The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-08-06
LETTER FROM HELENA.

The following letter, containing fuller
particulars Of the late fight at Helens
than we have yet received is written, BIZ
ore of our citizens now in Helena, to his
wife in this place. 1t was not written for
publication but we have kindly been per.
United to make use of it:
HELENA, ARK, July 90, 1864.
! "Theslast letter | wrote you was on the
sSth, day before yesterday, it was written
IN the morning. We had a, the same
time scouting party of four hundred
and fifty men detached from the Goth
and 10th, and two guns from Capt. Lamb.
ki's battery, formerly commandant of Fl.
Curtis, all colored troops, under the com.
mand of Col. Brooks. of the 56th-
brother to Rev. Jos. Brooks, with whom
you are acquainted, supported by one
hundred and Fifty men from the 18th Ill.
cavalry, left this place in the afternoon Of
the Goth, and marched all night and halt.
ed at Big Creek, some 20 miles west Of
this, early on the morning of the 26th fer
breakfast, with orders then to form
junction with the cavalry, dc. But before
they had refreshed themselves, they were
almost Instantly attacked from ali sides.
being completely surrounded by some
100 men, under the command of Dob.
bins and Shelby.
The lighting continued from six O'clock
until after ten, when the cavalry succeed
ed in cutting their way through to the
cclored boys, just at time too when the
rebels were receiving achievements and
we're masslng for general charge. Our
men beng situated in such position thew
could not retreat until the cavalry made
an opening for Them
There we're a number of officers in
this engagement that had seen much hard
service. but say this was the most stub.
born aud hardly contested fight ever thew
we're engaged in. The men being pretty
well protected behind logs, trees &c., thew
did not suffer SO severely as did the off. |
GERS. Col. Brooks was killed early in IN.
light. receiving two shots, and lived some |
two hours. The Surgeon of his repi-
ment, Dr.. Stoddard, was instantly killed |
while dressing his wounds. Also Adi'tl
Pratt, of the Goth, who was rational some
two or three hours after being shot through
the heart. He sent word to his fr;.nde
tkat he died with his face toward the en-
envy, fghsng for his country.
The loss to our regiment is irreparsble
tbs place cannot be supplied fully. Capt
Lsmbki was shot in the head ,ery soon
after the engagement commenced. He
has been In the service since the com
mencement Of the war. He went ont
With Tsylor's celebrated battery of Chi.
;ago. He leaves family. and was one
,f the best artillery men in the west. and
vas educated and talented. loved and es-
'eemed by his command. The places Of
he four heroes cannot be supplied sue.
,essfully.
After being reinforced BY the cavalry.
hey commenced retreating for Helena.
There being two roads, they took one and
ne rebels the other and got ahead Of our
orces and interrupted them, when an.
'ther terrific encounter occurred within
lev miles of town. Our boys fought
Ike Turks all the time aud succeeded in
'utling their way through, and getting
q with most all of their trains, wounded
nd killed, and at the same time inflicted
ne severest chastisement on the rebels.
illing and wounding great many, which
Tas confirmed by some six prisoners, and
think Lieutenant who was captured
hey suffered severely. l.
Our officers aud men all immortalixed
themselves. There never wae better or
arder fighting, and the men were hand.
ID we'll.
Capt. Ranney and Lieut.. Tellen cover.
. themselves Ill over with glory. The