others; and I thought, under this state of the case, it would be putting an unnecessarily fine point on the matter to decline to take back the wounded men so politely offered by Gen. Cheatham and Major Mason. It is due to the latter gentleman, particularly, to say that his disposition to do every thing in his power to aid us in our mission of humanity, was conspicuous during our entire stay there, and certainly deserves our warmest appreciation. At the second visit of Capt. Blake to our boat, he received the sick and wounded prisoners, whom I again offered to him unconditionally, and they were put on board his boat. The number of our wounded, as above stated from Gen Cheatham and Major Mason, and brought up by me, was thirteen. Enclosed herewith is a list of our men in the hands of the enemy, given me by Capt. Blake, which he thought to be nearly complete. The number reported buried by them on the field yesterday was sixty-eight. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. D. WEBSTER, Major and Chief Engineer. To Brig.-Gen. U. S. GRANT, Com. Div. SECESSION REPORTS. GENERAL POLK'S DESPATCH. To General Head-quarters, through General A. The enemy came down on the opposite side of the river, Belmont, to-day, about seven thousand five hundred strong, landed under cover of gunboats, and attacked Col. Tappan's camp. I sent over three regiments under Gen. Pillow to his relief, then at intervals three others, then Gen. Cheatham. I then took over two others in person, to support a flank movement which I had directed. It was a hard-fought battle, lasting from half-past ten A. M. to five P. M. They took Beltzhoover's battery, four pieces of which were re-captured. The enemy were thoroughly routed. We pursued them to their boats seven miles, then drove their boats before us. The road was strewn with their dead and wounded, guns, ammunition, and equipments. Our loss considerable; theirs heavy. L. POLK, Major-General Commanding. REPLY OF PRESIDENT DAVIS. LETTER FROM GEN. GRANT. The following is from a private letter from General Grant to his father, written on the night of the 8th: Day before yesterday I left Cairo with about three thousand men in five steamers, convoyed by two gunboats, and proceeded down the river to within about twelve miles of Columbus. The next morning the boats were dropped down just out of range of the enemy's batteries, and the troops debarked. During this operation our gunboats exercised the rebels by throwing shells into their camps and batteries. When all ready, we proceeded about one mile toward Belmont, opposite Columbus, when I formed the troops into line, and ordered two companies from each regiment to deploy as skirmishers, and push on through the woods and discover the position of the enemy. They had gone but a little way when they were fired upon, and the ball may be said to have fairly opened. The whole command, with the exception of a small reserve, was then deployed in like manner and ordered forward. The order was obeyed with great alacrity, the men all showing great courage. I can say with great gratification that every colonel, without a single exception, set an example to their commands that inspired a confidence that will always insure victory when there is the slightest possibility of gaining one. I feel truly proud to command such men. From here we fought our way from tree to and a half miles, the enemy contesting every tree through the woods to Belmont, about two foot of ground. Here the enemy had strengthened their position by felling the trees for two or three hundred yards and sharpening their limbs, making a sort of abatis. Our men charged through, making the victory complete, giving us possession of their camp and garrison equipage, artillery, and every thing else. We got a great many prisoners. The majority, however, succeeded in getting aboard their burned every thing possible and started back, steamers and pushing across the river. We having accomplished all that we went for, and even more. Belmont is entirely covered by the batteries from Columbus, and is worth nothing as a military position-cannot be held without Columbus. The object of the expedition was to prevent the enemy from sending a force into Missouri to cut off troops I had sent there for a special purpose, and to prevent reinforcing Price. Besides being well fortified at Columbus, their number far exceeded ours, and it would have been folly to have attacked them. We found the Confederates well armed and brave. On our return stragglers that had been left in our rear (now front) fired into us, and more recrossed the river and gave us battle for a full mile, and afterward at the boats when we were embarking. There was no hasty retreating or running away. Taking into account the object of the expedition, the victory was complete. It has given us confidence in the officers and men of this command, that will enable us to lead them in any future engagement without fear of the result. Gen. McClernand (who, by the way, acted with great coolness and courage throughout, and proved that he is a soldier as well as a statesman) and myself, each had our horses shot under us. Most of the field-officers met with the same loss, beside nearly one-third of them being themselves killed or wounded. As near as I can ascertain, our loss was about two hundred and fifty killed, wounded, and missing. LOUISVILLE "JOURNAL" NARRATIVE. CAIRO, Nov. 1861. You have been informed