St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-07-18
The Carthage Battle.

tOl. Slpcl mas SHOWN hlihSell W NC
an adept in the art of handling men
on the field of battle. After he had
broken the rebel center, and silenced ;
their guns and driven back their in
fantry, he discovered that several I
souadrons of the rebel cavalry had
made detour on his tanks for the
purpose Of Selling his baggage wag-
ons, located some distance in the rear
of his position. He had no cavalry OF
his own to send against them, and was
obliged to fall back to save his train.
BY keeping up the fire with the in
fantry and bringing the artillery in
range whenever practicable, Col. SiGcl
managed to rctard the progress OF
Jackson's cavalry, and eventually to
fall back almost unobstructed to the
baggage train, which was some three
and half miles from the scene oil
the first engagement.
By q skillful movement the wagons
were placed in the centre of the col
umn in such a manner that there were
artillery and infantry forces in both
front and rear. Jacksou's troops then
, retrcated and endeavored to surround |
the entire column by taking position
! on some high bluffs or hills overlook
inc creek. There was but one road
= leading across this stream, aud to
q progress at all without further retreat
ing in the direction of Carthage, it
n was necessary to cross the elevation
!. where the cavalry were mainly posted.
! Major Bakof, who commanded the
! artillery, was ordered TO place two Of
; the artillery pieces in front to oblique
n to the left, and two to the right, and
- at the same time similar movement
" was made from Col. Sigel's battallions.
: This was q maneuvcr to induce Jack
u sons men to believe that Sigel was
g seeking to pass out on the extremes
v of their lines, and to out-tlank the cav
= airy. 1t was followed by closing
,. up to the right and to the left by the
/ forces on the bluffs, when on reaching
90 a point three hundred and fifty yards
Of from the cavalry, the four pieces We're
"a ordered to n transverse oblique, and
, Immediately q heavy cross fire was
opened with canister. AT the same
time the infantry charged at double
quick, and in ten minutes the rebels
were scattered in every direction.
Ten rounds of canister were fired
, from each of the cannon, together
~ with several rounds by the infantry
y Forty-five prisoners were taken, and
al eighty horses captured, and not less
IS. than one hundred rebels were killed
lie and wounded by this brilliant maneu
Is yer.
~ Lieut.. Tusk, who was in the battle
ho and came bearer of dispatches from
- Col Sigcl, informs the st. Louis Dem
20 ocrat that when their baggage train
Nc was reached Sigers wagons were i'm
~. mediately formed in solid columns o
% eight and the infantry and artiller,
were posted on all sides, presenting
on an impregnable array.
h. In this condition, and with perfec
NJ order, his command continued tn,
w. movement towards Carthage, fighting
bravely against the superior odds un
dy til about o'clock in the afternoon
,ut At last they came to a place whcrt
er- the road passed directly through ;
high bluff, on each side Of which The
enemy's cavalry were posted in larg,
on numbers. BY feint, as if intending
cir to pass round the bluffs, Col. Sige
IF drew the cavalry in a solid body j!
i, the road, between the bluffs, at a dis
he lance of $50 yards from his position
he when, by skilful and rapid maneu
yer of his artillery, he poured int
n their ranks a most destructive eros
-, fire of canister shot, which did no
Nv last ten minutes before the enemy tlc'
Ter in great disorder. The prairie wa
led full of flying and rideress horses, Q
at which they captured 50, and pickle
md up from the ground 65 double barrele
shot-guns. Two officers were ais
cut captured at this point, and they state
that up to that time they had los
ig, about $50 men.
NJ 1t was still three miles to Carthage
la Col. Sigel was anxious to reach tina
'e point and take "A position in the wood
u.s. on the north of that place, on the San
ere coke road, so that he would not b
,ffi- any further annoyed by the rebel Ca,
rrs airy. This movement occupied fror
81 to about 81 o'clock in the evening
oui aud here was the hottest fighting {
the day, the enemy evidently appr'
to ciating Col. SigcPs desire to get int
ent the cover of the woods, and disputn
non the ground most stubborn with hin
:. Finally, against the tremenduou
"s' odds, he gained the timber, when til
ohS enemy retired to Carthage.
or hn that
and enemy had given up the day, he toe
,,r up the line Of march, and pressed c
twelve or fourteen miles to Sarcoxi
'eu' where they arrived without any tu
10 Their trouble at three o'clock in Il
,out morning. Here they took heart
into breakfast, dinner and good res
,n;a On the same evening they marched
lid Mount Vernon and passed the night
that place, where they were most 10
. fully received, and Hospitality entC
g. tanned. The ladies, many OF them Il
We wives of the leading citizens, bakI
IS ,p n, bread and supplying them with
viii freshmcnts during the greater part
sons. the night. During the night, lars
fully numbers Of the Union Home Guar
com IN came into town i'll detachments, to &
II re- sst Col. Sigel.
by Col. Sigel, though much expos
his during the whole of the battle, esca
- ms rs ed unhurt The men received t
back hearty compliments Of their Colon