Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-10-16


the Thirty.sixth. For an hour the shot
went whizzing over head and crashing
through the trees, but not o man hinched
from his post.
As soon as the position Of the robcl bat |
terry was ascertained, section OF Captain
| Barnct's Artillery, consisting Of two ten
FOUNDER PARROTS was brought to the top
Of the bill. and by few well directed shots
the rebel battery was slenced. But the
rebel artilleymen were again rallied around
| their guns, again opened FIRE, and again
wore driven Oh by tho two formidable Par
rotts. A second time they returned to
| their pieces, only to meet with the same
fate. and then the firing from the rebel bat
terry ceased entirely.
Meanwlile the right wing Of the One
Hundred and Twenty fifth Illinois had been
ordered up to support the battery, and per-
formed their duty handsomely. The slen
cling of the rebel battery seemed to check the
ardor of the butteruuts, and they retired III
to q woods fronting the position, the Both
remaining in undisputed possession Of the
contested ground.
Brigader-ticneral Gay, Inspector Of Cav
airy upon Gen. Buel's staff, came up after
the enemy had ceased their efforts to dis
llodge the Both Brigade, and advancing with
a cavalry force IN the direction the enemy
had taken, was soon turiously attacked. A
battalion Of the I'd Michigan Cavalry, Col.
A. z. Calnpbell, was at once dismountcd,
while the other two were thrown under COW
er OF the woods. The dsmounted batta.
ion advanced upon the enemy, assisted by
the skirmishors Of the SD Ohio, and after a
sharp skirnisb, drove them from the woods.
They soon rnllied however, and, receiving
come re-enforoenients, they forced our skir.
mishers AMI cavalry to retire, contestiDg
every inch Of ground. uI.
The fight now became deeply interesting
On came the enemy, pouring heavy yolleys
into the ranks Of the ID Michigan and Other
cavalry, and pushing it gradually back unit
! it occupied the position f. ON which it frs
advanced into tho woods. The situation
, was critl2al If the enemy was not imnle
dately checked, he would advance with hl'
i fresh forces and renewed courage up The
= bill, assauting once more tho gallant Sol
y Brigade, which had been under arms eve
y since in the morning, engaged during the
greater portion of the time Gen. Il. b
Mitchell with his division was about getting
into line oil battle on the right Of the hill
aud il was now Of more Importance thar
ever that tho hill itself should be held. A
!, it was in the very center Of our Intended
:, line, and commanded the ground for a great
!, distance upon both eide, Of tue road, III
= possession by the enemy might be ATTENDED
with the most serious consequences.
1t was just then that the Second Missouri
. Captain Waiter Hoppe commanding, reg
y imelt which distinguished itsolf at PET
y Ridge, came CALAMITY up to The rescue, an,
u with deatening cheers advanced upon til,
enemy. The Second Michigan cavalrymen
terminated by this assistance, advanced
/, as skirnisbers before the Second Missouri
IS and the Fifteenth Missouri came after as
|. support. In vain the enemy opened upo
% the advancing line murderous fire.
% continual storm ofleaden hail ragged roun
ID their ears; the Second Missouri steadil
% moved forward, untilthe dismayed conquer
/; ed rebels broke and ran like sheep. Fc
I, more than mile the conquerers pursued
n aud only gave over when they were ordere
bavk to their trst position. The Seccn
1t Minnesota battery, Captain Hotohkis
" I'd Missouri infantry, and by delivering
r we'll directed fire upoS the faux of the rel
h els, assisted materially in driving them trol
ID the woods
ID LOSSES, HoNoRs, ETC, IN THIS PRELIMIN
70 AIRY ACTION.
~ Thus ended, at about ten A. NJ, the pr,
lminary battle Of this eventful day, and eve
T at that early hour many brave and nob
= spirit had taken its departure to anothe
" world. The Both Brigade had moro tha
e hundred killed and wounded, while tn
u, y! I'd Missouri alone had lost nearly hundre
IL more The "a Michigan cavalry had ais
81 suffered considerable, and the batteries OF
~ gagged had met with some slight loss,
~ But at least three hundred rebels had
'n the dust, and we remained master Of ii
=, y, field.
10 The conduct of Con. Gay and his staff
/. spoken OF with much praise by all who wi
Is messed it.
IS All the officers Of the S6,b Brigade b
~ haved SO well that it scarcely seems just
make special mention Of any one, althoug
u, il is impossible not to admire the behavi
M of Colonel Moore oft S5th Illinois.
ay Col. Dan. McCook bore himself througl
od out the action with bravery and ability.
The I'd Missouri, which 10 greatly disti
guished itself, forms, with tho 18th Mi
!; souri,, a portion Of the 35th Brigade, Lieu
VI III enant Colonel Barnard Laibold of the 2
=, commanding. The other regiments tn
!. brigade aro the 44th and 73d Illinois Go
" onel Laibold is man who will always mai
oi tain the credit Of any corps to which he mi
NO be attached, After the preliminary bait
n was over, he heenneu restleSS ana unens
"a repeatedly declaring that he "could not re
nr 5s that night without another bout with Il
., enemy"
oo A portion Of the Ninth Pehnsylvani
'c- Cavalry WAS also engaged in this action al
y Colonel James, commanding it, is, as W,
y ss his regiment, highly spoken Of.
IL From the eloae ofthis combat, our cava
gu took no further part in tho affairs Of Il
N day, being posted in order Of battle to Il
de rear, waiting for an opportunity which ncv
NJ occurred
IN This preliminary battle. as 7 have sal
nd confirmed US in the impression that he
sw the enemy was about TO drive back OF
x. army. but as division or two only h,
- arrived, We felt il highly imprudent to q
ct sail him at once, and hence resolved to r
maia in order Of battle with what forces v
q, had, aud wait for the remainder to con
th up.
1t But the enemy could not wait, The he'
sn OF our column had not rushed into the tr,
81 which he had set for it no had already 10
as time In his retreat without accomplshii
h. anything, and in his evaporation he dete
NJ mined to assai and overwhelm that portic
st. Of our forces which had arrived, even thoul
nj II