by telegraph and forestalled communications from other sources of the recent battle at Belmont, but most of these reports have been in the main incorrect and incomplete; therefore it is that I have delayed giving an account until the confusion and excitement had subsided, and something like a definite and accurate account might be obtained. It might be well to notice here the underhanded antagonism evident in many of our prominent journals to the Union cause, in pronouncing-even in the face of positive evidence to the contrary-every action in which our troops are engaged, and, as must necessarily be, a few of our numbers are slain, to be positive defeats and repulses. We have a notable instance of this determination to embarrass and disparage our army in the recent editorials of the Chicago Tribune, and other journals, in relation to this Belmont fight. It has been pronounced a defeat, and some have gone so far as to proclaim it a rout; and thus has been reiterated one of the most wanton and damaging falsehoods that ever blistered a tongue. But so far from this being a repulse, from the evidences now accumulated, it proves to have been one of the most signal and brilliant victories that have graced the pages of our history since the record of Buena Vista. It will be seen from the official report of General Grant, that the object of the expedition was not for the attack of Columbus, but for the purpose of diverting the enemy from sending reinforcements to Thompson, Price, or Buckner, and I have further learned from Gen. MeClernand, which is corroborated by prisoners taken at Belmont, that a large rebel force actually had their knapsacks packed to reinforce Buckner at Bowling Green, and make a forward movement against Louisville. To further show that the object of the expedition against Belmont was not intended for Columbus, I was shown a letter in Gen. Grant's quarters to-day from Assistant Adjutant-General McKeever directing him to move only against Belmont and avoid Columbus. Thus the movement intended and directed was a complete success and a triumph over the superior numerical forces of the enemy by destroying their camp and twice routing them, and driving them, with terrible slaughter, before our bayonets. On the morning of the 7th, after lying on the Kentucky shore over night, our troops, two thousand eight hundred and fifty in number, being portions of the Twenty-second Illinois, Col. Henry Dougherty, Twenty-seventh Illi nois, Col. Buford, Thirtieth Illinois, Col. Phil. B. Fouke, Thirty-first Illinois, Col. John A. Logan, and the Seventh Iowa, Col. Lauman, debarked on the Missouri shore about three miles this side of Belinont. They were at once marched to a corn-field about one mile distant, and west of Belmont. Three companies of the Seventh Iowa, and two companies of the Twenty-second Illinois, were, however, left at the landing to guard the steamboats. In the corn-field the whole force was drawn up in line in the following order: The Twenty-seventh Illinois, Col. Buford, occupying the extreme right, Thirtieth, Col. Fouke, next, Thirty-first, Col. Logan, on the centre, with Taylor's Chicago artillery (six guns) in the rear, Seventh Iowa to the left, and Twenty-second Illinois the extreme left; two companies from each regiment were then thrown out as skirmishers, except Colonel Buford's, which took the road leading to the right, with orders to bear down on the enemy below their camp, on the bank of the river, and drive them to the left, assisted by Captains Dollins, and Delano's Illinois Cavalry. The skirmishers of Logan's and Fouke's regiments had proceeded about half a mile through the woods when they encountered the enemy and opened a vigorous fire, which was returned by the enemy, who, however, soon fell back. Gen. McClernand, who was reconnoitring with the men, now sent back his aid to order a forward movement of the whole column, which soon arrived and formed again as before, moved forward a short distance, where he found the enemy in strong force, whom he attacked with the Thirtieth, Thirty-first, and a part of the Seventh Iowa, and again drove them before him and scattered them in disorder, with heavy loss. It was not long, however, until they rallied and offered a vigorous resistance, which somewhat disordered our lines. It was now soon discovered that the rebels were flanking us on the left, when Logan's men were brought about, and the artillery opened a tremendous fire on them, which brought them down like mowed grass, while Fouke's regiment was still engaging them with a terrible effect, and the enemy was finally driven back toward their camp. In the mean time Buford's regiment and Dollins' cav alry had arrived to the right of the enemy's camp, and was doing fearful execution on the foe. While these regiments were making the enemy quail beneath their fire and bayonets, the Seventh Iowa and Twenty-second Illinois were dealing havoc among them on the left. After The rebels still kept up the fire after our forces had regained their transports, but I learn from the several colonels that they did not kill a man. the two first companies of the Seventh Iowa | many acts of daring bravery and spirit of sacrihad been thrown out, they immediately en- fice were exhibited by our officers. Col. Laugaged the enemy, when Col. Lauman went man, who had been badly wounded in the back for the remaining five companies and thigh, upon the order being given to