Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-10-01
Tne Battle Or lUKA.


miles distant, by Gen. Murphy, has been
already made known throughout the
country, and the subsequent occupation
of that point BY Gen. Sterling Price Re-
connoisances Of bis position were order
ed by Gen. Rosecrans on Monday and
Tuesday following. September 18th, and
10th, and the second division, Gen. stan
ley, and third div:sioo, Gen. Hamilton,
moved from the vicinity OF Corinth on
Tuesday light, in all about / 900 efec
tive men, BY the way OF Jscinto, dis
tapce around to 1uka Of for y three
miles. Gen. RosecraDs aud staff follow
ed on Wednesday morning.
The force Of Gen. Grant, in the mean
time, was expected to be in readiness at
Burnsyil.e, seven miles this side Of Iuka
by rail, to Cooperate with Gen. Rose
Grams, when, after his circuitous route to
the rear, by Jacinto and Barne,'s, he
should appear before the formidable
Missouri chleftain.
Arriving near the foe on Friday after
noon, after considerable skirmshlng,
Gen. Rosecrans hsd barely time to form
his line Of battle before the Confederate
enemy was upon him. Ire action com
menccd in hot and sudden earnest at
twenty minutes past four, on one ofthe
most beautiful autumnal days of the sea-
son, and ragged without cessation until
the thick darkness of night closed upon
the struggling combatants. The enemy
consisted OF twenty regiments, comman-
ded by Price in person, and heavily
massed upon high ground overlooking
Iuka, AMI at he forks of two roads, one
leading directly to the village, and the
other few hundred yards across to the
Fulton road south upon which the reb-
els at.erward made their escape.
Against this force, possessing a deci-
ded advantage of ground, Hamilton's d.
vision maintained the unequal contest,
with varying success, the odds of the
battle upon the approach Of night, how
ever beng in The Federal favor. THIS
became more clearly evident when Stan
ey's division was drawn up on Saturday
morning to renew the fight, and it was
ound that the bird had flown, OF, at
least, commenced his flight. The di.is-
ion promptly pushed on to Iuka, in time
to shell the rear of the retreating col
umn, while the Second Iowa cavalry, 1t.
Col. Hatch, was dispatched to the right
aud the third division moved back to
Barnet's aud across to Thompson's cor>
ners upon the Fulton road, to harass and,
if poss b e, intercept our swiftly moving
antagonist. Pursuit was continued for
about eleven miles, but the Ell envy admi-
rabiy falling back, made Fulton safely,
so,Ie sixty miles southerly from this
place. TIE failure of GIN. Grant to CO.
operate from above, by which a DIVER,
81 OF the rebels could have been effec-
ted, SO as to enable Gen. Rosecrans to
advance nearer Iuka and officially &C.
cupy their every avenue OF escape, is at
least severely crit, Used, and as yet is
not accounted for. 1t lie generally admit
ted that Gen. Ro ecrAns not only accom-.
plished all that was humanity practical
tile, but distinguished himself very sig
nally under circumstances greatly ad-
verse to his complete success.
| 1t is positively known that our forces
buried 80 OF the enemy's dead on tn.
| field, and 1852 others who had been re-
moved tom the field and were subse,
luently lett behind. There were found
IN hospitals and scattered about the
town abont $50 of their wounded, aud
rom the numerous bloody s,re,chers
which they lett behind 10 their fight, it
Is probable they carried off and crowd
ed INTO wagons two or three hundred
more. We also captured over 100 pris
oners.
The Federal loss in killed was between
70 and 80; wounded $50 prisoners %
| The Fifth Iowa, Col. Matthias, as true
hearted soldier as was ever mounted
Eleventh Missouri, commanded BY the
cnivalrlc Mower, ard the Eleventh Ohio
Battery, Capt. Sands, under the lmme
date command Of Lieutenats Sears and
Neil, bore the brunt OF the battle, and
fought and suffered with heroism unsur-
pas>cd in the CORY annals Of war. The
Iowa r. giment which marched up to the
fearful slaughter with only four hundred
and eghty-two men, los, As in killed,
a nong whom were four Lieutenan.s and
l48 wounded ; the Eleventh Nj ssouri,
which nun bered $50, lost 80 in killed
and wounded, and the battery had owe,
half their number killed or wounded an d
all of their horses killed but twelve.
The Adjutant Of the Sixteenth Iowa
was killed, and Col. Chambers OF the
anne regiment saverely wounded. Col.
Boomer of the Twenty sixth Missouri
was also wounded.
| Gen. Hamilton had his horse shot I'M.
der him, and to him as well as Gems.
Ntanley, Sullivan and Rosecrans, aud
no man better deserves the Major Gen
craIshlp which he has received, conduct.
I'd himself with admirable daring and
GOODNESS, directing movements with the
jnd'cious mind Of thorough soldier,
and, fearlessly exposing himself, dis
mount d along the tont Of his pressed
and breaking lines.
Among The trophies of the fight was
beautiful stand of rcg,mental color.
Inserted Oak Hills" and "EIkhorp. :"
showing that tie rebel flag had been
borne through the perilous fields known
more Familiarity to tie North as Will
sons Greek and Pea Ridge.
Wien Price retrea,ed be covered his
magnificent train, over two miles in
length, with full brigade, until nearing
Thompson's corners, he formed in line
of battle TIL the train passed on
Gen. Little, the military adviser OF