Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-29
A GREAT BATTLE AT IuKAl
ROseCrams Achieves a Splendid
Victory!

Union Loss from 400 to 5OO--RebeI Loss
from 500 TO / ,9OO--5OO Prisoners Taken
--Large Number of Cannon Captured--
Two Rebel Generals among the Slain--
Our Army Still Pursuing.
From Special Correspondent N. Y. Tribune.l
CAIRO, Sept 21, 1862.
This community is just now jubilant
over a brilliant victory achieved by Gen.
Rosecrsns over Gen. Price and his legions.
Full particulars have not yet reached us,
but enough is known to warrant us in
claiming a magnificent victory.
Those who have watched the progress of
events in Tennessee, have all along been
aware that battle was impending and
liable to occur at any moment. We have
known Of the movement Of troops, but from
considerations of public policy have fore
borne to mention them. We have known
that Gen. Grant had shipped large num-
bers Of his veterans to Louisiana and Gin
cinnati to aid in repelling threatened rebel
invasion, and this knowledge has led to the
fear that when the decisive moment should
arrive our army would be wanting Hap
PLY these fears were groundless "We
have met the enemy and they are ours
We have routed him, "horse, foot and dra-
COON" We have slain and wounded from
five hundred to a thousand We have
taken five hundred prisoners. We have
captured six entire batteries, thirty-six
cannon, and large army train. We are
now pursuing the enemy, and hope, be-
fore it be intermitted, to be able to
announce the capture of the entire rebel
army.
A glance at the map will show the posi-
ton Of our forces and the location of the
enemy. Troops were on the march from
Grand Junction to reinforce General Price,
who left Tupelo q week or two age. United
they marched to the vicinity of the little
town Of Cotton Plant, whence they were to
strike across the country diagOnally to
EastpOrt, where they intended to cross the
Tennessee, at Muscle Shoals, and thus form
junction with General Bragg.
So far as can be learned, the enemys
force must have exceeded 15,0O0-a well
come addition to General Braggs army.
General Grant heard of this project and
at once set himself to defeat it. He pro-
posed "to move upon the enemy's works"
and this is how he did it. First he sent
General ROseerans' army, the one formerly
commanded by General Pope to Rienzi.-
Second, General Ord, with his divisions,
was sent to Iuka. (Rienzi is on the Mo
bile and Ohio Railroad south of Corinth,
and Iuka is on the Charleston and Mem
phis Railroad east of Corinth. Here were
the two sides of the triangle. Rosecrans
at Rienzi and Ord at Iuka and Grants
army at Corinth, the apex.
Rosecrans reached Rienzi without diff
Guilty, but General Price is too old a bird
to run directly into the fowler's snare, so
he turned his course and left the line of the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad not far from
Cotton Plant station, ten miles below, and
made diagonslly across the country for
Iuka. Through his scouts, Rosecrans
learned Of this diversion, and, not to be be-
hind his enemy in enterprise, he also start
ed for Iuka. Rosecrans had the advantage
Of distance, as he moved directly across
the country between the two sides of the
triangle, while Price had the advantage in
time.
Rosecrans moved rapidly and reached
the village-or rather what was the village
before our troops burned it, just as the en-
emy's rear guard were leaving This was
in the afternoon of Friday Our army,
but eagerly sought the foe. They found
him two miles east Of Iuka in the direction
of the river, and here commenced the bat
tie which has ended so gloriously. As
there was but an hour before darkness
would settle upon the earth and cover, as
a mantle, the contending armies, it was
not deemed advisable to bring on general
engagement.
There was skirmishing, first on one side
then on the other, and the two armies hav-
ing surveyed each other, like two men pre-
pairing for a pugilistic encounter, seeking |
each their advantage, laid down upon the |
battlefield and slept. To the weary SOL
diers, sleep with her healing wings, came |
tripping through the sOmbre night. They |
reveled in sweet dreams of home and dear |
ones left behind. To how many of these |
brave men would the morrow prove the oc-
casion Of that slumber which knows no |
waking.
At daybreak the fight was renewed and
continued vigorously till noon, when the
line, wayering under a vigorous /
attack, gave way. Our forces bravely fol- /
lowed up their advantage, and soon the /
rebel army broke and ran in wild cOnfu-
sion.
Our artillery hurled a deadly storm of
FIRE upon the fugitives, and the cavalry
what it had begun. The enemy
were beaten, demOralized and badly scat
tered.
The Union army is now in pursuit.
Two rebel Generals were placed hors de
combat. General Little is killed and Gen
,ral Whitefeld is wounded and a pris-
1ner.
The Union loss is large-probably four or
i've hundred in killed and wounded Of
he casualties nothing more is known.