retreat, threw them out as skirmishers also. This ordered that he be placed on his horse, which regiment suffered more severely than any other. was done, and he gallantly led his men out. It fought continually against fearful odds. Ever Col. Dougherty, who was aware that Lauman pushing onward through the timber on their was wounded, endeavored to pilot him out, hands and knees, they crawled with their they being in the rear, when he received his standard waving over them until they reached wound, which caused him to be taken prisonthe corn-field on the left of the enemy's en- er, and has since cost him his leg, parts of campment, where their cannon was planted, and which have been amputated three times. drove them from their guns, leaving them still unmanned, knowing that other forces were following them up. Their course was still onward until they entered on the camp ground of the foe, dispensing destruction as they went, and tore down their flag-one of the lieutenants bearing it away wrapped round his body. No less of bravery and daring can be attributed to the gallant Twenty-second, who fought by the side of the Seventh Iowa throughout the action. To the left of the camp ground, in a corn-field, on the river bank, was another of the enemy's batteries, upon which the Seventh Iowa and Twenty-second Illinois made a charge and entirely unmanned the pieces. It was here, while gallantly urging on his men, that Col. Lauman fell, wounded. The Seventh Iowa received a continual cross fire from the enemy's guns and musketry, and it is evident that they were in the thickest of the fight, from the fact that they had most of their officers either killed or wounded, and more men than any other regiment. The Twenty-second Illinois also suffered heavy loss, and the gallantry and valor of Col. Dougherty cannot be too highly commended. The Twenty-seventh Illinois and Seventh Iowa entered the camping ground of the enemy nearly at the same time, and the other regiments soon followed, upon which a shout of victory from our troops rent the air, that could be heard for miles above the roar of the cannon. The tents, baggage, and equipments taken at this time were destroyed by order of Gen. Grant. While our force was in pssession of the encampment, busily engaged in confiscating all portable articles, that of the enemy was receiving large reinforcements from Columbus, and endeavored to cut off our retreat. Gen, McClernand, discovering their move, inquired of Logan what move he intended to make, when Logan briefly replied, "Cut our way through, sir!" which he accordingly did, as did the balance of our forces. At this juncture it was that the gunboats rendered such valuable service; they kept up a continual fire upon them, which mowed them down in scores. Here, also, it was that the rebel batteries from Columbus opened fire upon our men, but their gunners were far from exhibiting the skill shown by our gunboats; and here, again, it was that Generals Grant and McClernand behaved with remarkable bravery and coolness during the whole of the action, and as much may be said of their respective aids-those of General Grant, Captains Logan, Rawlins, and Hillyer, and those of Gen. McClernand, Maj. Brayman, Captain Brolaski, (who was killed while gallantly cheering on the men,) and Captain Dresser, of the artillery. The following is the regimental list of killed: Seventh Iowa, twenty-six killed; Twenty-second Illinois, thirty-three killed; Twenty-seventh Illinois, eleven killed; Thirtieth Illinois, nine killed; Thirty-first Illinois, ten killed. The wounded and missing are being greatly diminished by each day's report. The official report in regard to missing is no doubt incorrect, as General Grant informs me that squads are returning every day to Bird's Point. Yesterday twenty more returned, and they reported that eighteen others, who had taken a different road, would shortly arrive in camp. It has been asserted and reiterated that our greatest loss was suffered on the retreat; this is incorrect, as the following will show thirty of those who were wounded in the advance were brought to a hospital, which_afterward fell into the hands of the enemy, and one hundred and forty-three were brought away on the return, showing that but twenty-four were wounded on the retreat, making the sum total of one hundred and fifty-four. All the wounded prisoners were to-day exchanged unconditionally. I will be compelled to defer the incidents of the battle and late expedition after Thompson for another letter. W. C. C. The Cairo correspondent of the Chicago Journal of the 8th, gives an account of the preliminaries of the expedition to Belmont, Mo., also some account of the engagement. When it was proposed to start an expedition down the river, the best information that had been received at head-quarters, left the impression that there was but a small garrison of rebels at the little town of Belmont, Missouri, nearly opposite Columbus, and its proximity to Columbus, the rebel head-quarters, made its occupancy desirable as a strategical point. In order that its occupation should be effected with the least possible expenditure of blood, and without precipitating a general battle, the movement was kept, or attempted to be kept, a profound secret. But the result proves that there were traitors in the camp, who availed themselves of the earliest possible information, and not unlikely of full details of the