The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-11-14
From the ed iowa Cavalry.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Nov. 4, 1856

From the I'd iowa Cavalry.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Nov. 4, 1863.
EDITOR HAwK-EYE:-Being just in from
the 'scene of action" will devote few
moments this evening to let them know
how their friends in this quarter are carry
ing themselves.
The rebel General Chalmers has called
upon us again, and we have had quite a
game of "ball'' with him. He commenced
menacing the Railroad between this place
and Corinth, about the LIST of this month.
Our Regiment left Memphis at 2 o'clock
a. m. of the I'd inst. and moved up the rail-
road as far as Germantown, where we re-
manned until about 10 o'clock a. m. of the
Sd. when we moved on up to Colliersville.
The last two miles Of this movement was
made at ''gallop march," and well for
that place that it was, tor when we reached
there we found that the pickets of the 9TH
Illinois cavalry, who alone garris0ned that
point, were already driven in. The tents
Of the 9TH Illinois had been dropped, and
most of the men had taken to the fort, with
the feeble hope of being able to hold out
there until help arrived.
Although, as stated above, our Regiment
moved at ''gallop march," so close were
the s'rebs' thai we had not time to COM
plete formation of a cline of BATTLE" before
the firing commenced. We took our posi-
ton along the railroad, the eight rife COM
panies in the centre, and the four sabre and
carbine companies on the TANKS; The for
mer being dismounted, with horses sent to
the rear in charge of numbers four. In this
way the rifiemen were enabled to get pro-
lection from the embankment made by
the builders of the road. All this trans
PRED much quicker than 1 can pen it,
And now the fight commenced in earnest.
In addition to our rifles we had two pieces
cf 1o1 Nv ID T
Reed, in the centre. These cannon opened
with great rapidity and telling effect, and
the rebels, ignorant Of the fact that there
were any forces there but the 7th Illinois
cavalry armed with carbines, determined
to possess themselves of these guns, and
for that purpose came down upon them
with one Of those sweeping charges which
are terribly grand beyond the power Of pen
to describe. They were led by Col. George
formerly General George of Mississippi
militia, now Colonel in the regular Confed-
crate army,) and but a glance, of their
swiftly advancing lines was necessary to
tell that their leader was man of no mean
power as cavalry officer. But valor could
not avail them now, for they were attempt
viz: to successfully charge Regiment
armed with five shooting rifles and re-
volvers, giving eleven balls to the man
without loading. I will not attempt to give
the reader an idea Of the scene as the char
cling columns came within range of the
rifles, but simply state that our boys, hug
ging the embankment of the railroad, gave
them not one, two or three vollies, but a
continuous sheet Of fire and lead, until con-
WINGED of the impossibility Of accomplish
ing their object; they broke and left the
field as fast as they had entered it. Col.
George, Lieutenant, and two men, came
through our lines. The Colonel, Lieuten-
ant, and one of the men, were captured,
the other man when ordered to surrender,
responded, ''No, I'll see my Government
id first. "All right" said the fellow,
who ordered him to surrender, and in
stantly shot him (the rebeD dead. Gen.
Georges horse had five balls in his neck
when captured,
The enemy now tried to retrieve their
fortunes by a charge farther to the left, but
with no better success. AS ii satisfied with
charging, they dismounted, and came upon
our extreme left, sheltering themselves by
the trees, and taking in Indian style. Be-
ing foiled here, they abandoned the at
tempt, mounted their horses, and made for
Cold Water, at the top of their speed. The
fight had lasted three Lours, without a
moments intermission. Putting spurs to
our already weary beasts, we followed
them to Cold Water, where getting rein
forcements with artillery, they made ano-
Their stand, aided and protected by the
river. Here another sharp fight Of an hour
ensued. This fight occurred after dark,
the combatants firing at the blaze Of each
others guns. Fineing it impossible to
push them farther, sheltered as they were
by both river and darkness, we moved of
to neighboring plantation, where we
could get feed, and camped for the night.
This morning, November 4th, Col. Hatch
left Colliersville with the 9th and 7th Illi-
nois cavalry and the Sd West Tennessee
cavalry, intending to join in the I'd Iowa
and press the retreating foe to the wall and
compel them to another fight, if possible.
With what fortune he has met know not,
as was sent back to Memphis from Col
liersville.
The Federal loss in both fights yesterday
was seventeen, of which two were killed
| fourteen wounded, and one missing. OF
the wounded, Nathan Patterson of NJ Co.
has since died.
The casualties of the I'd Iowa were as
| follows:
K1LLEp.Franklin Byland, L Co.; Chas
Brown, I Co.
WoUNDED-Nathan Patterson, NJ Co..
since dead, Capt. Horton, A Co., hip Sc.
verely; Lieut.. James Crawford. l. Co..
right lung severely; Corp. Thomas Dulin
L Cot, face severely; Private James Reed
l. Co., leg braken by ball; Corp. Wallace
3 Co., leg; Corp. E. B. Chamberlin, i Co..
DTedS, severely: ITlNdtc y. -. oteeI, w.
leg slightly; Private Edward Perry, Co..
Private MILAN Heinly, G Co., face Sc
verely.
1 could not learn the rebel loss. They
left sixteen dead and four MORALLY woun.
ded on the field of the first fight. Most o.
their wounded got off either into neighbor'
ing houses or wagons, which the rebels
brought with them, as they said, for the
purpose Of conveying away the plumber
they Uere going to capture, in the camp o.
the It'll Illinois cavalry. failed to Learn
the number of prisoners captured. GU,
Company captured fifteen. They had sever
regiments engaged, and citizens along the
line Of retreat told us that they bore away
Gen. Richardson severely if not MORALLY
wounded. Col. George says that Gen
Richardson was in the first charge leading
the right in person. PIERCE.
DREAMING IN CHURCH.-At Ballstor
Spa, New York, on Sunday afternoon, ia
tigued with his long journey, a wagner
with his son John, drove his team into
barn, and determined to pass the Sabbath
in enjoying season of worship with thu
good people of the village. When the TIM
l e. Toh al