Nebraska advertiser., 1863-01-17

name do not remember; Gen. Cooper
having raised his spirits so high, by that
ancient and we'll established method
known as pouring spirits down." that
his body grew dizzy with viewing the
sublime height to which they had arrived.
By easy marches we reached Rhea's
Mills, on the evening of the 29th of No
vember, and pushing on to Cane Hill
eight miles distant, attacked the rear
guard Of the enemy on the morning Of
Sunday the 30th the main body having
retreated before we came up. We had,
however, quite a running fight Of some
seven miles, during which the enemy at
tempted to make a stand on the road
leading to Van Buren,: but were charged
upon BY the I'd and 18th Kansas and LIST
Indian. Here We had a short but, severe
engagement, and compelled them to fall
back among the mountain, and it being
now quite dark it was impossible to fol-
low them. We lost about forty in killed
and wounded, among the former was Col.
Jewell, and the latter Col. johnson, of
the 9th Kansas.
Here we went into camp on the hills
surrounding the picturesque little town of
Cane Hill, where we remained until
Sunday morning, the 9TH inst. Mean
while the enemy was constantly receiv-
ing large reinforcements, and our Gen.
was aware, through his scouts, that they
designed to attack us but from what
point was unable to determine. The ar
my, however, was kept constantly pre-
pared for any movement which might be
made by the rebels. Friday and Satur-
day the skirmishing between the pickets
was incessant, and on Saturday evening,
about FIVE o'clock, our pickets were re-
infOrced by several companies of the Kan
sas I'd, and Co. H, of the 18th, and quite
a little fight took place, in which we had
five wounded and the enemy lost twenty
one killed and wounded.
Early Sunday morning the skirmish-
ing was renewed among the mountains,
but it was soon perceived hat the fight
on the part Of the rebels was but a feint
to cover the operations of the main body,
which had passed up the road leading to
Fayetteville, with the design of Ouifank-
ing Gen. Blunt, and cutting off cur trains.
Gen. Blunt had a strong cavalry force
posted on that road, to keep the enemy
in check, and also to advise him of their
movements; but by some blnnder they
allowed a column of the enemy, $4,000
strong, to pass them without opposition,
and neglected to inform Gen. Blunt until
late in the morning. The General then
orde red the 9th Cavalry, under Colonel
JudsOn, to fall upon their rear, which he
did, causing a delay, enabling General
Blunt TO withdraw his division from Cane
Hill. Meanwhile Col. Judson was him
self attacked in the rear, by another
column Of Secesh, and fell back to his
division, which reached Rhea's mills
about l clock in the afternoon. Ere
this time the thunder of the artillery
plainly told that the enemy had met
Herron's troops, and that a desperate
struggly was taking place, some six miles
further up the road 10 Fayetteville
Cloud and Weer's ~brigades, Of the first
division, moved rapidly to the scene of
action, and took up their line of battle
The enemy were formed in a dense
wood, and the 10Th and 18th Kansas were
sent into the wood to engage them until
our arrangements could be Completed
Robb's, Aliens and Hopkins batteries
were formed in a field, in front of the
rebels, supported by tee 18th Kansas
The right wing of the 1lth. under Capts.
Crawford and Russell, was shortly after
ward ordered to the left of the 10th and
18th Kansas. Three companies of the
I'd Kansas, and the 1st Indian, were
formed on the left of the right wing of
the 18th. Here the 1st Indian, under
the command of Lieut.. Col. Wattles,
made a most gallant charge ; penetrating
the enemy's lines further than any other
regimen; in the field. In fact they went
so far that one of the Iowa regiments,
mistaklng them for Secesh, poured into
them two volleys, which obliged them to
retire in order to save themselves from
their friends. Col. Wattles did excellent
service with his Indians. and worked them
exceedingly well and rapidly, consider
ing that every order had to go through
an interpreter before it could reach them.
Capt. Tum-tus-te- nuc- chup-co galIantly
held his ground-fring his rife and then
his six shooter, and when the enemy had
advanced to within twenty PAGES of him,
he threw the empty revolvers at the fore