Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-11-14

We have received copy Of the official re-
port Of Col. Dewey, of the 2sd Regiment o.
this State, who recently commanded de-
tachment Of troops detailed. to disperss the
guerrilas in South. eastern Missouri. The re.
port is interesting, but its length precludea
our publishing 1t entire. The troops lef,
Camp Patterson on the 25th ult. for Pitt.
mans Ferry to form ajunction with Lisut.Col
Lazare, and attack any rebel force At tina,
point. The march was an arduous enc, the
crossing of Black River, which is - wide and
deep stream, was difficult undertaking, but
finally successfully accomplished. When
within II miles Of the ferry the snsmy's
pickets were driven in. A force was at once
detailed to PUSH forward rapidly and gain
possession Of the ferry boat When within
10 miles Of the ferry this advance guard sur.
prised scouting party Of the enemy, and
captured Captain and thirteen men. They
succeeded in surprising the guerrilla guard
at the boat which they dispersed by we'll
directed volley, and gained possession of the
boat. The enemy formed in line Of battle
on the opposite bank of the river. After =
few shots from our battery the enemy fell
back. A portion ofour force was then thrown
acros. the river, when the enemy started in
full retreat. We here quote from the report {:
had been for several hours anxious to
learn the whereabouts Of Lieut. Col. Lazare
and his command. Everything depended up.
on his cooperating with me. l knew that
With my small force Of infantry, exhausted
by long and fatiguing march and without
food since the previous night it was folly for
me to attempt pursuit. Lazares route to
join me led him directly acrsss tho road by
which the enemy had retreatcd and waited
in deep suspense for some intelligence from
him or for ZONE evidence Of his presence
At noon sent Leper over the River with
his men to scour the country and try to
gain intelligence Of Lazare. After fruitess
search, he returned without any tdings and
reluctantly ordered the men to camp They
had performed forced march of IS miles
and had been 20 hours without food, with
out murmuring. They were still ready to 20
forward if there was any prospect Of over
taking the enemy, but, without Lazare's
hoped that the sound of the cannonading
would reach him and carry to him tidings Of
my presence, but 1t did not.
The next day Col. Dewey formed juno.
ten with Col. Lazare at Bolinger's Mill, Is
miles from the ferry. A cavalry force was
detailed to scour the country, which dispers-
ed several small parties of rebels, captured
a number Of horses, etc. On the 3Oth our
entire force returned to Patterson. We give
the closing portion Of Col. Dcwey's report:
Too much praise cannot be awarded to the
officers and men under my command in this
expedition. They perfoI med q march of IS
miles to Pittman's Ferry, the first day thro
a severe storm, in less than two days and q
half. crossing wide ard deep stream. The
last 20 hours, they were on the march or in
line of battle without food. On their return
they performed march Of eighty miles in
four days crossing two wide and deep streams.
| have no hesitation in saying that had the
force under Lieut.. Col Lazarc been able to
cooperate with me, by reaching the road to
Yellville, by which the enemy retreated, at
the time | reached Pittman's ferry, on the
evening of the 9th, we would have routed
the entire rebel force and captured the bag
gage train and artillery. This force est.
mate from reliable information at 900 Cav.
airy, 500 Infantry and a pieces of artillery,
under command of Coils. Bu-bage, Green and
Mitchell. 1t retreated towards Ye!lville at
which point understand the enemy..is con.
large force, and where they have
q powder mill in operation.
My thanks are especially due to the follow
ing officers detailed on special duty To
Capt. Newbury, 18th Missouri, for his eff
cheney in crossing the command over Black
River; to LIEUT.. WATERBURY, 23d Iowa. act
ing Adjntant; to Lieut.. Brown 2Sd Iowa,
acting Q. NJ, and to Lieut.. Buzzard, 25th
No., commanding advanced guard Of Infant
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