Iron County register., 1882-09-07

at the prospect, they sent up cheer. From
that moment every gun in thefort was called
into play. There was duel of artillery thni
lasted half an hour, at the expiration of which
time Marmaduke was obliged to withdraw
| his battery out of range of the fire from the
fort. As the Confederates retired the as.
saulting column advanced. They covered the
whole front Of the valley between the fort
and the town of Ironton, and, tapping over
the slopes of Pilot Knob, formed
| SOLID LINE, CRESCENT SHAPED,
the right half extending almost north and
south, and the left half east and west. As
soon as this great column made its appear
ance each piece of artillery in the fort was
made to speak, and the Confederates were, in
consequence, compelled to form their assault
| ing lines under fire. In this emergency the
order to charge upon the fort wns given with
out delay. While the column advanced all
guns in the fort were brought to bear, and as
the attacking party neared the fort the infan-
| try and cavalry, that had retired from their
positions early in the day, opened fire. The
| scene was of an interesting character. The
little fort seemed to be belching forth sheets
of flame. The artillery men stood to their
guns and fought like demons. Now and then
gunner fiinched, but officers stood by and
| rallied the men. Occasionally an artillery
man would express desire to 'get ammuni-
ton, but was dissuaded by the officer saying,
"Stay up there; Wen keep you supplied -
Every man able to fight was compelled to
stand up and face the enemy. The assault
Ing column, after q brief fight, saw there
was little chance Of getting into the fort, as
the ditch in front OF it was so wide and deep
as to form an impossible batrier, in view of
the furious and unceasing fire. The first as
sault ended in the attacking party retiring
short distance, where they rallied and aided
by fresh troops advanced again. The second
attempt proved no more successful than the
first, and the Confederates then drew of in
the direction of the town of Pilot Knob, with
the object of finding some weaker spot. This
gave the infantry stationed in the ditch north
of the fort q chance to get In some good work,
which they improved, and the second assault,
like the first, was a complete failure, the Con-
federates being repulsed. They effected but
one lodgment, and that after retreating two
miles to point on the other side of Arcadia.
The COnfederates left more than
FIFTEEN HUNDRED DEAD AND WOUNDED
on the battle field. The Federal loss amount
ed to but ninety killed and wounded. The
battle ended 1T 4 P. NJ, September p, and less
than an hour later the Federals began the
work of removing their wounded to the town
Of Pilot Knob, although that place had been
in the possession of the Confederates all day.
The dead were buried in the fort, and prepar-
ations were made at once to abandon it, as by
that time Gen. Ewing had become convinced
that its position was untenable. At midnight
all the forces were withdrawn. Only the
heavy guns and caissons were left benind, ,and
this because there were no horses to draw
them. Ewing's troops marched out of the
fort, and as they passed between Shepherd
and Rock Mountain they observed rebel camp
fires and the sentries Of brigade that had
taken up their position during the night. 1t
was intended by Price that the intervening
space between the camp fires and Rock Noun
tain should be filed by Shelby's division ind
orders had been sent him to that effect. AS
ders his advance and Ewing's cellided. EVIL
ing, of course, was on the look out, but Shell |
by was surprised, and as Ewfng's forces adj |
vanced the enemy retreated. This was at a |
fork in the road, near the town of Caledonia. |
Ewing, seeing that he could not reach the |
Iron Mountain track, under the circumstance |
es, took the road leading west, in the dlrec- |
ton of the town of Webster, intending, II /
Price continued his march to st. Louis, in /
accordance with his previous announcement, |
to be in position to make o demonstration on l
Prices flank when opportunity offered. He
soon discovered, however, that such a move /
would not be permitted, and that Price had
ordered Gen. Clarke, commanding the Con-
cavalry, to pursue and bring him to
battle. Ewing declined to give battle, how
ever, and marched on to Leesburg, on the st.
Louis and San Francisco railroad, erected |
there and prepared to give Price
1attle again. This for some reason Price
leclined, but instead, marched on towards
Jefferson City, with the Federal force from
It. Louis i'm pursuit.
EWING REMAINED AT LEEsBURG
hree days, and then, under the escort Of the
18th Illinois Cavalry, Col. Beveridge COM
handing, that had been sent from Rolla to
his relief, he marched to the latter city and put
his troops in garrison there under command |
If Col. Fletcher. He then returned to st.
Louis with his staff by riding across country
md taking the train from DeSoto to this point.
soon after Ewing's arrival here the order of
Ien. Rosecrans above noted was issued.-St.
Louis Globe Democrat.
For the best Sewing Machines, go to the
Agency of the Genuine Singer, one door south
# the REGISTER office, Ironton.
A. -3m JAMES WEIGH, Agent.
Republican Mass Meeting. |
The Republicans of Iron county are here