharpening their limbs, making a sort If
abats. Our men charged through making
the victory complete, giving rs possession OF
thelr camp and garrison equipage, artillery,
and every thing else.
We got a great many prisoners The ma
lortty, however, succeeded III boarding the ir
steamers Hnd pushing across th- river We
burned everything possible and started back
having accomplished all that ue went for
and even more. Belmont is entirely covered
by the batteries from Columbus and is worth
nothing as a military positio A-cannot le
held without Columbus.
The object Of the expedition was to pre-
vent the enemy from sending Il force int 20
Missouri 10 cat of troops had sen there for
It special purpose, and 10 prevent reinIorcin <
Price.
Besides being we'll fortified at Columbus.
their nuTnber tar exceeded ours, and it would
have neen folly to have attacked them We
found the CoufederateS well armed al I'D brave
On our return, stragglers that had been left
in our rear mot 'front.' nred In 10 rs, and more
re-crossed the river and give ns battle for q
fun mill and afterwards at the boats when
we were en- barking.
There was no hasty retreatin9 or running
away; Taking iH'o account the object OF the
expedition, the victory was most compiets
Il has gwen confttence III the officers and
men ofIhis command, that will enable Us 20
lead them liz any future engagement withou,
fear of the resBit Gen. McClernand who
by the WY, acted with great GOODNESS and
courage throughout, and proved that he Is 81
soldier as well as q statesman, and myself
each had on- horses shot from under US Most
Of the field of!cs rs met with the same loss
ofs side nearly onethtrd of them being them
ascertain, our loss WAS about 230 killed,
wounded and missing.