The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-10-07

smoke now enveloped the engaging Ior-
ces, so that it was impossible to distin-
guish friend or foe dozen yards in ad-
vance, but the bullets kept pouring
around like hailstones, cutting off the
twigs of trees and throwing up the dirt
in all directions. There was no lulling
in the fire. A thousand Niagaras seem
ed concentrating their mighty sound,
while the earth fairly trembled beneath
the tread of the combatants. No words
of mine can convey proper description
Of the magnitude of the strife. The reb-
els resorted to many treacherous devices
to get within our lines, and once or twice
they appeared with Union flags. Three
desperate attempts were made 10 capture
the Iowa Fifth's stand Of colors, but it
was no go. The gallant boys who had
marched under their folds for sixteen
months have no idea of relinquishing
them to rebel hands, and they rallied and
fought and struggled with the most val
orous heroism. By this time the cart
ridges were running low, but the brave
Col. Mathies, who never exhibited more
sang froid and GOODNESS in his life, still
held them to their work. He was well
aware of their critical position, but knew
that if he abandoned the field the day
was lost. AT this juncture the 5th was
relieved by the 11lh and 26th Missouri,
who stood nobly up to the work and
poured in a murderous fire till darkness
put an end to the conflict. Gems. Rosen-
Grams, Hamilton and Sullivan, were con
tnually on the ground, exposed to a
heavy fire, urging and animating the
troops by their presence. Gen. Hamil
tons horse was killed under him, and he
also had narrow escape, minnie ball
SCATTERING his sword hit. They are en-
titled to the highest praise and confidence
OF the soldiers and people. Gen. Grant
was to effect a uncture with his division
from Cornth, but failed to arrive in time,
the rebels having obstrucled the road by
telling trees, so that his progress was
slow The rebel force consisted Of two
divisions under Gen. Price, and il was
their intention to crush us before Grant
could render any assistance. In this
they were most wofully disappointed, as
they were compelled 10 abandon the field,
leaving their dead and wounded, aud beat
a preciptate retreat for Tupello. The
actual time that our forces were engaged
was one hour and quarter, though to
those who were in the hottest of the fire
it did not seem more than ten minutes
The / III Ohio battery suffered severely;
Of one hundred and thirty men who went
into the action, but twenty are unhurt,
while nearly every horse was killed. The
enemy succeeded in capturing some Of
the guns, but they were recaplured the
next morning, with three other pieces.
When darkness put an end 10 tho con.
fljct the battle ground was occupied by
our troops, and all expected a renewal Of
hostilities in the morning. All the troops
stood TO arms, but when tie sun arose at
last clear and glorious, and the mist and
battle smoke that hung langushingly
over field and forest was cleared away,
no enemy was 10 be found. The echoes
of the challenging cannon that had been
planted in the night spoke out loud and
defiant, but failed 10 provoke reply.
The battle was ours at last, and victory
rested on the beautiful stars and stripes.
But few prisoners We're taken on the
field. They all argued that the rebel
force was much larger than ours, but
said thar il was impossible for any troops
10 Withstand our fire. The 9th Missou-
ii rebel regiment was almost annihilated,
while whole brigades were SO cut to pie
ces, that they could not be rallied again
Brig. Gen. Little was killed, while all OF
their field officers of lesser note suffered
severely. The rebel loss cannot fall
short Of eighteen hundred in killed,
wounded and missing, nd two hundred
of their dead were buried by our men on
the field. have had no msans of ascer.
tanning the total loss on our side, but do
not think that it will exceed five hun
dred. As evidence that the rebels wore
badly beaten, they left all their wound
ed and prisoners that they had captured,
at luka, not even taking time to parole
the latiel Tho whole Of their retreat
was a complete rout, and il is doubtful
whether Price can ever collect his scat.
tered forces so as to make another stand
in the State. If he is properly followed
up and not allowed to forliiy himself in
any position the war will indeed bo yir-
nall. nlnsal =, liza s..n, ,,..st l., j.ss tha,,