American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-09-19
THE BATTLE OF IUKA.

General Price was thrice ordered by
General Bragg to move his army across
the Tennessee river at Eastport or Iuka.
On Thursday morning, the llth. be
moved his army of less than $4,000 men
from Guntown toward Iuka. By rapid
and forced marches. he arrived within
three miles of Iuka at daylight Sunday
morning. There he was informed by a
courier from General Armstrong; COM
mand, whose cavalry had attacked the
enemy on Saturday. that reinforcements
were being sent from huntsville. The
men being much fatigued were ordered
to rest, and sleep in line for thirty min
utes.
General Price. knowing that Capt.
Saunders. with his company of l2O men.
had possession of the road between Iuka
and Burnsville. and having implicit con-
fidence in that officer. had 10 fear
of renforcements from Corinth until he
should have captured the force at Burns
vile and Iuka. The column was put IN
motion on reaching this edge of town
he was astonished to hear that the en- envy,
1000 strong. with 5000 stolen negroes.
/
the night previous. He took possession
of the place. There was a quantity of
cotton and stores. The enemy came up
again on Monday, in small force, but
soon retreated.
Colonel Writ Adams and Hieman's
cavalry captured and burnt a train of
cars FIVE miles below luka.
81,
until Friday morning. when Colonel Ord
sent in a flag demanding the uncondi~
tional surrender of General Prices army.
stating that the army of General Lee
had been destroyed in Virginia Long
street and Hill. with their entire divisions.
captured that the war was now virtually
closed. and as he wished TO prevent the
needless shedding of blood. demand
ed an unconditional surrender. That he
General Price, was completely sur
rounded by an overwhelming force. and
could not escape.
General Price replied, that whenever
the independence of the Southern Com
federacy was acknowledged. her rights
respected. and the vandal hordes of the
North were driven from her soil. that
then. and then only. would he and his
army be willing and ready to lay down
their arms.
General Price. in obedience to orders
from General Van Dorm, and being
almost destitute of forage. unable TO
cross the Tennessee river. prevented from
passing down toward Corinth by the I'M
favorable condition of the country. the
enemy having possession OF the western
bank of Yellow creek, determined to
fall back to Baldwin. and there unite
with General Van Dorm.
The order to fall back was issued on
Friday morning. nine O'Clock. when no
one dreamed of an attack. On Friday
evening. at two o'clock. the enemy in
line of battle approached our outpost.
Heavy skirmishing ensued. At three
o'clock General Price ordered up the
9TH brigade. When they reached their
position they found the enemy in line of
battle holding position on a hill. The .
order was given to charge them. which .
charge drove the enemy back two hun +
dred yards into a ditch formed by the .
road from Fulton to Eastport. and directly I
under their cannon, which were masked. .
General Price had now reached the field. .
The firing had almost ceased. General .
Hebert and Colonel Martin, comm anding
brigade. with Whitfeld's legion, being
all the force in line.
General Price ordered up General
Gregg's and Green's brigades. to form on
the left, charge the enemy and press
them down on General Murray's division,
he being on the right. Before the arri-
val of their brigades. General Price
ascertained that the enemy were lying in
the road, sheltered from our artillery.
They were firing but one gun, and that
on our right.
The gallant and lamented General
Little suggested that as they seemed to
have but one gun in position. if the line
would move forward, the battle could
soon be won. The order was given.
Our men emerged from the underbrush /
in line. They were then met by as ter
rife fire from masked batteries and
concealed musBetry as was ever eneoun
n Il