Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-07-30
Correspondents Of the Cincinnati Gazette
MORGAN AND HIS RAIDERS.
NATIONAL FLEET ON OHIo RIVER,

BURLINGTON ISLAND, Monday, July 20. !
Burlington Island lies in the Ohio
River close to the Ohio shore, about
thirty-five miles above Pomeroy, and
was chosen by the rebels as place
of crossing into Virginia, on account
Of the shoals between it and Banner.
hassett's Island, twenty miles above.
They had doubtless been well advised
of the movements Of our forces sent
from all points to either head them of
or keep them confined to the only
route eastward for them, until they
reached the mountainous region and
our frontier.
Our gunboats, viz: Moose, flag
boat) Reindeer, Springfield, Naum-
keag and Victory, in command of
Lieut.. Commander Leroy Fitch, were
patrolling the river from an accessible
point below Ripley to Portsmouth !;
but as soon as it was definitely ascer-
tanned that Morgan was pushing east
ward, the Moose, towcd by the Imperi-
al, started up stream, followed at prop
err distances by the other boats. The
Moose made the foot of Burlington Is
land on Saturday night, and remained
until next morning, without changing
position, on account of dense fog.
The rebel force made the shore op-
posite and above the Island, as before
stated, at two o'clock, and took posi-
ton under cover of artillery, in an ex-
tensive corn and wheat field skirted
by hills and woods on it's north and
east sides. The position was good
one, and might have been held to ad-
vantage for much longer time than
it was, but for the cooperation of the
gunboat Moose, the only one of the
feet which arrived in time to partici-
pate.
The rebels met us in solid column,
and moved in battalions, and at the
first fire repulsed our advance, which
was too far ahead to be assisted by
our artillery. This was the best op-
portunity they had to make q success
ful fight, but we fell back to bring for
ward our artillery. and the enemy did
not seeem to care to follow up the
advantage. During this encounter.
Captain Jno. j. Grafton, of General Ju-
dah's staff, became separated from the
advance and narrowly escaped cap
ture, by shooting, as he represents,
the rebel cavalryman who seized him.
He was dismounted, and being left on
the ground, made his way with con-
siderable difficulty to the river, where
he hailed the Moose and got aboard.
Meantime the fight progressed, but in
q dcsultory manner, until our artillery
got into position and our lines were
drawn closely around the enemy. A
furious onset was made on our side,
and the rebels were driven over the
field eastward. and sought the shelter
of the woods beyond.
The rebels had their artillery placed
on the highest elevation on the east.
and completely commanded the Ponce
roy road, over which General Judah's
force came, filing along unaware Of
the close proximity of the enemy.
No more fortunate circumstance
COutu nave tTouSpIcu ioi Iuc Ouiou
force than the escape of Capt. Grafton
to the gunboat Moose, for he pointed
out to Lieut.. Commander Fitch the ex-
act position of the rebels, and enabled
him to so direct his guns az to throw
shell in their midst. The Moose is
armed with several "a FOUNDER Dali
gren guns, the most accurate and eff
fective gun in the service for opera
ton against exposed bodies of men,
and on this occasion the weapon did
not belle its character. A dense fog.
however. prevailed, which prevented
Lieut.. Fitch doing as great execution
in the rebel works as he desired. but
his shots from the larboard and for.
ward guns told, and an extensive scat
tering took place. The Moose opened
at I o'clock, and as the rebels were
driven she kept steadily moving up
stream, throwing shell and shrapnel
over the heads of our lads into the |
ranks of the enemy.
1t now became evident that the reb- |