No. 5.
Report of Col. Napoleon B.
Buford, Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry.
SIR: I have the
honor to report the part which my regiment took in the battle of Belmont on the
7th instant. The regiment, numbering 720 rank and file, were on board the
steamer Montgomery at 4 o'clock p.m. of the 6th instant, which landed on the Kentucky
shore at foot of Island No. 1 to await the following daybreak, at which time we
steamed down the river to a point on the Missouri shore, in full view of the
batteries at Columbus, Ky., and at 7 o'clock a.m. I landed the regiment, and
took up the position assigned me by yourself on the right of the First Brigade,
which was parallel to a bayou, which was in some places dry and in others
impassable, and directly opposite one of the roads to Belmont, at the distance
of 1¼ miles from the enemy's camp. I immediately advanced the first platoon of
Company A, under the command of Captain Schmitt and Lieutenant Shipley, across
the bayou into the woods, to ascertain the nature of the ground and discover
the position of the enemy, whose drums were distinctly heard. The detachment
had advanced only 100 yards before they were fired upon by a body of cavalry,
which they repulsed. As soon as the firing was heard I advanced the remainder
of Schmitt's company, and supported them with the whole regiment, which I
caused to cross the bayou. Schmitt's company, having advanced about 200 yards
farther, were again fired upon by a larger body of cavalry, wounding one of his
men, which he gallantly repulsed a second time. At this time, by your orders,
Colonel Fouke brought up his regiment to my support, which he quickly formed on
my left, and sent out two of his companies as skirmishers. It was here that you
found me in advance of the place assigned me, and as the artillery and the
other regiments, not of your brigade, had not yet come up, by your orders I
moved back to the right of my first position, with Fouke's and Logan's
regiments all formed in line of battle.
While waiting for
the arrival of Taylor's battery, my regiment was advanced half a mile to the
right, and companies A and B sent forward under the command of Captain Schmitt,
with orders to feel the enemy and engage him if found in that direction.
Taylor's battery having arrived, the whole attacking force, with the exception
of my regiment, moved forward on the direct road to Belmont, and the
engagement became warm, you leading your
brigade. From the information I received I became assured that the road I was
on led to the rear of Belmont, and that by following it rapidly I would get
into action at the right time and in the right place.
Guided by the sound
of the fierce battle in which you were all the time engaged, I moved forward.
At my request you had detached Captain Bielaski, one of your aides, to attend
me, who rode with me at the head of the regiment. As we pressed forward in the
woods, Captain Dollins, with his cavalry, appeared on my left, and obeyed my
orders with alacrity to go forward and discover the enemy.
Our road soon led to
a full view of the river and Wolf's Island, below Belmont, where we met straggling
soldiers retreating, of whom we captured several, Captain Parke securing the
first one. The troops became animated and quickened their step, and came in
sight of the camp, which was defended with an almost impassable abatis of huge
sycamore trees.
I here formed our
line of battle, the right opposite the abatis, the left in the open space in
full view of Columbus, and under the fire of the field artillery in Belmont and
the enemy's guns on the opposite side of the river. As we approached by the right
flank, before the line could be formed at right angles we received a heavy fire
of muskery, which killed and wounded some of my men. While forming under fire
the gallant Captain Bielaski, on his charger, was seen animating the men and
assisting in forming the line. His heroic bearing was observed by us all. After
having his horse shot under him he seized a flag, and, advancing with shouts,
he fell mortally wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Harrington and Adjutant Rust were
near me on the right, leading bravely forward, while Major Wilson was doing the
same on the left. The nature of the ground, the obstacles, and the heavy
cannonading which was reaching us caused each company to take up the best
position it could, and all kept up a constant fire, which soon drove the enemy
from his camp. Here we lost about 9 killed and 30 wounded.
