Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[274] formed on their original line of battle, and I moved upon them, extending my line till it became merely a line of skirmishers, to prevent being flanked, so great was the disproportion of the forces. No men could behave more handsomely than did the Wisconsin Eleventh, on my right, and the Illinois Thirty-third, on my left, while Lieut. Denneman, with his gun, supported by as large an infantry force as I could spare, held the centre. The rebels gave way, and, while driving them from the field, I heard a shout in the rear, and before fully comprehending what it meant, Lieut.-Col. Wood, of the First Indiana cavalry, with one battalion and two more steel guns, came cantering up. It was the work of a moment for Lieutenant Baker to unlimber his pieces and get in position. The woods were soon alive with shot and shell. The retreat became a rout. Our cavalry, led by Major Clendenning, charged vigorously, and the day was ours.

Already one hundred and ten (110) of the enemy's dead have been found, while their prisoners, and the officer in charge of the flag of truce speak of the “terrible carnage,” and estimate their dead at more than two hundred, and their wounded at a still greater number. Their loss in dead was, undoubtedly, much greater than the one hundred and ten whose bodies were found I have been unable to ascertain the number of their wounded, or to make a reliable estimate, nor have I a report of the prisoners taken. A large number of horses were captured, and many left dead on the field. Sixty-six were counted within an area of half a mile square.

Our loss was seven killed, and fifty-seven wounded.

The rebel force--Texas troops — engaged in the fight could not have been far from two thousand (2000) men, and was supported by a still larger reserve force, all under the command of General Rust.

The loyal force was less than four hundred, (400,) increased just at the close by a cavalry force of about two hundred, (200.)

Where officers and men so uniformly behaved well, I can almost say heroically, it is, perhaps, invidious to particularize; and yet I may be pardoned for calling attention to the gallant conduct of Col. Harris and Capt. Miller, of the Eleventh Wisconsin Major Clendenning, of the First Indiana cavalry, and Captain L. H. Potter, of the Thirty-third Illinois. Surgeon H. P. Strong was on the field throughout the action, and his services deserve recognition.

Later in the afternoon, reenforcements came up, and Gen. Benton pursued the fleeing foe five or six miles towards Des Are, killing several and taking prisoners. All along the route, he found the house filled with the dead and wounded; curb-stones were wet with blood, and in one case, even the water of the well was crimson with gore. Gen. Benton's force consisted of the Eighth Indiana, Col. Shunk; a section of Manter's battery, First Missouri light artillery, Lieut. Schofield; part of the Eleventh Wisconsin, Major Platt; one howitzer from Bowen's battalion; the Thirteenth Illinois cavalry, Col. Bell, and a battalion of the Fifth Illinois cavalry under Major Apperson.

After the battle, and while the wounded were being collected and cared for, another body of rebels appeared on the Bayou De View road and drove in our pickets. I immediately sent Lieut.-Col. Wood, of the Eleventh Wisconsin, with a force of infantry, and the First Indiana cavalry, to pursue and capture them. He proceeded to Bayou De View, shelled the rebels from their camp, and prevented the burning of the bridge, on which fagots had already been piled. By this time it was dark, and the forces rested.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: In obedience to your order, on the seventh inst., I proceeded with the Second battalion First regiment Indiana cavalry, and two steel rifled guns to the bridge across Bayou de View, which we fortunately succeeded in saving from destruction, the rebels having built a fire at the north end, ready to burn it. This we prevented by cautiously approaching their pickets, who fired upon us and fled. We returned their fire and shelled their camp, killing three. The rest, supposed to be five hundred, fled in the utmost confusion.

In carrying out your order we incidentally engaged a large force of the enemy composed of the Twelfth and Fourteenth Texas cavalry, with several battalions of conscripts at Round Hill, eight miles north of Bayou de View. When within a mile of the place known as Round Hill, we met a messenger from Col. Hovey, who said that the Colonel had been attacked by a large force and had three companies killed. We afterward met a squad of infantry hurrying toward our camp on Cache River, who informed us that they had been “badly used up; Col. Hovey, Thirty-third Illinois volunteers, with about four hundred infantry and one gun under the command of Lieut. Denneman, First regiment Indiana cavalry, had been fighting with the rebels and had retreated before a very large force, having a great number of men killed and wounded.” Increasing our speed, we arrived at Round Hill, and the first squad of infantry we saw ran from us, supposing us to be the enemy. The principal part of the infantry were standing in groups in the edge of the woods adjoining the road. These received us with demonstrations of joy, cheering us enthusiastically. Here we met Colonel Hovey and the gun belonging to the First Indiana cavalry. Col. Hovey told me that the enemy was down the road, and “plenty of them,” at the same time saying to us, “pitch into them.” And we did “pitch into them,” at full speed. The three guns, closely followed by the battalion of cavalry, galloped down the lane in the woods where we first discovered the enemy approaching in the form of