Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-11-22
Letter from a Watertown Volunteer


were going OF an expedition. We have
been and had fight. We did not go, as
| supposed, down to cut off Thompson S
force. Our party consisted of 5000 in
fsntry, rs cavalry, and our battery. About
9 O'clock we were loaded on the boats
the Aleck Scott, Memphis, Key Stone,
Chancellor and two gun boats-proceeded
down the Mississippi nearly ten miles, and
laid over on the Kentucky shore until 5
O'Clock the next morning, when we start
ed again aud landed two miles this side of
| Belmont. s.#.
Before going any farther, 1 will give
you description of the place. 1t is stu
ated in Missouri, 20 miles below here, di-
rectly opposite Columbus, KY, which is
| stron ely fortif 81. There is a bluff at the
place about 800 feet high, and on its top
battery of big guns and camps Of about
$4,000 troops. At Belmont there were
1,500 troops.
Previous to our commencing the attack,
they sent over three regiments from Co.
Iumbus, having heard we were coming,
which made more than our force After
we gol our guns up the bank, We went
down about mile Four of our guns
and one regiment stopped in corn field
L. IL
b b'lance Of the troops marched forward:
In short iine, the firing commenced ard
continued for nearly half an hour, when
orders came for US to move forward. We
went into the woods some distance, got
into position, but could not work, the trees
were so thick. By this time the enemy
began to retreat. TEen what cheering
there WAS We followed them some ways,
found good position right on a ridge,
and stood there and shelled their camp,
drove them out, entered and burnt their
tentS-over 900 fine ones, nearly new.
All this time the enemy's battery at Co.
lum5us was playing on US, but did no
harm, their shot flying too high.
While we were there. three regiments
more came over from Columbus, and land
ed above US, in our rear, and the troops we
scatterd got around 10 our right flank,
without our knowing it. There was
lc..ss oroen1or sIlu oeisg-1 slIore loaded
with men, and regiment drawn up in
line, and two others below. We directed
our fire on them, put three shots into one,
but what damage was done [ do not know.
After staying there half an hour, we had
to retreat and just as reached thed edge of
the forest, a fre was opened upon US from
both fanks and rear. OF course, we had
to fall back a short distance, when we
opened on them with canister shot, which
forced them away. After a while we ar
rived at our boats. put all our guns aboard,
when the rebels came up and attacked US
from the bank, and we had to shove off,
leaving three baggage wagons, and nearly
six companies, which were cut off when
we began our retreat. We returned fire
with our guns, and also from the gun
boats, for nearly two miles. We stopped
twice Oh our way, and took on board
nearly 20O of our men that were left.
There are lots of item out now and are
still coming in.
The enemy had twelve field cannon, six
Of which were rihed. They deserted eve
ry one of them, spiked six, and two of
them we took, together with one 12-pound
howi,zer, one pound gun, $50 horses,
and rs or more prisoners. We were not
able to carry off any more artillery, l
c,uId, if had had time, have picked up
heaps of rifles, muskets, overcoats, and
knapsacks They were lying all around.
As it was, provided myself with a first
rate oYercoat an | good blanket We had
10 means of conveying any more, or |
should have taken whatever | wanted
All the boys brought home some trophy
"a rife, musket, blanket, or anything they
could manage. The loss on our side was,
l think, nearly 800 killed, wounded and
missing; wagons; $4,000 musket car
triges; and 200 knapsacks.
| came off remarkably well-without a
scratch-though [ expected to be shot
every moment. The bullets whistled past
nv head thick as shower of hailstones,
some so near l could almost feel them.
The cannon balls kept up continual whlz
zing all the time Our battery lost part
of two caissons by the breaking of pole
three horses, but not man was killed and
onlv three wounded. One Sergeant was
shot in the arm; the Orderly Sergeant in
the back Of the head seriously; aud one
cannonier had an arm blown off by pre-
mature discharge. Our squad had one
narrow escape, if | can make any distlnc-
ton between them all. As we were adj
vancing to the field, spherical case shot