The National tribune., 1888-08-02
The nattle Of Belmont. No.

EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: Old soldiers
are recording history, after making it in the
field. This should be exact. Every man should
tell what he saw and did. Under the head of
mississippi Flotilla," etc, is given many valu-
able facts mean the account of w. III. Michael,
late of the Navy. But when he tells what he
did not see he falls into great error. The gun
boats are worthy Of all the honor claimed, and
even more. They conveyed US down to the
field of Belmont. We had to attack the Secesh,
as they were then called; Coufederates they
were called after The 9th H., under COL N.
B. Buford, was given the post of honor to de-
velop and find the enemy. We found them,
and brought on the battle. The enemy in
force" Col. Buford reported and got word to
"go in" He, being an old West Pointer, knew
better. He knew that his regiment alone
would be used up aud no good would result.
After three applications to headquarters he got
the word to use his own Judgment, which he
quickly did. He withdrew his regiment from
the front, formed it on the enemy's left, and
when the battle was joined he went in on the
enemy's left with such whoop and yell rs
none but new troops rarely give. The result
was success-the enemy routed the whole
army under McClernand in front pressing on
until the works of the rebels were in our pos
session. Then there was a pause-an almost
criminal pause. Jake was shaking hands
with Jacol," and telling him what glorious
victory, etc.
Well the rebs, under the command of Bishop
Polk, in Columbus, were alert, and sent over
the Mississippi River their transports loaded
with fresh troops. They were landed above
US. The 1000 whipped rebs we had driven
over the river bank and ought to have taken
prisoners rejOined their friends above u.s.
Then the problem, the most serious of the day,
was before us-to get away safe; the retreat
and terrible fight through the Mississippi
woods It was where the gunboats could not
| possibly render any assistance. Our men, under
the gallant Col. Logan and Others made the
trip. But the next day with the flag of truce
passed over the ground and saw a cOrnield
as thickly strewn with bluecoats as ever is q
cornfeld in a good season with pumpkins.
! In this part of the affair the gunboats rem
dered no service, because they could not. But
| when we embarked, having fought our way
! out, while the enemy followed US up to the
woodward landing, then came in CALAMITY and
nobly the gunboats Lexington and Tyler. Our
! boat, on which went down the 9th Ill. and the
| 9TH Iowa, was below the landing The rebs
came down the lane square to the river. The
| gunbOats were opposite the lane, but away
across the river. | remember thinking as
went aboard, Well, you fellows are keeping
out of harms way" But in a few minutes my
error OF judgment was corrected. The rebels
! filed the roads leading across a field square tt
| the river. They ran up a gun and were train
IuS II Oli WIG DOlltIS Tile Jul
when an 8-inch shell from our boats knocked
the gun into the air and saved us. The sho
and shell ripped through that lane, and the
devil was on hand to pay the rebels.
All honor to the gallant commanders of thu
| gunbOats. l saw that they understood thei
business better than / did. / never have hai
word of disparagement for them. 1t would
be undeseryed. They did their duty nobly
and as well as men could do. They saved on
retreat 1t was not alone the 40 of the I'll
Iowa that were taken aboard. Col BuforC
seeing clearly the situation, as he had at TIN
first, withdrew his regiment and struck up TIN
| river for the boats. The boats had got ahead
Buford was below all the rest of the army OIL
the river, and so behind the boats. Seeing tn
situation, he sent Adj't Rust, now of Chicago
a gallant soldier, who hailed the gunboat, an'
the balance of the regiment was taken aboard
and we all got back that were left whole t
Cairo in the wee small hoars" on the nigh
| after the memorable battle.
Now, there is no necessity for claiming 70
any part of the gallant army of the Union an.
more than its share. To do so is to detrac
from others. When all did their immediat
duty, who could do more? The ultimate re
suit was success. All honor to the brave Wh
fell. Let the widows and survivors be pen
stoned as they deserYe.-E. II. BoURMAN, Sur
geon, 9th H.; Brigade Surgeon, Third Bri
gade, Second Division, Fourth Corps Chic
Surgeon, Second Division, Fourth Corps Ands
lusia, Ill.