The National tribune., 1893-12-21

and, dropping down stream a short distance,
| opened up in our rear. will never forget
| to my dying day lane which led into the
boat-landing from the west. This lane was
solid mass of the enemy getting between
us and our boats in fine style. One of the
gunboats poured broadside down this lane
in the face of the advancing foe. The dust
| that it kicked up, mingled with rails fence
stakes, knapsacks, cartridge-boxes, haver-
sacks, canteens, ETC., could only be compared
to the advance of a regular Kansas cyclone
This settled the hash and put quietus on
| the battle of Belmont.
My regiment, what was left of it, and /
| don't know how many others, went on board
the steamer Alec Scott, and were all ready
| to sail for Cairo.
But where was Grant! Had he gone
with the cavalry to Birds Point to carry the
news to mother; or had he fallen in battle,
or been carried away to Columbus prisoner
of war? No; here he comes, bringing up the
rear, and the last man to go aboard. And
about the funniest thing of the whole day
was to see Grant ride his horse onto the boat
on narrow stage plank, leading from the
high bank down to the deck of the boat
Instead of dismounting, giving his horse to
his Orderly and walking in on the plank, he
made his horse carry him aboard.
The gunboats escorted us back to Cairo,
where we arrived about sunset. The entire
population of the rat-hole city seemed to
be at the wharf to meet us; the first demon
stratiOn of regard ever shown to US at that
place. A nice-looking woman offered to
carry my gun and knapsack out to camp for
me- as was wounded. / still bear an honor
able scar in the back of my head in honor of
that memorable day, and claim that scar
received at Belmont on any part of the body
is au honorable one.
A party of officers and men from the
camp at Cairo went down to the battlefield
under flag Of truce the next day, buried
! our dead, and brought up such of the
wounded as were yet alive.
As to military advantages, contraband of
war, and such like, the battle of Belmont
was stand-off, as we left the enemy and
their captured camp and battery where we
found them.
Still the battle of Belmont was not void
of important considerations. To snatch an
enemy's camp from beneath such guns, and
in face of such an army as guarded 1T at
Belmont, was, to say the least, bold push !;
bold in its conception, hazardous in its
| undertaking, and mastery in its execution.
Our safe retreat TO the boats, in front of a
superior force of fresh troops, compares well
with some of the brilliant achievements of
the First Napoleon. 1t was the beginning
of that blind obedience afterward given 10
Gen. Grant by his soldiers every where. He
said at Belmont for US to return to the cover
aud protection of our gunboats, and we
"got there, ELL"
l regard this battle as the "goat-ride" or
initiation 10 those who participated in it,
and who never let up till the great water
way was open to free and safe navigation
| from Cairo to the Gulf.
In conclusion, l wish to say that this
letter is intended as mere personal RENT
niscence from memory, after lapse of near
ly a third of a century. 1t may contain
errors but it was written by one who was a
soldier in ranks, and is not from the mental
fountain of the historian or he press re-
porter who sees a battle at distance or q
long time after it occurs.-B. +. BORING,
Co. d, Both H. Terre Haute Ind