The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-30


rior horses and mules, and also destroyed
an army train Of twelve wagons, which was
loaded with meat. When these companies |
returned to the main command, the line of
march was taken up, but only an advance
of ten miles was accomplished without any
event to relieve the monotony of the cOun-
try through which they were passing. The
next day at 2 o'clock a. M, they resumed
their course, which continued in south
east direction, and before camping at night
| they had taken quite number OF teams
loaded with corn and meat, which were be-
ing conveyed to the mountains.
| Up to this time the enemy had not APP
peared in sight of our forces with any con-
siderable strength. In truth our men had
taken about all the rebels who came within
reaching distance, and they were not nu-
merous. But the next day, April goth,
ness of the expedition in which they were
/ engaged, for the rebels had succeeded in
gathering together force sufficientto JUS
| tify them in making an attack on the raid
ers. Col. Straight had encamped during
the night at place not arfrom Days Gap.
Our forces had just completed breakfast
and were about to resume their march, IL
then being seven o'clock, when their rear
pickets We're attacked by a force of rebels
numbering at least one thousand, under
command of Col. Roddy. At the spot
! where our forces We're situated two roads
met, and in SO doing formed an acute angle.
1t was anticipated by Col. Roddy, that
when he reached this place he. would find
Gen. Forrest in its vicinity with his com
mand of cavalry and thus to make com
bined attack upon Col. Straight; but in this
he was sorely disappointed, for Forrest had
many miles to make before reaching the
point of rendezvous. Col Straight soon
saw that he could have matters his own
way, so without hesitation he gave the
command Forward march," and thus
i give the appearance of retiring before the
enemy. When he had proceeded about a
mile and half he found an advantageous
piece Of ground and he Immediately drew
up his men in line of battle. with the Sd
;. Ohio on the right, the S0th Illinois the right
centre, the 5lst Indiana the left CEN
tie, and the sd Indiana on the extreme
left. BY bold move, the enemy endeav-
ored to turn our left flank, but he made Il
most disastrous failure. The sd Indiana
, drove him back with great loss. Col. Rod
DIV had planted on our right a battery,
which was successfully charged by the Cd
Ohio. The fight lasted about two hours.
: but the rebels were defeated and made a
hasty retreat. According to their own ac-
acknowledgement, their loss was seventy
killed and wounded, while ours was not
quite half Of that number. Capt. Sheets,
y commanding the 51st Indiana, was mortal
: ly wounded while fighting bravely at the
$ head OF his men. Colonel Straight had
e horse shot from under him.
I The Union forces resumed their line O.
0 march, which they continued ummolestec
# until o'clock p. M, as they We're passing
# through Days Gap. Genera! Forrest, Wit
: six regiments of cavalry and several plec
= es of artillery, had reinforced Colonel Rod
n dy. and had assumed the command. Witt
o his four thousand men, General Forrest
= without delay, started after our forces, ant
it at Days Gap, he came up, with the rea
:. guard. which was composed Of the Sd Ohio
;, An attack was Immediately made, and on
r. advance. which was mile and half II
:. front, lost no time in coming to the assls
. lance of their comrades. The fight was Sc
'. we're, and it lasted until dark, when tn
a rebels ceased firing, and fell back consid
II cradle distance. The loss of the rebels
1T not known. Our loss was twenty-five XII
at ed and wounded, which includes the Adju
to tant Of the S0th Illinois, who died the mex
,e dav from the effects Of mortal wound.
re Thee cannon captured in the morning froI
e. Colonel Roddy proving to cumbersome to
ID cur men to carry along with them the
of were spiked and the wheels We're sawed
re several places, so as to render them use
st less and in this manner they were left bt
ir hind. Colonel Straight resumed his line
ne march, after having detailed the I'D Ind
k ana as a rear guard, with instructions
or harass the enemy as much as posslp
st should he follow.
t. II was not long before General Fore
wv was again on our rear, but he was compel
it ed to receive some pretty severe treatmel
Int at the hands of the Indiana boys, WI
had allowed our main force to march a eli
all lance of some two miles between the1
d. which thus gave them sufficient emporium
lis ty to give the enemy trouble without int
O. fering with or impeding the march OF t!
wv advance The Indiana boys would Oh
by mount, discharge their pieces at the foe, al
es. remount, to make ready for another nj
,at This process was repeated until they reac
l. ed a considerable bend in the road,
W. which they took advantage by marchll
on across the fields, and firing volley IN
he General Forests flank. rms Volley "
all fired near Bear creek, which is about II
his miles from Days Gap, and it resulted III
of loss to the enemy Of fifteen killed al
ort wounded, while not ore OF the India
of boys was hurt. The rear guard now JOIN
on the main body of the Union forces, WI
'od Col. Straight laid trap for the rebe
es- which would have proved disastrous
it'll them had thew deemed it advisable to co
time the pursuit. After waiting sometiI
for their appearance Colonel Straight pl
in coed on his course, until the next day
ten O'Clock, when he halted for breakfa
Durjncthe day, the expedition continued
a;- advance and although the enemy again {
ma peared III our rear, lheie "''s ~
the fighting. ,,,.,
,ed forces entered Gadsden, place on the A
.en bama river, in Cherokee county. Here
,er large number of men, horses, guns,
dsr some ammunition We're taken. On LEI
mo NO ing this place northeast direction was =.
,nS ken. and about three O'Clock IN the ait
sb- noon while our men were eating dlnn
To General Forrest again came up anu
of tackled there with much spirit.
D After a fight of two hours the enemyw
It q compelled to retire without succeeding e
the doing much danger. In this pattle 20
ro,, killed and also privates Stafford OF the
M Illinois and McWilliams of the 5lst In
also ana The rebel who killed the Solonel
Ems not live to tell of the deed he had done,
70 almost instantly after its COMMISSION
- fell pierced by sixteen bullets.
500 It now became all important for he
IS OF cess of the expedition that force sho
the enter Rome, Georgia, before The news
and the approach of Colonel Straight co
tern reach there. Accordingly, two hund
d it men, fifty from each regiment, were Sc