The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-02-16

Van Bursn, the rad rms through val
. Lev In which there arc few farms, alter
: mating With low hills and ravines, cover.
ed with thick woods and brush.
Over this road . rsnning fight will
small arms took placs without much dam
! age occurring to either party Reaching
large mound ut the base of tho frs,
mountain--the commencement of thu
Boston Mountains, proper-she enem,
placed his artillery upon II in position
|. covering ths road. From thin positior
he sought to prevent my force from pro-
ceeding up the valley and approaching the
Mountains. Directing two howitzers an
\ der Lieut.. Updyke to the right upon
by road, they quickly obtaired n good po
si,ion in the enemy's flank, while Rabb's
battery opened upon them in front. They
we're soon forced to abandon the high
mound and seek the side sud top of the
mountain, where they made determined
resistance. Their artillery was posted
on the crest OF the mountain, while their
mounted riAsnen were dismounted and
their whole force massed on the sides
and top ofthe mountain, which were Gov
cred with scattered timber. and but lit
tie underbrush
The nature Of the groud was such that
| conld not use my artillery to any advan-
tage, and the mountain could not be To-
ken in any other way, except BY storm.
| accordingly ordered up the Kansas cd.
and dismounted them; they charged up
the steep ACTIVITY 10 the advance, under
the command Of Capt. s. J. Crawfo and
Capt. A. P. Russell Major Fisk having
been wounded by piece of shell early 10
the day !; mex. followed the Sd Indian reg.
iment. (Cherokees, under the commsnd
of Col. Phillips, and its ether iad OIL
GERS, Lieut.. Col. Downing and Major
Foreman, voluntarily assisted by Major
Van Antwerp, Of my staff and the 18th
Kansas, under the command of ito field
officers, Col. Ewing. 1t. Col. Moonlight
and Major Plumb The resistance of the
rebels was stubborn and determined. The
storm Of lead and iron hail that came
down the side Of the mountain, both IRON
their small arms and artillery, was terrif-
ic, yet most of it went over our heads
without doing US much damage. The
regiments just named, with Wild shout,
rushed up the steep activity contesting
every inch Of ground and steadily push
ing the enemy before them until the crest
was reached, when the rebels again fed
In disorder. -Four howitxers and Rabb g
battery were now brought up the noun-
tain and the pursuit renewed the Sd In
dian and lth Kansas regiment, on the
right and left of the road, advancing in
line through the woods, while the four
howitxers occupied the road ia front, with
the Kansas Cd and 9th, snd Rabb's bat
terry in their rear. About every half
mile the enemy made stand, when the
four howitgers aud the 18th Kansas and
Sd Indian would as often put them TO
fight, leaving more or less of their dead
and wounded behind them.l Thus the
fight continued for some three miles, I'm.
I'll on descending partially from the noun
tain into valley, the Cove Creek road,
leading from Fayetteville 70 Van Bursu,
was reached At the point where it inter-
sects the road from Cane Hill to the last
named place. At this point the enemy
again brought his artillery into requisl-
lion. Ii was now near shutdown. and
darkness must soon put an end to the pur-
suit.
Dows the valley in front of Us the
ground appeared adaptcdto the use of cav
llry to good advantage, and | determined
10 make IN effort to capture their artil-
cry, Of which they had six pieces. A largs
Force of their best cavalry was acting ~
rear guard, with a portion Of their artillery
ust in front of them. Waiting for my
cavalry TO come up, called for volun-
lcers to make charge Three compa-
Mes of the Kansas Sixth, nearest at hand,
promptly to the call, and un-
Ter command OF their three field officers.
Col. Judsoa, 1t. Col. jewell and Major
Campbell dashed on to the rear of the
rebel column, cutting and shooting them
down with sabres, carbines and revolvers.
The charge continued for about half
! mile down the valley, to Point vherel
I converged in funnel shape. termina u
ing in marrow defle. Al this point 81
arge body Of rebels we're Ia ambush, in
'front.' and upon the fHnks, vhSss cavalry
could not approaoh. with their battery
Also masked in front. As soon a. the
party We vers pursuing passed through
Ihs de6le, they opened on 40 a most de-
structivc FIRE. which for moment eaus-
I'd my men TO recoil and give back, In
spite u my own efforts, and those of other
officers " rally them. Whereas, il they
had, after receiving the enemy's FIRE,
pressed on two or three huadred yards,
We could hare secured in i momept more, |
What We % msch coveted, the enemy'sI
artillery. $3.50 n
Emboldaned By their success in de-
leading she de6le. and checking our ID
ssbee. they raised wild ysn and ad-i
yapcsd tcwsrds AZ. With t6s nd Of Col, 4
Judson, Major Campbell 4asA Captains