The National tribune., 1886-08-05
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
BATTLE OF BELMONT.
The 8Oth I'M. In the Fight.


To THE EDITOR. 1 have been reader Of
TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE for some time and
have watched it's columns closely TO see some
thing from some one of the surviving comrades
of The grand old 30th H., but have seen moth
ing SO with your permission ] will give few
items IN regard 90 the battle of Belmont, Nov.
n 1861. Belmont is a small village I'M Missis-
sippi County, No, opposite Columbus, KY and
was a great rebel stronghold. The troops which
participated ia that fight were the goth, 9th,
Both, and 3lst ILL.,, and the 9TH Iowa, all
commanded by Gen. Hunt, who was at that
time a Brigadier-G General. The troops We're
what might be termed raw ones, having seen
but little drilling. aud Belmont was their first
fight. On the 9th of November the orders
were for those who could not stand q three
DAYS march 10 remain in camp. We were
camped at Cairo III. We packed our KNAPP
sacks and filed our cartridge-boEes and re-
paired Oh the transport. boat New Uncle Sam,
and steamed down the river to within six
miles OF Columbus. Ky, where we diselnbarked
early on the morning OF the 9TH and marched
out through a heavy growth OF timbers and
stacked arms and rested while, but soon found
fighting 60 do We skirmished for some time,
but finally unslung our knapsacks and waded
in. We drove the rebels before us into their
camp aud across the Mississippi River, many Of
them seeking shelter in Columbus Ky. We
burned their camp, but spent too much time in
plundering il before burning it. When we
started back 20 our boat every soldier had
about what he could carry OF plumber, but,
alas. we had TO lose il all. The rebs had run
reinforcements across from Columbus and cut
off our return TO our boats. lt was there Gen.
Grant seemed puzzled as to how he should
reach the boats with that throng OF rebels in
our rear, but brave Logan said: Let's cut our
way through, General " and sure enough we
did. We passed through a scathing crossire
and we became separated, and i never saw any
OF my own company until after Mad reached
the boat.
hope my old army comrades win not term
me a coward but will here say never did as
fine running and as much Of IL, or never was
as near worn out as i was that day when
reached the boat We had won a splendid vic
tory aud had accomplished what we set out 10
DO, but were allowed To fool around the rebels
deserted camp too long before returning 10 our
boats. We fought much hercer in cutting
through their lines Oh our return than we did
in going In. Ii was by the aid Of the gunboats
Tyler and Lexington that our boys were en-
abed to get on board our transport boats, for
the rebs followed ne 10 the bank OF the river
and would have been q sore detriment TO us, ii
ii had not been for the aid the gunboats gave
ms Ii was our first fight and in after years,
when fighting became second nature with us,
we cOuil recall the Belmont fight to memory
and laugh hearty over our tall running there.
We reached Cairo some time in early morning
&C completely worn out that we lay in our tents
at day Then all who could WELD pen were
penning letters 10 their loved ones at home, and
selling some desperate scenes they had passed
through. You all know how il was; all have
been there. The old Both passed through some
desperate struggles before the war closed, aud
always maintained tho glorious record ii gained
when Ii was first baptized in battle at Bel
mont and Fort DOnesOn.-H. j. WALTER, Co
A., 39Ih H., Buffalo Prairie, III.