The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-01-03
D.ssie Of fr.srse drove i.

|
airy, who participated in the conflict It gives
some particulars of its action not before noted
in our columns:
BAs1LE F1ELD OF PRAlRIE Grows, AaK.,l
December 10th, 1852.
Nh DEAR FATHER Ny last was from Moo
dy's Springs, Missouri, and was within few
days befo.e our southwark march began. W.
started on the 4th inst from Crane Greek, and
on the 6sh got to Cane Hill, distance Of l0C
miles in three days. Our regiment marched sc
miles the last day.
The cause of these forced marches was this
Gen. Blunt had followed . email force of the
rebels TO Cane Hill, engaged and defeated them
there, when, learning that large force was ad
vanciag from Fort Smith, across the mountains
upon him, he sent far Heron and Totten, both
OF whom were then encamped near Springfield
They Immediately started. On the evening Of
the 9Th, Heron canped south Of Pea Ridge
Tossen was close behind. On the evening of tha
6ta, Herron's. Cavalry, the 1ss Iowa and 10th
Illinois were with Blunt, and his Infantry and
Artillery were at Fayetteville, 20 miles behind.
On the morning of the 7th, Blunt learned that
the rebels had passed round to bis rear, intend
ing to attack bis train: We were Immediately
ordered back to defend the uain. We had been
back but q short time, when the booming Of can
non away to our left told Us that Herroa vas
bard at work.
We jumped into the saddle and started for the
scene Of action, Blunts Infantry and Indians
close behind. The roar grew louder and louder,
and in thirty minutes, with our pistols drawn,
We went into the brush under shower of bull
lets. Our regiment was formed on the crest of
q bill in THICK brush, through which, away to our
right, l could hear the rebel commanders rally.
ing their men and preparing for charge. In
our front lively skirmish fre was kept I'D BY
our men, part of whom we're dismounted-
just then tvehowitzers, attached to the 10th
Illinois, came by on the run, unlimbered in our
front and opened fire. The rebels poured vol
ley into the guns and then by quick charge
drove back the artilerists and captured one of
the pieces. A part of the let Iowa then rushed
forward and in few minutes the cannon was
re-captured and the ground strewed with rebels
In the meantime the enemy to our right had
rallied and was advancing on our flank. Twas
at the extreme right of our Company and could
hear their tramp as they came down on u.s.
Company after Company was ordered to fall
back, and still Company was left. Capt Chase
undertook to move US on his own responsibility,
0rHarnH tn IN IL
This be did. and when we finally moved of, the
secesh ranks were within sight of our right, in
line of battle. They halted as we began to
move, probably expecting charge But this
was impossible in such brush, in tact il was
hardly possible for cavalry to 60 through the
simplest manoeuvres, to say nothing of charging.
As we moved out, the 10th, 18th and 18th
Kansas and Blunt's Indians entered the wood.
and from that time e o'clock) that ground was
the scene of as fierce fighting as any battle field
in the West. They talk of the rattle of mus.
kerry, but the sound in that grove was one con.
tinuous roar. Occasionally it would die away.
as one side or the other had to fall back, and
We could hear the crack Of the Indian rifles, and
then we knew that each one of those scattering
shots brought down rebel.
While the Infantry were thus engaged on the
brushy side hill. our Cavalry was ordered to the
support of Rabb's Battery, which had just been
planted in corn field on the prairie bottom
While drawn up in support of this Battery we
had chance to observe that part of the field
where General Heron was engaged. The
rebels we're ranged along the brow OF woody
bill, while on the open bottom below we're sta
toned the gallant divisions of Heron and Tot
ten. Nearest US was the goth Iowa, 37th I'LL
nois and 26th Indiana. Further to the left we're
the Goth Wisconsin and 10th Iows. The 10Th
Iowa and Goth Wisconsin were FIRST engaged, and
time after time did those gallant regiments
charge up the bill side, % often to DO driven
back with thinned ranks. The 37th Illinois and
2esh Indisna, veterans of Pea Ridge, and Goth
Iowa, {. new regiment, like the 18th, nobly sus-
tained their share of the engagement. Coles
and Murphy's Batteries kept up terrific fire,
disabling much of the enemy's artillery and
making grea. havoc in their ranks.
and repelled their gallant charges in every Inc
stance. Taey we're driving US slowly back,
while onr dead aud wounded were left in their
hands II was at this etage of the game that
the lst Iowa and 10th Illinois Cavalry opened
the ball GU the right, closely followed by Blunt's
Infantry and Artillery. A the fTst sound OF
Birnt's cannon came booming from the West,
our jaded soldiers sprang forward with new
vigor A moment before they seemed over
whelmed, now all we're cheered and victory was
again within their grasp. From that time till
dark the battle ragged all along the line with
fury unequalled, even at Pea Ridge Az night
closed in the firing gradually ceased and soon
profound silence prevailed throughout that
bloody field Our men lay on their arms all
night, ready to begin the fearful contest at the
break Of dawn. We could hear the rebels car
rying off their dead and wounded during the
n. Qht They refused mir amhnl n caa nor,,;,,;.,