The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-08-11

Your exchanges will have furnished oil
the particulars ofthis engagement before
my letter reaches you. Enclosed find pro.
gramme of funeral escort which was carried
out with admirable effect; every appoint
ment and particular receiving the most
scrupalous and reverential attention - |
These officers. Col. Brooks of Fairfield,
Iowa, seth U. s. colored Infantry; Sur
geon Stoddard, OF EddyviHe, 56th U. s.
colored Infantry; Capt. Lembke OF U. s.
colored artillery and adjutant Pratt from
Keokuk, I believe. of the Goth U. s colored
Infantry were all shot down in our sharp
engagement with part of Shslby's forces.
under Dobbins, on Big creek, last We'd
nesday morning. The evening previous
they lcf: Helena, In all some 800 men, with
two pieces Of artillery. Marched during the
night. and at daylight reached Big creek. a
tributary of White river; at---Ferry,
thus assured along the route that no rsha Ii
had been seen in the vicinity for soma days.
Part Of the force crossed Big creek and
went out mile or two in expectation Of
finding the enemy's camp. Failing in
this they returned, stacked their arms near
the creek bank with an open patch ofsome
four acres in front of them. and field of
corn beyond. About sunrise, while many
of the boys were pulling roasting ears the
rebels charged on our men from the right
and left, up and down the creek. Our ar
tillery was run out across the open square
s. as to sweep the roads coming in toward
the ferry from two directions along the sides
of the corn field. The men seized their
arms and rushed out upon the open ground
to protect their wagons &C., formed hol-
low square, lay down on the one side be-
hind couple of logs and stood uncovered
upon the right. They fought him repeated-
y, repulsing most desperate charges. until
near noon. @
Colonel Brooks was the first officer to fall.
Adjutant Pratt ran to his assistance, holding
his revolver in the air, when he was shot
through from the right side to the left
Surgeon Stoddard turned Immediately ia
assist his Colonel and while STOPPING over
him was shot through the head. Captain
Lembke sighted his piece for another sho,
and, turning to correct one of his battery
boys for some prank, with smile on his
face received a shot in the head which LIN.
tN - ,vugur desperately and
with GOODNESS, one company averaging 76
rounds. They repulsed charge after charge
Of the rebels, who shouted at them "now
we've got you. you black Yankees" "no
Quarter" &c &c. Captain Bussey Of Keo-
kuk tells me his boys called back 1--WE want
no quarter" "Come on and give us chance
at you" Meantime some 40 Of the 18th
III. cavalry, (who had been sent down to
GLANDS Landing some sixty miles below
here (by way of the river) on Steamboat
"Dove" escorted by as of our Co. G, under
Captain BENJAMIN Owen) had pushed out
from the Mississippi to get in rear Of where
they supposed the rebels to be encampsd,
crossed Big Greek, and were some nine
miles distant from the Infantry and artillery
when they heard the firing, they pressed as
rapidly as possible to their support, recross.
ed Big Greek and got to the vicinity of the
fight about 9 o'clock a. m, but were 80 har.
assed by the rebs at every turn that they
could do but little for our side. About noon
however, distributing their force in squads
at intervals along one Of the roads, small
part of the force charged in through the
rebel lines. Instantly the dsrkies turned
their guns on the rebs who had gained pos.
ltion between their rear and the Creek, their
shot appeared to ring out louder and more
frequent than before. and the bushwhaokers
had to give way. The cavalry men directed
them to "get out Of there as quick as posi-
ble." They gathered their dead officers and
most Of their wounded comrades--placed
them in wagons, gathered here and there
the surviving mules and, with their artillery
made their way as best they could, fighting
as they went toward Helena. They had to
repulss the rebels at different points on
their march, and just back here by the Polk
Plantation. made three charges before thew
could cut their way through, this within six
or seven miles of town. The guerrlllas fol
lowed them to within four miles of our camp.
Capt. Owen and his men of the 47th Iowa
returned in charge Of the Boat. The cav.
airy, artillery and Infantry came in last, in
the afternoon, and all was busy prepare ton.
Our regiment furnished the grand guard
the day following; the citizens of Helena
most Of whom are traitors were exultant, and
as we marched through the streets with so.
Der step and arms reversed, offering the last
sad tribute of regard to the remains of our
dead brothers, some were foolish enough to
manifest their Internal glee. One old scoun.
drel remarked that ut was good for them"
referring to the officers whose remains were
being borne past-and expressed the hope
that all the white officers connected with
colored regiments might be served the same
way. "What's that you say" demanded a
black soldier at his side-and instantly
knocked him down; great excitement was
raised-the traitor was beaten almost to
death, and General Buford riding up and
learning from one of our officers what he
Ill -