The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-08-15

~ In Cincinnati now he cries,
MY Kingdom for q mule.
CHoRuS.-Go back, go back, go back, old scamp,
And don't be made q fool,
Your niggers they are all in camp,
i And Turchin's got your mule.
Battle Of Honey Springs.
PRIVATE LETTER FROM MAJ. GEN. BLUNT.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE FROM
TIER, IN THE FIELD, FORT BLUNT, G. N,
July 25th, IS63.-DeGr Friend: The boys
have probably written you concerning our
trip down here, and of the battle OF theJ
18th. have been pressed with official by
siness, besides being sick. This is the red,
son have not written before. My health
is quite good again, now, although the "fat
boy" has lost about thirty pounds since
leaving Fort Scott. l was taken sick on
the 14th, and on the 18th, at midnight, l
got out Of a sick bed with burning fever,
and, taking three of my staff, ferried over
Grand River, got two hundred cavalry and
two hOwitZers and twenty six-pOund guns,
marched thirteen miles up the Arkansas,
4 fOrded the river in the face of the enemys
pickets, passed down on the south side Of
the crossing at the mouth Of Grand river,
opposite Fort Blunt, expecting to come in
the rear and capture the enemy's outpost,
but they had got the scent and had "sked-
added l had learned that Cooper was
on Elk Creek, twenty-five miles south of
the Arkansas with six thousand men, and
three thousand men from Fort Smith, when
they expected to move upon this place. I
Immediately commenced crossing my for
ces at the mouth of Grand river, ferrying
the infantry on boats I had built when
arrived here and found the river high.
The column moved from the south bank
about 10 o'clock, P. NJ, less than three
thousand strong, and twelve pieces of artil-
lery, the latter of very poor quality.
At daylight came up with their advance
H.,
them in. kept all the time with the adj
vance guard and watched and Superintend-
ed every movement, as l was playing a
desperate game, and did not dare trust any
one but myself With small party went
forward and reconnoitered their position
with a glass. They were formed on the
north side of the timber of Elk Creek,
which formed partial semi circle, the
road running through the center. The tim
Der here was quite brushy and formed a
complete cover for them, but had watch
ed them take their position, and knew the
'game" was there, and, as the prisoners
have since told me, they thought they had
very "soft snap when they saw us ap-
preaching and intended to ''gobble" us up
! certain. / could not tell where their artil-
z lery was posted, as 1t was masked IN the
timber, but ] soon found out by the bark,
as my little wearied column closed up
had them halted behind a little rise of
ground TO rest and take a lunch from their
haversacks. Alter they had rested went
q back among the officers and men of the
different commands, and told them what l
expected of them. They were now about
one half mile from the rebel line.
About 10 o'clock in the morning form
ed them in two columns, one under Col.
Judson on the right of the road, and the
other under Col. Phillips on the left. The
columns were closed in mass infantry by
accompanies; cavalry by platoons and artil-
lery by sections, with the cavalry in front.
moved up this way to within four hun
bred yards Of their guns, when suddenly
deployed the column into line on his right
and left, and in five minutes my entire
force was in line of battle, covering the
! Ahole rebel front. Without hating a mo-
Dment, I moved up in line, going myself in
advance to encourage the men, and soon
my skirmishing drew their fire, and now
the fun commenced. The cavalry who
were on the TANKS, / dismOunted, and
fought them on foot with their carhines.-
Hhe attack was one of the prettiest ever
atnessed. They all moved up to the rebel
mes as cool and steady as if going on dress
parade. / encouraged them to push into
the timber and engage them at close quar-
ters, which they did with will for two
hours, The rattle of musketry and artil-
Iery was incessant, until at last their line
ave way and became rout.
They made quite a formidable stand at
the bridge on the creek and were repulsed.
Honey Springs, the headquarters of Gen.
Cooper, was two miles south OF where the
battle commenced, on the south side OF the
timber, and when they commenced their
retreat they set fire to all their commissary
buildings and destroyed all their supplies.
followed them up until my artillery hor-
| SEES could draw the guns no further, and
infantry and cavalry We're all played OUT
or the prairie in my front, and about four
o'clock %. IN. Cabell came up with his 5000
reinforcements. My ammunition was
nearly exhausted, but bivouacked upon
the field all night, determined to give them
the hest turn in the morning if they We're
not vet satisfied, but daylight revealed the
fact that they had all ''skedaddled.'
Their loss killed upon the field, which
we buried, was one hundred and fifty, and
fifteen or twenty have since died OF their
SAnds: Parties VINO nave come IN !. with 1T
yeen 300 and 400, and they all acknowledge
at they were badly thrashed. They had
Knowledge that / was in the country,
It'll they learned it in the fight. Some of
X e rebel officers when taken prisoners,
told replied that they thought that either
Rlupt or the Devil was there" 1 have
about fifty prisoners, all Texans, among
Them several commissioned officers. They
are much surprised at the treatment they
receive, rs they all expected to be murder
4
varA warm letter of thanks for the care |
had taken of his wounded and the burial
|of his dead. They continually overshot
my men, which explains the comparative
(ly small loss of our side.
One Texas regiment went in with three
m,dred men and came out with only six
". This regiment was opposed by the LIST
;olored, and the negroes were too much
br them; and let me say here that | never
law such fighting done as was done by the
nero regiment at the battle Of Horny
Spnnes. they fought like veterans, with
ceolness and valor that is unsurpassed
~ preserved their line perfect through, Ugh
q hottest of the fight, they never once
ered. Too much praise. cansot be
rded them for their gallantry. The
ton that negroes will fight is settled a.ssi
les they make better sG hsne aver w ey haS
my command. Among'ths trophies