New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-10-02
THE BATTLE OF IUKA.
4 Gallant Action and Brilliant Victory
Superiority Of Western Troops Again.
THE REBELS THREE TO DUB ONE.
INpcMlTaBLE BRAVERY or THE UNION SOLDIERS.
orrespondsnoe ofTlc N. Y.Tribune.

The battle OF luka was fought and won by W cit
ern troops, on hill in dense wood, a milo and {
half southwest of the town of Iuka, Mss., on Fri
day. Sept, 10, 1862, between and o'clock p. m.
Having been present on the march from Jacinto
and participated actively in the engagement, snt
having been in q position where could observe
every movement on our part, 1 venture TO describe
tbs whole affair as I saw it.
Bhg.-Gen. C. s. Hamilton's Division has beer
stationed at this post, in the front, since the middle
Of August, as an advance guard before Corinth;
also, 10 watch the movements OF the enemy. For q
few DAYS before the battle, il had become evident
that Price was on the move from his Summer en-.
campment. He took Iuka on the l3,h inst. without
opposition. our small force Withdrawing at bis ap-
proach. Whatever his object was in selling tina,
place, was determined that be should lie attacked
and driven ont.
Gen. Rosecran, ordered this, the Sd Division Of hif
army to be ready TO move in light marching order at
daylight on Thursday, the 18th inst Awaiting the
arrival of Gen. Rosecrans, and Gen. Stanley with
his Division, it did not move till o'clock p. m, and
then encamped for the night about three miles cas-.
Of Jacinio.
At daylight on Friday morning the march toward
Iuka was resumed. We frs, met the enemys pick.
cts the road eigh. miles from Iuks, at the cross
ing Of a email stream and commenced driving the IN
in at once. They dslodsed by the cav
airy, who had acted skrmshers up to this point.
A battalion of the oh Iowa Infantry was here de-
ployed as skirmishers, and went forward, CALAMITY
re8yng and returning the fire OF the enemy with
out faltering for single moment.
At about two miles and half from the stream, In
tbicket by the roadside, we found the bodies Of
two dead and one wounded Rebel. Thus far We
hal met with no casualties. At tho crossing Of
other small stream, the enemys pickets made very
determined resistance. From The stream the road
sscends very perceptibly for about four hundred
yards toward where there stood fine white farm
house, around which it made slight curve to the
LEFT.
From the front windows and from behind the door.
yard fence Of this house a number Of shots were
fred by men 10 their shirt-seeves who left rapidly
as our pcke,s approached. At this little stream,
Lieut.. Schraum Of Capt. Borcherdt's Company OF
the 9Th Missouri Cavalry, acting as Gen. Hamiltons
body-guard, received shot in the right breast, and
is probably MORALLY wounded. Two horses mme-
dately in front Of Gen. Hamilton were hit in this
lane. Further up the lane we found Sergeant Of
the 9TH Iowa shot through the leg.
On entering the house dinner was smoking hot
upon the table. The people had suddenly fed to the
woods on hearing tie firing. This fine house was
found heap Of smoking ruins by us on our return.
1t WAS probably fired by the comrades Of the wound.
ed sergeant when they came up, as just retrbuion
for tho uses it had been pu, to by the enemy. At
this houte the skirmishers Of the 5th Iowa were 70.
eved by a battalion from the 26th Missouri, who ad.
yancod steadily, although every inch Of the ground
wa, obsiinately contested to the very line Of the
enemy in force.
On the right Of the road extending three-fourths
Of mile up to the piece Of woods in which the bat
tie took place, is an open field, lying parallel with
the iroad and about sixty rods in width. At short
distance beyond the field is road running diagonal
ly to the right through dense woods into Iuka. At
this point sharp skirmish took place, but the enemy
were driven from the cover
General Hamilton at the head of the column,
which was led by the gallant Colonel Matthias
and bis noble regiment, the 5th Iowa Volunteers,
rapidly advanced mp the RICH, hand road eighty
rods TO where /! turned slightly towards the left.
The skrmishers were still in the advance, some two
hundred wards. but were driven back on the head
Of the column ut this ipoint by tremendous volley
from tie enemy who was awaiting our attack.
At this point is a knoll and shanty around which
blind road leads to the right. Gen. Hamilton took
his station on the knoll 10 direct the movements Of his
division. The woods and underbrush were too dense
to allow Of a regular deploy into line. Tie regi-
al Int, NJ, al
RsLk. The gallant Iowa 9Th crossing the Iuka Road
resting its left the knoll and supporting the Ilth
Ohio Battery which was rapidly getting into position.
Col. Boomer led the Goth Missouri into line on the
right Of tho 9Th Iowa, and brave Col. Eddy formed
the 18th Indiana with its right covering the battery,
while it was getting into position, its left crossing
theopen field 10 front. This was all done with per-
feet GOODNESS by troops, amid murderous fire Of
grape canister aud musketry from the enemy. Tbrs
was the battle opened with but three regiments in
line on the top Of the wooded bill. This bill slopes
to the right left and font behind the crest Of which
the enemy lay in three lines Of battle under COM
mand Of General Price himself. Aud here was the
key Of position, which the enemy soon discovered,
around which the battle ragged with the most terrific
fury until darkness, aud victory closed tho conflict in
our favor.
As the other regiments Of Col. Sanborns brigade
came up, they were directed into position by Gen.
Hamilton, TO protect the TANKS Of the line of battle
already formed, the 4th Minnesota, commanded by
Capt lie Gro, in rear Of the left, and the 10th Iowa
Col. Chambers, 10 Of the right, zen echsllOn."
The whole available ground in front was now occu-
pied by Nc, and tho enemy observing our narrow
front and thinking to make us All easy prey, dashed
against our whole line with heavy foso repeatedly
aud were as often repulsed with terrible slaughter
Our men fought like heroes and held their ground