Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-01-08

issue his emancipation proclamation on the
first Of January. With this knowledge be.
fore him, il is generally thought here that
the President will not be rash enough to
carry out his project, and thus prejudice
the hopes Of the Union cause, by the loss
OF SO large a prop.
Letter from a Belmont Boy with
Gen. Blunt.
Three days rations and off without our
train revealed that fight was on hands. -
Gen. Blunt with his Division was about ia
strike blow. Early 9th November, VIC
took up our line Of march, and on the 18th,
ut j O'Clock, A. ~, came upon the enc my
at Cane Hill, Arkansas, and gave him battle.
Cane Hill and Boonsboro, about mile
apart, have dna natural position for q
fight, being surrounded by high hills. The
enemy has taken his position OH an eleva.
ton and was shelling our advanced battery.
An hour passed and other of our troops
reached the field and he fell back from enc
elevation to another, gradually retiring be-
fore US. We pursued, fighting with Artil-
lory, until the enemy had been driven seror,
al miles, when small arms were brought
into requisition. The pursuit continued
until the enemy had fallen back about ten
miles, when it was ended by him bringing
in flag Of truce. We lost about twenty
five in killed and wounded-the enemy's
loss not known Their force was estimated
at six thousand ours was not SO great.
Cane Hill contains College Building, not
now in use, and alarge mill--signs Of former
The Secesh found this an ad.
vantageous position both for forage and for
hence it was favorite resort
The necessaries Of life among our Secesh
brethren are scarce, and mills are quite im.
portnnt to them. We returned to Caue
Hill the next day aud there encamped. =
On the End December our scouts reported
the enemy advancing upon us strongly re.
enforced from Fort Smith, accordingly on
the morning Of the sth, eur teuts were
struck, our wagons baded, our horses sad
died aud geared ready for an attack, should
one be made. The 4th. 5th and 9Th passed
ln the same way, skirlnishing going on dur.
ing the time. On the morning OF the 7th,
sklrInlshing as usual on our front but no
general engagement ensued. Sunday the
7th about nine o'clock, A. NJ, we were or
dered to march ut double quick, leaving our
position as the enemy were enleavoring to
fall upon our rear and cnt off our retreat,
his skirnishing in front being only a feiDt
to hide his truo movements. We wore ex
pccting re.inforcements inthe. direction of
our rear. After marching some seven miles
We heard tho roar of Artillery and gathered
at once that the enemy had fallen upon
them and were fighting tholn. We hurried
to the scene OF action and Immediately en-
gagged the enemy, who had been fighting
the U, ). forces under Gen. Heron with
vast odds against him for several hours
The enemy were situated in u wood and on
an elevation, we In the open helds below.
The battle had been raging with great fnrv.
charges had been made, cannon taken md
re taken. Our arrival was opporrune. A
ielay Of a few hours and our re inforce.
nenls would have boon captured. at Iesst
defeated. Our men had fought brayeIy'
Snt their hearts wero sinking within them,
',"c:y ,Pee'T%'v y" army approaching on
neir leit hank; t ~ the enemy, they think
,,-tneg are Jl'nha"g ~, shall we open upon
mem 40, says Heron, lot them fire the
irst shell, and then It will DO time for us to
ire, we open upon the enemy and our
men are relieved, their hearts are encour.
'ged. Infantry and disinounted Cavalry
re sent into the wood 20 drive the enemy
'ut, then came storm Of muskctry which
ontinued Tor several hours almost without
CESSATION voiley after volley were fred in
ap'd, succession, thousands Of guns making
ne ar resound with their music, music
'Ilsewhere, but not on the held Of battle.
! was perfect hail storm, aud I doubt
nat low battles ever witnessed q more tor
loie muskctry. Our men fought desper.
lely, hW tbe solid ranks of the enemy
orced them back; Then came tho roar Of
Artillery, mingled with that Of Musketry,
zeal after peal IN rapid succession from
many guns made the place awful The
nolny desperately contended his ground and
'as cut, moved down before our bs!ohing