The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-08-25
For the the GATE City
ARMY COHHESPONDEnCE.
HELENA, ARK, Aug 12.
BATTLE OF HELENA.


BATTLE OF HELENA.
The readers Of the Gate City have be-
come familiar, doubtless, with the outlines
of the sht which occurred at this point
on Independence day. Sill, few Ear
ticulars by way of completing the picture,
NIGH, be acceptable and profitable Iowa
troop. and Iowa officers occupied con
spicuous position and bore gallant part
in that glorious conflict. This is only
wha might be written Of almost every
fight 10 tie West, great and small. since
the war began. 1t will be welcome to
the loyalists of the noble Hawk.eye State
TO know that the State reputation suffered
no stain at Helena The Iowa Regi
ments here engaged, believe, have new.
er before been 10 any consider bic ac-
ton They were the 29Ih under Col.
Benton, the e6th under Col. kiterijge
and the 33l under Lieut.. Col. Mackey /;
Col Rice being in command Of the BIZ
cade comprised of these Regiments. and
the 8 ID Missouri. The So Missouri was
di,tributed 10 garrison the Fort AID bat
terie> three OF the companies acting 40
an Infantry support Of one of the bate.
ries ON the day Of the fight Early i'll the
action it became necessary TO divide the
33l wa To assist in the support of the
batteries; thus deriving Col. Mackey
and his men Of the opportunity OF accom-
plshing what they might have done had
they gone into the fight unbroken. They,
however, fought well aud lost largely
On the RENE right, the goth, SSH,
9Th Kansas Cavalry, and Sd iowa Battery
light Artillery, were posted under com
msnd Of Col. Samuel A Rice. Marina.
duke here advanced in strong force, and
for time furnished ample scope for the
exercise Of all the pluck and proves Of
which Col Rice and bis troops are mas
ters l. is but justice 10 say TINT the
Colonel did himself aud lis State great
credit on the occasion. The Goth here
suffered most, losing heavily. By the
time the Seth were brought into action
folly the enemy emed satisfied with
the taste they had of our metal and drew
off On the ltfi, | saw a member of the
33l, who was on picket when the attack
was made. Together with HIS comrades
be retired lighting and FIJI in with Co
q. 33i Mo, behind small earthwork
Here he fought Ike brave man, and fell
a. length iron u ball piercing one of his
eyes. This company was deprived Of it's
Captain early in the morning. He was
carried from the field wounded 10 tive
places. The two Lirutenauis remained
with their men in the most perilOus anC
imp 'rtent position heli by aay company
Of the entire line. The LIST Lieutenant,
Joseph W. Books, was OF Iowa, his faith.
er residing in keokuk county. The q
Lieutensbt, Moses Reed, was formerly o
heokus. They fought their compau,
with skill and bravery worthy OF all com
mendstion without covering, aud part o
the tlhe subject 10 cross IRE, they hel,
Out for about Eve hours, unrulieved ant
unsupported. After beng compelled t
TO fall back. they again rallied, and char.
ing the foe drove him Ia con usiun. Ii
this charge young Brooks fell at leas
tsenty PAGES in advance Of his men
cheering them on, having discharged fv
barrels Of his revolver upon The retreat
tng hpt.e. Ia the close Of fight, LII RI
heid m- position with bis company, am
gai1"h1il red 1i'en1 closing upon the enc
my Nhfn Bells Regiment. with ,bei
c1lors aud officers, we've all captured -
Iowa has proud record in Helena, an,
the b Of July, 1868. viii be hsllowa,
in the memories Of many household
TIE AKw TxtEpiTloK.
For some ten days past, 81 jor Geners
Seed has been here Organizing and oul
filting an expedition Tor the Interior
This column is expected to form Jun,
lion with Gen. Davidson, who is no
somew here On White River. in the neisi
borhood OF tlareudon The two aroli,
tkxs united aIs to move forward 10 Littl