expedition, which were transmitted without delay to the rebels in ample time for them to complete perfect preparations for our reception. The total available force of the expedition was about three thousand five hundred. The design was to reach Belmont just before daylight; but, owing to unavoidable delays in embarking, it was eight o'clock before the fleet reached Lucas Bend, the point fixed upon for debarkation. This is about three miles north of Columbus, Ky., on the Missouri side. The enemy were encamped upon the high ground back from the river, and about two and a half miles from the landing. From their position they could easily see our landing, and had ample time to dispose of their forces to receive us, which they did with all despatch. They also sent a detachment of light artillery and infantry out to retard our march and annoy us as much as possible. A line of battle was formed at once on the levee, Col. Fouke taking command of the centre, Colonel Buford of the right, and Col. Logan of the left. The advance from the river bank to the rebel encampment was a running fight the entire distance, the rebels firing and falling back all the way, while our troops gallantly received their fire without flinching, and bravely held on their way, regardless of the missiles of death that were flying thick and fast about them. The way was of the most indifferent character, lying through woods with thick underbrush, and only here and there a path or a rough country road. The three divisions kept within close distance of each other, pressing over all obstacles and overcoming all opposition, each striving for the honor of being first in the enemy's camp. This honor fell to the right division, led by Colonel Buford. It was the gallant Twentyseventh Illinois, who, with deafening cheers, first waved the Stars and Stripes in the midst of the rebels' camping ground. The scene was a terribly exciting one-musketry and cannon dealing death and destruction on all sides; men grappling with men in a fearful death struggle; column after column rushing eagerly up, ambitious to obtain a post of danger; officers riding hither and thither in the thickest of the fight urging their men on, and encouraging them to greater exertions; regiments charging into the very jaws of death with frightful yells and shouts, more effective as they fell upon the ears of the enemy than a thousand rifle balls-and in the midst of all is heard one long, loud, continuous round of cheer ing as the Star-Spangled Banner is unfurled in the face of the foe, and defiantly usurps the mongrel colors that had but a moment before designated the spot as rebel ground. The Twenty-second boys have the honor of having silenced and captured a battery of twelve pieces, which had been dealing destruction with marked success. The Thirtieth had been badly cut up by this battery, and were straining every nerve to capture it. They express considerable disappointment that the prize was snatched from them. They turned away in search of new laurels, and in charging into the very midst of the camp, were drawn into an ambuscade, where they were again suffering terribly, though maintaining their ground unflinchingly, when the Thirty-first came to their assistance. An impetuous and irresistible charge was then made, that drove the rebels in all directions, and left the field in possession of the Federal forces. The rebel camps were fired, and with all their supplies, ammunition, baggage, &c., were totally destroyed. The discovery, on the Kentucky side, that we were in possession of their camp, led to an opening of the rebel batteries from that direction upon us. Their fire was very annoying, the more so as we were not in a position to return it. Just at this juncture, the report was brought to General Grant by Lieut. Pittman, of the Thirtieth Illinois regiment, who had with his company (F) been on scouting duty, that heavy reinforcements were coming up to the rebels from the opposite side of the river. Indeed, the discovery was also made that the enemy were pouring over the river in immense numbers, and the danger was imminent that our retreat would be cut off. The order to fall back to the boats was therefore given, but not a moment too soon. The way was already filled with rebel troops, and as we had fought our way up to the encampment, so we were obliged to fight back to our boats, and against desperate odds. But the men were not lacking in courage, and fought like veterans, giving ample demonstration of their determination. Every regiment of Federal troops suffered more or less severely in their return march, but the general opinion prevails that the rebels suffered far greater losses than we. Wherever they made a stand we put them to flight, and although we lost many brave men, either killed, wounded, or taken prisouers, we made at least two of their men bite the dust for every one that fell from our ranks. Our regiments all reached their boats, though with considerably thinned ranks. We also brought away, as near as can be ascertained, two hundred and seventy-five prisoners, two cannon, and a quantity of muskets, small-arms, equipments, blankets, &c. The battery captured in the engagement in the midst of the encampment we were obliged | passed directly over our heads and landed threeto leave behind. The guns, however, were first carefully spiked. The battle lasted from 11 o'clock in the morning until sundown. Had the day been longer