The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-03-11
From the Ninth.

AE MrS. OCOTT mas kindly allowed us
to use the following letter from her hus-
band, Adjulant of the Ninth Regiment
HEAD QUARTERS 9th Iowa REGIMENr,)
four miles from Bentonville, Arkan-} |
sas, February 18TH 1862. \ |
Ny DEAR WIFE We arrived here
yesterday morning, at II o'clock. The
enemy's rear guard, of 1900 men, made
a stand for a short time. We had quite
a little brush. They had six gun bat
terry, with which they opened fire on our
cavalry. In one hour after the firing
commenced, the Ninth came up, and we
Immediately formed in line of battle
The Dubuque battery formed on the left
of us, and opened fire they fired some
20 shots of canister and round shot in
reply. The enemy Immediately began
TO retreat and were charged upon by our
cavalry, distance Of a mile. Our can
non were Immediately mounted, and
pushed forward after them. They plant
ed their battery again OH arise ofground,
and opened fire once more. We replied
with our guns again, the 9th forming on
the right of the guns. Several of their
shells burst near us, some passing over
our heads. Their guns killed two bat
terry horses. and broke one wheel off the
gun. In the cavalry charge there were
on our side four men killed, and nine
wounded four Of the wounded died last
night. The secesh are armed with all
kinds of arms, old rifles, double barrel
shot-guns, DC. The road, all along from
the first stand to their last, was strewed
with such arms. Our men picked up no
end Of them clothing. such as blankets,
coats, panls-and even one lady IS muff-
were picked up. For distance Of half
a mile there was not less than % horses,
killed, mostly, by our guns. We have
found five dead bodies of theirs, and six
wounded. One man, who was taken
prisoner, was run over by one of their
guns at the time they were leaving-the
wheel passing over his body and feet,
hurting him very badly. He said they
took twelve dead bodies away on theil
guns, and would not wait to pick him
up.
have just learned that house, hal
a mile in advance of us, had a white FLAG
on it, and inside everything was covered
with blood, but no one was there. The
ground chosen for ighling by them, wa:
very thick with brush, consequently i
gave them, with their shot-guns, ar
equal chance with us, for the reason tina
YOU cannot see more than ten rods.
We arrived in Spring field on Thurs
day last, and found that Price had lel
the day before with his whole force. Q!
Friday morning, the orders were to G,
forward after him, At 8 O'Clock th,
: whole army were on the march. w,
; marched twenty-four miles to Dus
Spring, twelve miles from Springfield
We passed over the battle ground at Viii
sons Greek, where Lyon and the Iowi
First fought Price. We got to Du!
Spring just at dark, when messenge
came in from our advance, saying tina
they had come on Prices pickets, AM
were driving them in. So we were or
dered forward four miles farther, got i
' about 8 o'clock, and had to bivouack a
night without tents. Oar teams did nc
get in until two O'Clock, when we &C
some hot coffee and something to ea
Some went TO sleep on the ground, 9th
ers sat up around their camp tires-I di
the same. AT FIVE o'clock we were agai
= on the march, our advance kept drivin
in the cnemy's rear guard all the tim,
Night before last, our cavalry charge
" upon their pickets for three miles, an
drove them right into their camps, xii
ing five or six they wounded Lieuter
" ant of the cavalry, stripped off his COZ
and watch, and took $40 dollars
money, and left him. Springfield wa
almost entirely deserted when we got il
and all along the road, as we advance
" the people leave their houses and scan
= per off, taking what they can in the
hurry. 1t is perfect stampede. Their
:, is no mail from here, so we cannot sen
any letters at present. got an oppol
tunity to send this by Gen. Curtis's mes
senger.
+ Correspondence Of the Guardian.
} HousEoF REP. DIS MONIES, Iowa I
"a March l. 1862