The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-03-22

tn BI89x DAYB fI0H3N0s
Az have said, the rebels, before they began
the now memorable battle In Benton county. Ar
Kansas, on Thursday morning, March 9Th, 1862,
we're entirely confident of success, and their
chief oncern only how 70 destroy or capture our
whole force.
Gen. Curtis anticipated an attack from the
South, and accordingly had the trains placed on
the north, under the protection Of Gen. Sigel,
with q body Of eight hundred men-thc princi.
pal Federal encampmeuts and main lines being
to the eastward and near the head and on both
Lai)cs Of Sugar Greek. Meantime, the rebel
i5rces were moving in full strength from Ben.
tonyille. whence they had proceeded from Cross
hollows, and with rapid marches were endeavor-
ing to cross the creek, and by placing them.
selves on the north to cut off our retreat
An advance of about tive thousand cavalry
reached the desired position, and made fierce
onslaught on Sigel, hoping to take possession
OF our large aud valuable train.
Sigel proved himself the right man in the right
place. lie calamity met the enemy, and while
he rcpelled their charge, prevented them from
Selling upon eur wagons The brave and &C.
complished officer seemed ubiquitous He rode
rapidly here and there; giving orders and OBJ
serving the point of attack and the situation Of
the enemy, at the same time cheering aud en-
couraging his troops.
=,
yet be was always cool, calculating and skilful;
exposing himself as common soldier, and ye:
preserving she calm judgment and fixed purpose
Of Commander-in-C Chief.
Sigels desire was to keep the communication
| open between himself and the main camp, and
the cnemy's design to cut off this avenue for re.
Inducements. They closed round him With tu-
nultuous shouts, and believed they had accom-
plished their purpose, when Sigel rushed in upon
them with his brave followers and compelled
them to give way. Sigel could not relinquish
the trains ard so be fought on, and exhorted
his men to renewed hope and courage by his ex.
| ample.
For two hours the strife went on with great
ardor on b,th sides; but it seemed as if the Fed
eralists would soon be compelled to yield There
seemed no hope for them They must become
| exhausted, and doubtless they must have done
so, had their destiny BEEN in less powerful and
expert hands than Sgers.
The waves of opposition rolled around Sigels
courageous band once more. and again the trail
torous shout went up to the sky, and swept like
note Of victory along the rising hill. Many
stout loyal heart doubtless sank when that cry
was heard; but Sgel had no thoughts Of failure.
He was fighting for his adopted country, and the
salvation of his little band, and ordering three
companies of his men to charge bayonets, the
rebel cavalry was dispersed, and the way was
open once more.
Still no achievements came, and our gal.
liant soldiers appeared contending as forlorn
hope.
About the trains the din OF strife rose louder
than before, and the rattle of musketry and the
booming of cannon sw0ke the surrounding
echoes.
ThAenemy were losing ground. They rallied
and fell with 5edoubled force on our heroic band,
t,sn h,,o Of NH had o1rao 1rv al thofr
patriotism with their blood.
The combat was hand to hand Horsemen
were dismounted, and struggled with the infant
ry, while the officers were sometimes seen de.
Tending themselves against the advancing bayo-
nets Of the common soldiers
A superhuman effort on the part of the ene-
my, and third time the Federalists were sur
rounded
Firmer and frmer were the rebels closing
round the five or six hundred braves, who were
evidently going to the wall.
The sun Of Hope seemed sinking, though that
OF Nature was shining clear from out the quiet
sky.
Sige saw the smile of Heaven, only, and would
not despond. His eye flashed, and his form ex-
banded, as the shouts of the enemy rose above
the din OF the struggle. Only one way was left:
Follow mel Numbered Sigel, and his proud
steed trampled an approaching rebel under his
h,ughty feet.
A deep. strong, earnest cry from the Unionists,
and they met the foe with the rush of determine
elton and the energy of despair.
The Secession line could not endure the shock.
1t recoiled, was thrown Into confusion, and re-
tired from position that was immoyable as an
Alpine rock.
And Sigcl was victorious with the sun still
beaming clearly out Of qniet sky
The train WI sayed In fret day 40 vo,,
The prestage Of success was established, and
the future looked blue with hope as the violets
of The early year.
THE SECOND DAYS BATTLE.
The enemy, during the night and early in the
morning, poured in from the Bentonvie road,
and gathered in heavy force to our rear, sweep
ing round to the right, and occupying both sides
OF the Keetsvlle road, position from which it
was absolutely necessary to dislodge them, or
surrender all hope OF success.
Truly, before the second days engagement be.
gan, the prospect was very dark.
Defeat seemed to stare us in the face and the
sole thing possible appeared struggle to pre-
vent too disastrous discontinue.
The way to Missouri was defended by thirty
thousand Of the enemy; and we had little more
than onc-third the number to dispute the peril
Gus passage. On the south were the Boston
mountains To the east or west we could not
go. Were we not hemucd in by nature and the
enemys
Could we longer resisty Could We say we
were contendng only for victory when the shad-
ows were frightening and deepening on our
hearts?
Gen. Cars division was sent by Gen. Curtis
to force the enemy from their position, and
about ten o'clock In the morning the battle was
renewed with increased ardor and soon the bat.
tefies from both sides were replying to each
other with death dealing voices. The main &C.
ton in the morning was to the right of our en-.
campment, and for seven hours the field WAS
hot,y contested
Gen. Carr made spirited and heavy charge
upon the enemy under McCulloch and Price. -
The musket and rife fling was very sharp, and
every few seconds the boom of the batteries burst
across the country, and the iron hail swept down
the stream of life, and filed the surgng and moi.
sy waves with spectral corpses.
The rebels reeled as we went against them,
bat their column did not break. The charge
was repeated Still the foe stood firm, opening
calling fire from two batteries whose presence
had not before been known. Our troops were
thrown into confusion and three companies of
infantry and Col Ellis cavalry were ordered to
silence the destructive guns.
Like lightning our men leaped forth prompt
to the word, and ragged about the rebel batteries
a. iaScuous WoiSts dTOunu Sneep 1OIu.
Everywhere the strife roared; everywhere the
smoke crept; everywhere the ground shook
The sunbeams glanced of from the swords and
bsyone:s; but they ceased to shine for many
eyes on that blood stained day.
Cars column advanced aud fell back and ad.
vanced again, aud beyond them, up the bill, the
cavalry and infantry were struggling to capture
the detested guns. The regiment which protec
ted the batteries met them fairly and freely, and
for half an hour, the two complaints were so
commingled that they almost failed to recognize
one another
"0ur men have the batteries" was announced
and the FedeIals rent the welk;n with their huz-
zas.
Yes, it was SO.
Throughthe blue curling vapors our men could
be seen dragging the guns after them. Ere they
had gone hundred yards, the rebels were be.
hind them struggling like Hercules for the repos.
session of the pieces
Blood streamed anew, and shouts, and groans
and prayers and curses went up with gigantic
forms of smoke into the upper air.
Appropriate incense to watt the elements of
battle to the skiee