The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-25
THE GATE CITY.
fHURSDAI, DECEMBER 81.
nnrtie Of Prairie Grove.


given by correspondent of the Hawk
Eye:
At IL M. we reached Rays Mn, where
the train was left upon a large open plain,
and The Iowa Isl, Ohio lOlh. and Missouri
Sth cavalry, sceo,rp panied by three how
itzers, were sent forward npon the Fayet-
Vile road, to ascertain the position Of Gen.
Heron, and also of the enemy, with or
ders to report any information they might
gather, or the whereabouts of either army.
We had proceeded about two miles, when
as We passed over rise OF ground, we
heard the booming OF cannon and saw the
smoke rising M out Of valley about two
miles ahead of US. A messenger was i'm
mediately dispatched to Gen. Blunt, and
We moved forward About one mile fur
ther on, we came upon about four thous-.
and of the enemy moving round utfdrr
cover Of heavy piece Of timber fanking
Gen. Heron upon the right. Col. Wick
ersham, then in command OF the detach-
ment, put the cavalry into position and
brought his howitzers forward and open
ed fire upon the rebels, determined 10
hold them in check, possible, until Gen.
Blunt came up with his infantry and ar
tillery. But few shots had been fired,
when he enemy charged upon and took
possession Of ono Of our little pieces, in
charge of the Ohio 10th, but it was almost
Immediately rctaken by small detach-
ment of the Iowa LIST, and the enemy
compelled to fall back. ss
Companies A, L and Nj, of the lat To-
wa, were thrown out as accommodating
parties-companies r. CD and X put
into position Immediately in front of the
enemy's advancing columns, not with the
expectation Of repelling them, or even
checking their advance, had they advan-
ced rapidly upon us; for we were on thick
~ timhered ground. where cavalry could
do but little against infantry, covered by
thick brush and large trees MS they nd
vanced upon US. The object was to gain
time by making as great shoe as posi-
Bile, and thus compel them at least to
move slowly and cautiously forward
This maneuvre had the desired effect
The artillery and Infantry came up just
as the encmy's line had got within eighty
PAGES of our right, when We were moved
out OF the woods into an open field in front,
10 support Bob's Battery that was put II
position, and three regiments Of iniantr,
were sent into the woods TO take the plac
We had left. By this time the enemy ha,
brought up battery aud put IN positio
our Inrrnrfy.--- 1eow vhnIunuua tue .nu,
deadly conflict that it is often the forum
OF old warriors to witness. The constan
roar of cannon and rattle of musketry wa
almost dcafening for the space Of half al
hour, when the enemy's battery was silen
ced and they were compelled to fall back
One OF their artillerymen, captured by GU
men, admitted that the first three shot
from our battery killed one hundred q
their men. Their dead were piled upo
the ground in every direction while on
loss did not exceed twenty men. The Ii
Iowa cavalry escaped wonderfully, con
slderns the position they occupied befor
the artillery came up. For tie space
hall an hour the balls few around us lik
hail, cutting the limbs from the trees oy,
our heads and all around us and vel bu
two men of the regiment were woande,
Capt. Chase, of Co. G, had two bali hole
IN his coat; Orderl Sergeant VIM. A
Clark, who was al the right, by the sid
OF Capt. Chase, had his horses hip Gu
by musket ball. and private Wilson, .
the same company, had ball put throug
his hat; with these exceptions we cam
out OF tho battle unscathed.
Many OF your readers would have Eel
proud of their noble sons and brothers
had they been whore they could hay
seen them at the time just referred to-
every man in his place; scarcely movin
muscle as the balls whistled By his hea
his pistol drawn and his horse s.i
hand ready to execute every eomm.u
that might be given, and even after ever
company, except the one from Burlington
Go. G., had been ordered from Til
ground. leaving them alone with tire
thousand rebels advancing upon lLem.
now within eighty yards distance, firm,
upon them through every opening OF th,,
brush where they could see tl,esn'. not
man moved from his place until the or
der came TO the Captain to bring of hi
company. When the command va. DIV
en- the company moved as steadily and j,
a. good order from the field as they ooul,
have done were they marching out 10
drill or review. Such men can he relic,
upon, everywhere, under any circum
stances.
Inc enemy having left their position j,
iron. OF General Blunt's camp, in III
night as have before stated, marcne,
some fifteen miles and attacked d regimen
., Arkansas troops (the ist) cam ped 70
the night on the banks Of the Illinois r;v
er' cut them very badly, DESTROYED ,he;
tram and took portion If their N =, ~; :
oners They next surprised and attacka,