The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-11-21
Battle OF Belmont,
CAMP TAYLOR, BIRDS POINT, /
Mo, Nov. lOht. 1861.

CAMP TAYLOR, BIRDS POINT |
Mo, Nov. 10ht, 1861. !
DEAR FATHER AND MoTHGR:
was made happy yesterday by the arrival of
your Joint letter. assure you, for it was the first
news from home since my return from the battle
field of Belmont, and my heart was filed with |
gratitude, to think that was still permitted to
read and your kindest ofletters after pas
sing through that fearful struggle Often, during |
the battle, had given up all hopes of escaping,
even with my life. | never before felt or realized |
the dangers of conflict, and never before knew
what soldier is called to endure. The battle Of
Fredericktown is nothing compared with the ter
rible realities of that day. and even now it seems
like dream, for what we saw and endured in bat
tie seems almost Incredible Nothing but the saw
ing hand of God could have saved the lives of BUR
men while aear the rebel masked batteries and
infantry in ambush. Our Captain while speak ing
If the dangers We were placed in, said that % We
ought ,eUery man to thank our God that he SO kind
ly spared us when death seemed almost certain"
Two sections of our battery were in the fercest of
the fight constantly, and yet not enc of us was
killed. Three times we marched into an ambush
and once into the face of u mask ed battery of six
gums, both SIX andtwelve Founders, supported by
infantry, who kept up continuous fire OF musket-
ry until we slenced the battery, which forced
them to retreat. The shots from their guns were
too high, though some canister struck our timber
and the shells bursting some rods in the rear scat
tering their contents lar behind, and round shot
cutting the tops ofthe off which fell all around
US. The muskets were better AIMED, for the balls
flew around like hail stones killing one horse and
hitting the guns and limbers showering the leaves
down from the trees but not one touching us while
in that position. Our No at the gun had his
hand blown off by Il premature discharge Of the
gun. l cannot describe the sound of a bullet as
it passes very near, but my recollection of it will
always be very distinct
-Four of our guns si!enced the famous Washing
ton Battery, of New Orleans, that was SO promi.
nent at Bull Rum we took two OF their guns, which
have been given to a Cairo artillery company and
a shell from one of our pieces blowing up one of
their caissons. The musket shots were Just right
at one time, and We had given up all hopes ofever
getting away alive, for the bullets whizzed
by the hundred every half minute, an d
strange to say, not a was hurt at the time
though spent ball struck one of our squad in the
teeth, and fell to the ground. l have been exam
lining my clothes TO find bullet hole, but cannot
know several balls passed my head within twelve
inches. At one time was obliged to do the du-
ty of three men, one being sick and another
wounded.
We left here on Wednesday evening on five
ste amers and two gun boats; we stopped for the
night ten miles below, and went to within two
miles OF Columbus in the morning; at O'clock
the gun boats commenced Smelling the town. At
0 we were landed and at II we were fighting,
which continued till 81 and oh such fighting
never worked SO hard in ali my life then. Old
Mexican soldiers say they never saw such u fear
full struggle. The musketry was continued roar
for three hours and the cannonading was grand
Enclosed send rough plan of the ground on
which we worked. We did so much and fired from
So many different positions that 1 cannot get it
very perfect After we had silenced the battery,
in the woods, they retreated into camp and left
the guns and horses and guns in great confusion,
running to our right and left under cover of the
river bank We entered their camp with our guns
Oh the right and were fired upon from the lett by
rebels concealed in and around the tents. Then
our Sergeant was shot in the arm. and one of GU
horses was killed, We fired canister and buck
shot into the tents, which routed them We also
fired on steamers that we've transporting troops
from Columbus and Kentucky City, causing them
to run back. Being fred on constantly by heavy
guns from G olnmbus, were obliged TO leave
our place and as We moving into the woods,
news came that we were surrounded. Advancing
short distance, we planted our guns again, and
firing to the right oblique opened and cut our way
out of the trap to escape, we took the same path
out by which we came in. We retired immediate
ly and by loading in great haste saved our guns
and caissons the rebels reaching the bank just
as we moved away. We also took two of their
guns from the field, which We hope to try on them
at some future day.
1t was intended that force from Paducah, |
Charleston and Cairo should attack Columbus
and elmont at the same time, but by some mis-
take we went in too soon. Our expedition took |
Belmont which was our object but as the Column
bus troops were not engaged, we could not hold it
against the reinforcements that were brought :
across the river
It would take whole sheet to tell you of what
feelings 1 had at the battle of Frederiektown.-
They do not seem to be worth noting when think
OF what passed through my mind at Belmont
At that place we had an opportunity to think of
what we were to engage in. While at Frederick
town. we had no time to Think but went immedi
ately into action AT Belmont we heard volleys
of musketry and the booming OF cannon for an
hour before we fred our pieces, and it required
great deal of courage to march into the woods
with our pieces momentarily expecting to be fred
on by masked battery. l noticed the counte-
nances OF the infantry as they moved forward and
was impressed with their appearance. Every one
knew that we would be obliged to fight with all
our might, and they approached the field, their
faces were immovable and the expression proved
the fearful struggle through which they expected
Atfectionately,