The National tribune., 1884-03-06
BATTLE OF BELMONT.
Some Interesting "reminiscences OF that Hard
Fought Field.

Read by Captain II. L. Smith. Mason City, Io,co, at
the7h Iotrd Reunion.
It viii be remembered by those who were
selected for that expedition that we were
camped at Cairo, Birds Point. and Fort Holt,
and that on the 9th day of November, 1861, an
order was given by General Grant for all in
the regiments selected who were able for duty
TO be ready TO move at a moments notice, with
two days rations and forty rounds of ammu-
milton, the sick TO be left in camp with detail
from each company as camp guard; that in the
afternoon the steamers Montgomery, Belle,
Memphis and Scott came over from Cairo and
the troops. consisting of the 9TH Iowa, Colonel
Lauman :; 22d Illinois, Colonel Dougherty 9th
Illinois, Colonel Buford Both Illinois, Colonel
Fouke; 3lst Illinois, Colonel John A. Logan !;
Taylor's Chicago Battery of four six-pounders
and two underground howiizers; Captain De-
lanois company Of Illinois cavalry. ffty-six
strong, and ono company of Independent cav
airy. commanded by Captain Dollins seventy
men these troops We're quietly embarked on
these transports, nobody but the officers high
est in command knowing what we were going
TO do. After all were loaded we dropped down
the Mississippi River, the wooden gunboats the
Lexington. Captain Stembel, and Tyler, Cap
tain Walker commanding, acting as conveys
Alter going about ten miles we swung into the
Kentucky Shore threw out strong guard and
tied up for the night, the troops, all but the
EARLY IN THE MORNING
of the 18th we dropped down TO a point on the
Missouri side about two and half to three
miles above the village of Belmont, debarbed
Just out of the range of the batteries at Column
bus, and after detailing two companies of the
9TH Iowa and three companies of the 22d
Illinois TO guard the boats under command of
Captain Detrick. proceeded 10 advance on the
enemy From here the troops were marched
.-l.
down the river. and there formed in line of
battle. the first brigade, consisting of the 9th,
Both and 3lst Illinois regiments, Captain Dol
Inns company of cavalry and Captain Taylor's
battery, under command Of Brigadier- General
John A. McClernand, taking the right of the
line, and eight companies of the 9TH Iowa and
seven companies of the 22d Illinois comprising
the ID brigade, under command of Colonel
H. Dougberty, taking the left The command
moved forward and the slIirmishers became
engaged at once The firing was brisk. but the en-
emys pickets were steadily driven back to their
main llne and our skirmishers only halted for
our support to come up. Then the battle open
cd in real earnest and continued for several
hours the enemy giving ground all the time
The very andacity of the attack seemed to
impress our men with sense of the necessity
of the occasion that they seemed almost in
spired to deeds of daring and yalor, aud they
pressed forward with the most obstinate cour-
age. irresistibly driving the enemy back in
confusion into their camps, which were in an
open Geld, and around which they had felled
trees outwardly, making an abatis almost i'm
possible TO get through Here we halted to
take breath and reform our lines. As soon as
the eaemy was driven into the open ground
and il could be seen that from the forts at
Columbus they could shell the woods without
danger TO their own troops, q
r-rr,-- an cor W,
was opened upon as from all the batteries on
the opposite side of the river, literally moving
the tree-tops where we were forming for
another advance. As soon as all were ready,
the order was given and our men dashed for
ward, firing and hurrahing as they advanced.
and when the distractions were scaled final
charge was ordered and away we went over
the open field. and after one volley from US
they were completely routed. They abandoned
their battery and disappeared under the river
bank and the victory was ours. We took pos
session Of their camp artillery, garrison, flag
and all their equipage, turned their battery
and our own on their transports. which were
ferrysng over re-eDforcements Lest it might
hc supposed that their force was inferior to ours
! will here state that, according to their own
official reports, before any re-enforcements
arrived they had five regiments of infantry,
one battery OF artillery six guBs). and squad
ron Of cavalry, as viii be more fully seen here
after. Thus We see that they had FIVE more
companies than we did in the outset Tt was
at this point that | was severely wounded and
taken short distance to the rear and laid
under a tree beside wounded rebel, where /
witnessed the destruction OF their camp There
! lay until the
REBELS BEING EE-ESFoRcED
temporarily occupied the ground While they
We're parleying as 10 what TO do with us who
himself in command, came charging through
and drove them back We were then picked
up and put into an army wagon drawn by four
mules and filed with wounded men. The
mules were then put on q run through corn
fields and woods to the boats avoiding the roads
because the rebels had been heavily REINFORCED
and had formed line between cur troops and
the river, covering the road TO the boats The
wounded had bat just been put on the trans
ports when a terrific volley of musketry was
poured In upon us from the rebels on the bank
Of the river. The balls literally Tiddled the
upper works Of the beats where the wounded
lay in winrcws on the cabin floor There be-
ing scarcely any on the boat but the wounded,
there was no resistance offered save by few
who were slightly wounded. The Ere was so
fierce that il was impossible to even cut the
lines and get under way. There we lay until
the gnnboats came to our rescue and gave them
br0adside when put them TO flight. When
the lines were loosened and wegwuag cut in the
stream, we proceeded on our way TO the camp.
Those who were not injured We're left at Cairo
and Birds Point and the wounded were taken TO
HOUND CITY HOSPITAL,
where VIC arrived on the afternoon Of the 9Th.
] was informed and find by the official reports
that onr heaviest loss occurred on our way back
tothetranspor whore cur exhausted troops had
to cut their way hack to the boats through al line
OF fresh troops which had been thrown across
the river from Columbus between orr forces
and the transports, under the cover of their
guns in their fort. The rebels claimed a vic
tory and most assurediy we did; why should
we Dote We accomplished all and more than
we started to do. We captured and burned
their camp, took their battery, aud brought
/ three pieces back to our camp with a large
number Of prisoners. We must, Of course, adj
NIT great sacrifice IN killed and wounded ;
F but we have the satisfaction Of knowing that
we punished them rs severely, if we did have
4 to do il al such Disadvantage According to
their own reports We fought them over two to
/ one on their owD ground, in the woods with
I which they were familiar, and behind defens-
i've works which they had been preparing for
months, in the face of battery at Belmont,
and within easy range Of the guns at Column
b3s. Hc were beyond the reach of re-enforce-
ncnts, supplies and ammunition, with no telc-
I graphic communication. and our base at Cairo
over twenty miles away. Neither did we have
any knowledge Of the numbers or position OF
+ the enemy. Our whole force, after deductine
+ the five companies left at the boats consisted
OF foar and q half regiments Of infantry. one
& batterS. and two rofgn:flipS of cavalry With