we should have stood the ground later, and doubtless have achieved a decided victory. | The rebel foss must be much greater than ours. Among their killed was Colonel John | V. Wright, of the Fifteenth Tennessee regiment, formerly member of Congress from that State. It is supposed that the rebel camp at Belmont numbered not less than seven thousand. These were wholly routed by the gallant assaults of our little band of less than four thousand. Our fatigued and wounded men were then obliged to overcome a body of five thousand fresh troops in fighting their way back to the boats. Such fighting, against odds so vastly superior, is seldom recorded. The rebel reinforcements crossed directly opposite Columbus, and their movements were concealed from the gunboats as well as from our main forces, until they had formed on the Missouri side, and were marching up to cut off our retreat to the boats, when our scouts discovered them, and reported to General Grant, as stated above. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. CAMP MCCLERNAND, CAIRO, Nov. 8, 1861. Ere this reaches you, you will have heard of the engagement of our forces with those of Gen. Pillow, at Camp Belmont, opposite Columbus. On Tuesday evening orders were received from head-quarters by the officers commanding the various regiments, to be ready at four o'clock, with two days' rations. The Thirtieth regiment, Col. Fouke, and Thirty-first, Col. Logan, embarked on the steamer Aleck Scott, Capt. Riley; the Twenty-second regiment, Col. Dougherty, the Twenty-seventh, Col. Buford, and the Seventh Iowa, Col. Lauman, upon the Memphis and Montgomery. Taylor's Battery of Artillery and a battalion of Col. Noble's Cavalry, also the Centralia Cavalry, Capt. Burrill. At five o'clock all was in readiness, and the steamers, preceded by the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, passed down about five miles below Norfolk, and anchored for the night. Gen. Grant and staff were upon the Memphis, and Gen. McClernand and staff upon the Aleck Scott. At daybreak, Gen. Grant ordered us to leave about seven o'clock A. M. We reached Lucas' Bend and disembarked, and Gen. Grant ordered the gunboats to proceed as far as practicable and shell their batteries, and in about an hour the firing commenced from the gunboats and was returned by the enemy from a battery on the Iron Bluffs. No damage was done to the gunboats, although the balls passed over them. I was standing on the deck of the Scott, with Capt. Riley, watching their battery with a glass, when they threw a shell from an eighty-four pound gun, which quarters of a mile above the Scott, but did not explode. Mr. Reeder, the clerk, sent some men for it, and they found it buried in the earth over ten feet. At this time the various regiments were forming, scouts having been sent out reported that the enemy were formed in a line of battle two miles from their encampment. Our troops then took up the line of march, ready and eager for a fight. At nine o'clock, the line of battle was formed. The Seventh Iowa, Twenty-second and Twenty-seventh Illinois on the right, Col. Fouke in the centre, and the Thirty-first, Col. Logan, on the left, and two guns from Taylor's battery, the other four being in a corn-field in the rear. At nine o'clock the fight began, Col. Buford, of the Twenty-seventh, opening. Our boys gave three cheers and fired, and it was returned by infantry, and the artillery firing shell. The first shell exploded in the ranks of the Seventh Iowa, wounding three and killing John Wells, a private. Col. Fouke received an order to charge, and he did it and was ably sustained by Col. Logan. After a few more rounds, they were driven into their encampment, and Cols. Fouke and Logan were in their position on a rising hill. At this time, Col. Dougherty came up with the Twenty-second. Another charge was made, and our troops were in possession of their encampment, passing over a large number of dead bodies. This was about two o'clock, when an order came to burn their encampment, which was done with a good will. It was a splendid encampment, and Lieut.-Colonel Dennis, of the Thirtieth, fired one of an artillery officer's, with all its equipments, which could not have been valued at less than five hundred dollars. And now comes the saddest part. It is not to be supposed that all this was done without any loss on our part. At this time, Gens. Grant and McClernand, Col. Fouke and Capts. McCook and Dresser, had their horses shot from under them; Capt. Challenor, of the Twenty-second regiment, Company K, and seven of his men, were killed instantly. I can only learn the names of five at present, as the official reports are not made: P. Fogan, Thomas Bowles, H. Stroul, John McCauley, and P. Welch, and eighteen missing, including Capt. Challenor, Col. Henry Dougherty, badly wounded and missing. Capt. Abbott, Company C, and Lieut. Fraleck, supposed to be killed; Benedict Phillips, Sergeant Welch, Joseph Adams and Martin Hartnor, wounded. There are at least seventy-five wounded now in the hospital, and one, named Zimmerman, died this morning on the boat. Major McClurken, of the Thirtieth, was badly wounded. and fell from his horse while gallantly encouraging his men, and is missing. Capt. Markle, of Company B, Thirtieth regiment, was instantly killed while receiving an order from Col. Fouke, his last words being, "Colonel, I am killed," and died instantly, being shot in |