The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-01-16

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HrxDspA lfals 81 IewA CAV, 81
Bnn1oN bk1nAoxA M, /
Nes. 4eihs 1864. /
Adjutsnt Gsnpssl 4 Jeua: |
Sir-I have he houor % submit I'll
following sspost Of shs aolioas u ~ 31l
Iowa Vol Osy. in tho resent sanjaign
10 Missouri against the rehel fbseus con. |
,nanded BY General Price:
In pursuance Of orders I assumed CON- |
mand Of 48S men with fifteen lime on oers,
all the available mounted forces of the
regiment. and marched from camp near
Memphis, Tenn, q 2 o'clock % the
morning Of the ed day Of Sept, 1854, and
formed part Of Winslow's Brigade, With
which crossed the Mississippi River
and marched to Brownsville. Ark, where
I arrived on the 9th day Of Sept. and re-
manned with the. brigade almost without
forage for my horses, awaiting tho arrival
and fitting up Of an infantry force COM
manded by Maj. Gen. Mower until the
morning Of the 18th Of Sept. during
which time left sick in hospital so men
and one officer, when we marched with
said force via. Austin and Searcy, cross.
ing White River fifteen miles below Bates
vile, and Black River at El9in, ten miles
above its junction with White River,
bridged aud crossed TIE latter stream,
marched up it's left bank, crossing into
the State OF Missouri at or near Poplar
Bluff, turning to the east aud marched to
Cape Girardeau, No., where We arrived
on the 9th day Of Oct, 1864, embarked
on transports and moved to ST. Louis,
Mo-, where / arrived and re6tted mx,
command on the 10th and marched out
on the llth up the valley of the Missouri
River on the direct road to Iudepend-
ence, marching rapidly and constantly
until the 22d day Of Oct, when We join
ed the forces Of the Department of the
Missouri, commanded by Maj. Gen Pleas
anton and which was fighting the enemy
near Independence, No.
Winslow's Brigade being ordered to the
front that evening, my regiment not hav.
the advance was. however, dismounted,
sent to the front and Immediately engaged
the enemy ON the Kansas City road, fight
ing and driving Clarke's rebel brigade
from 5 o'clock until $50 p. m. . dis
lance of FIVE miles when my Command was
relieved; the command rested on the field
for the night in the face of the enemy,
having marched from 2 o'clock on the
night of the 2lst and without forage or
water for our animals.
Our brigade was in motion again at
O'Clock a. m. of the 23d, the 4th Iowa
cavalry and 10th Missouri in advance,
and drove The enemy, after light skirmish-
ing, to and across the Big Blue, a distance
OF two miles, to a strong position. A
brigade of the Missouri State Militia was
thrown in 10 dslodge them, but failed to
accomplish 1t; my command was dis
mounted and formed line on the right and
Ia front OF the enemy, who were posted
across an open field behind piles Of rails
in the wooos. We charged them, killing
and wounding many of their men, (cap.
turing one stand of their colors by Co. A J
and completely routed them from their
strong position, but suffered considera.
bic loss in wouoded.
Soon after, ! mounted my command
and proceeded with our brigade to the
front on the open prairie, and Joined in
gallant mounted charge against the enemy
In column of regiments, following the
10th Missouri and 4th Iowa cavalry.
which was continued through farms aud
over the prairie for FIVE or six miles,
breaking his lines and completely scatter
ing his men in sll directions and inaict-
ing severe loss upon him in killed,
wounded and prisoners. Here, aga... |
lost in both killed and wounded; and our
brigade camped for the night on the State
line between Missouri aud Kansas, fed
our hungry and jaded animals on corn
and fodder from fine field on the rich
and free soil Of Kansas, and rested fearless
of an enemy.
We marched early. constantly aud rap
idly, on the cath, in southern direction,
after retreating enemy down the line
dividing Missouri and Kansas, over ex
tensive .praifies dotted with devastated
farms and lonely chimneys which marks
the ravsges of war, before the rebellion.
and in the days Of which. it would have
been worse than fanalicism to have
prophecied that on the Gath day of Oct.
1864, the governments Of Missouri and
Kansas would unite, as they did on that
day, and drive out the defenders of AZ
rican slavery and the destroyers OF the
Government; as it was our delight to do.
uniting with the army of the border, CON.
msndsd By Maj. Gen. Curtis. We marched
without fsltering until 5 o'clock a. IN. Of
che 25th, to Traders Post on the Usage
river, where We found the enemy, and
eagerly waited for daylight.
The enemy, having been routed from
their position on the river, vas followed
up BY Winslow's brigade At a gsllop, ia
the order Of the 10th Missouri, 4th Iowa
and Sd Iowa, 4th Missouri and 7th lad
cavalry for several miles, and when ne
attempted u make stand, formed on the
open prairie in two lines Of battle. SUP.
ported BY eight pieces Of artillery. nv
command was formed in line Of battle
With thu hp,on d. T.