My next order was to
advance over the abatis on the right and across the plain on the left, and
occupy the camp over which the enemy's flag still waved. The order was obeyed
on the double-quick, and the camp entered simultaneously by companies A,
Captain Schmitt, and G, Captain Southward and others in such quick succession
that I could not distinguish which went forward with most alacrity. Captain
Schmitt, with part of his company, and Lieutenant Lytle, with part of
Southward's company, were the first to reach the flag, which was torn down by
their joint efforts, and it remained in the hands of Lieutenant Lytle, who
brought it away, a trophy well earned by the intrepidity he displayed during
the whole day. As we advanced to make this attack the "Star-Spangled
Banner," borne by Fouke's, Logan's, and other of the regiments engaged,
was seen steadily advancing on our left; Taylor's battery was brought forward
and opened fire, the enemy's artillery was captured, and we had possession of
Belmont.
While these deeds
were being enacted you rode into our midst, and it was by your order that my
regiment fired the camp. We had taken about 70 prisoners and many muskets,
pistols, horses, and trophies. I placed the prisoners under charge of Captain
Schmitt, who was wounded in the enemy's camp, and he and Captain Miles, with
other prisoners he had captured, began to return to the boats. Shot and shell
from Columbus made it necessary that my regiment should now fall back behind
the abatis and into the woods. The victory appeared won. We commenced retiring
to our boats, but soon a new attack, made by fresh troops, who had been landed
from Columbus in the woods, intercepted our march. We returned their fire by a
part of our regiment, and sought to find a new route to return. Covered by the
woods, and guided by the descending sun, I led the regiment northward until I
reached the bayou we had marched around in the morning to outflank the enemy,
and recognizing the position, went confidently around it and got within 1 mile
of the starting-point of the morning, but was admonished to take a northerly
direction by the continued sound of musketry between us and where our boats
were left in the morning and by the heavy cannonading from our own gunboats. We
marched northward in rear of the farms on Lucas Bend, a distance of about 3
miles, before returning to the river near sunset, exposed during the whole
march to the shot and shell of our own gunboats, which happily did us no
injury.
On reaching the
river the fleet of gunboats and steamboats were all far in advance, steaming
towards Cairo. We marched forward, greatly fatigued, with the prospect of a
long night's march. Our wounded men were limping along, and all our horses were
surrendered to them. The sun was setting. I met a settler, who had a frank,
honest face, from whom I borrowed his horse, and mounted Adjutant Rust upon him
to gallop forward, and if possible reach the steamer which was nearest us. The steamer
was seen to be halting, floating back to Beckwith's Landing. The adjutant
reached the steamer Chancellor, hailed, and was answered by General McClernand
that he was halting with the steamer and the two gunboats to take all on board.
We soon met you on the shore, happy in knowing you had bravely led the brigade
and continued unwearied in securing its safety.
And now how shall I
distinguish those of my own command who did nobly? It was our first action. We
encountered great odds; the enemy in his fortified position, the thunder of the
heavy artillery from Columbus, the whizzing of rifled cannon; we had no guides.
How could soldiers who had only volunteered a few days ago be expected to brave
such odds! But they did brave them. My thanks are due to Lieutenant-Colonel
Harrington, to Major Wilson, and to Adjutant Rust, who nobly assisted in
forming the line under the fire and rallying the troops and in covering the
retreat; also to Captains Schmitt, Parke, Moore, Miles, Southward, Brooks,
Merrill, and Bozarth, and all the officers under their command; also to
Sergeant Jansen, of Company A, and Fourth Sergeant McCormick, of Company B,
whom I observed nobly doing their duty. Surg. E. H. Bowman was at his post,
dressed the first wounded man, and was the last to leave his post. Happy am I
that he is safe. Assistant Surgeon Barrell remained at home by my order to take
care of the sick, but obeyed reluctantly. Quartermaster Sears solicited me to
accompany the expedition, but as we took no train, I left him in command of the
camp at home. Chaplain Rev. Dr. S. Y. McMasters accompanied the expedition, and
was unwearied in consoling and dressing the wounded.
We lost 11 killed,
42 wounded, 28 missing, and 14 known to be prisoners. Among the mortally
wounded was Lieut. William Shipley, of Company A, from Quincy, a young man of
rare merits. He had for some time been unwell, and was by me directed to remain
in camp; but when the column marched he was at his post, radiant with smiles,
and was in the battle from first to last, receiving his wound on the retreat
within a mile of the boats.
All of which is
respectfully submitted.
Commanding First Brigade Illinois Volunteers.
SOURCE: The
War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 3 (Serial No. 3), pp. 283-5
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