The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-04-01

wade Hampton's Attack ON XII
patrick.
After the men had gone into camp, Gen
Hampton sent for his off GERS and arranged
Gen. Wheeler WAS to have the right ans
right center; Gen. Young was to have th'
left center, and Gen. Butler The left. Theil
lines were formed in q circle, almost envel'
oping our camp. In this order they moved
their main force within six hundred yarde
Of our camp, advancing their skirmishers
to within one hundred and fifty, and some
times to within fifty yards of our camp
fires. Our men lay wholly unconscious OF
the presence OF the enemy or Of danger,
supposing, of course, the pickets-if there
were any cause for alarm-would rouse the
camp. but they, poor follows, had been
placed in the center OF Wade Hampton 8
lines, and they were all ssgObbled'' in five
minutes after they had been assigned po-
eitions. The rebels rode up in blue clothes,
with bundles OF forage tied to their horses,
and were Of course taken for our own men
who had just been sent out for forage. Ev-
cry man was captured and disarmed. In
the morning, at four o'clock, reveille was
sounded by our mon. Immediately after,
Glen. Wheeler moved to the attack on the
right, with Gen. Young advancing on the
center. The men were aroused from sleep
by the fire Of the enemy's skirmishers.-
Gathering their carbines, and rushing out
in nothing but their night clothes. they
drove Gen. Wheeler back. The voices OF
our offices could now be distinctly heard
for pursuit, supposing of course It had on
~ been small party attempting to sur
prise ns; but before the officers could rally
the men, Gen. Butler rode on to repair the
left, the line Of battle, with drawn sabers,
literally riding down the camp Of the 9th
Ohio, and driving the dismounted men
like sheep before them. By this time the
lst Alabama Cavalry, the 5th Kentucky
Cavalry, together with the 9Th Ohio, had
eral Butler and to drive General Young
back, but they were again attacked in the
rear by Wheeler, and turning they
checked him. From this time the fighting
became desperate. Every man was q
hero and every officer Colonel. It became
u hand-to-hand encounter. Six times we
were driven from our camps; and six times
they were compelled to give them up
At this state of affairs Lieut.. Stetson
crawled from beneath the house where he
had had his quarters, and on his hands and
knees advanced to one of his guns, which
he loaded and fred himself, moro to call
his cannoniers than for purpose of execu.
ton. Again he loads ad fres-still the AL
abamians and Kentuckians fight, not
knowing but that the guns were in the
hands Of the enemy. AT the third shot,
they tindout that it is Stetson-then such a
yell as was sent up WAS never heard be-
fore. Gen. Fitzpatrick, mounted on mule
without SADDLE, with only his drawers
and shirt on, and barefooted, he advanced,
leading some $50 TO 200 men. He was
joined by the dislnounted men, the 5th
Ohio, the Kentuckians and Alabamians,
and drove the enemy from our camp. Now
the fight was transferred to headquarters.
There was still force fighting Wheeler in
the rear, and sharp contestgoing on upon
the flank. The rebels now with drawn sa-
bres returned to the charge, and swept
down toward the camp, bur were met with
such shower of bullets they are hurled
our men following until they
reached tho battery; both guns were
opened on the rebels, who then charged to
take the battery, and reached within twen-
~ yards, whore they were again stopped
by the fire of the guns and small arms.-
Still charging, they came up to within four
feet of the muZzle of the guns, when horses
Gnd riders go down together. Now they
move column around the house to take
the guns in the rear, but Stetson has no.
ticed the movement, and gives them the
contents OF the pieces once more. At this
tney move of1-Stetson firing, carbines fir
ing, and general yell all round.
wEAr HE GOT RY 1T.
The fight is ended. Now for the results:
The rebels left dead upon the field 72 off,
cers and men, about 100 wounded, and lM
wounded at Fayetteville. Every house
along the road was full of killed aud
making their actual known loss
over GOO. Probably 800 would not be an
oyer estimate.
Our loss was, in commissioned officers, /
killed, wounded, 10 missing total 10.
ENLISTED MEN.
Killed I9I M;ss;nv ,7e