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Belmont, from the Rebel Side.
Memphis papers received at Cairo, under a flag of truce, are filled with the details of the recent battle at Belmont. Of course they claim a very great victory, but admit a severe loss on their own side. They set our loss down at seven hundred. The Memphis official thus explains the fight:
Col. Tappan's Arkansas regiment, with Watson's Louisiana battery, had been encamped just opposite Columbus for some days. Early in the morning, the enemy, 7,000 strong, landed seven miles above on the Missouri shore, and moving down opened a vigorous fire on this regiment.
Gen. Pillow's brigade, some 2,500 strong, composed of Wright's, Pickett's and Walker's Tennessee regiments, were immediately ordered over to their relief. They fought gallantly against superior numbers until their ammunition was exhausted.
They were then overwhelmed and driven back with great loss — to the very verge of the river, where they again made a stand, fighting with their bayonets.
At this critical juncture Gen. Cheatham's brigade was sent over, and, with the assistance of Smythe's battalion, carried the fortunes of the day.
So it appears from the above that General Grant was correct in the information he received that the enemy were under marching orders on the very day he made the attack. The following is Gen. Pillow's dispatch to his wife:
COLUMBUS, Ky., Nov. 7.
MAS. GID J. PILLOW: We had a hard-fought battle; lasted from 9 to 5 o'clock. I fought four regiments against nine for four hours without help. We drove the enemy back three times; his greatly superior numbers overpowered my command. I rallied it repeatedly, and ultimately got reinforcements, drove them from the field, and pursued them five miles and into their boats. Loss severe — the enemy's more so. I am not hurt.
GID. J. PILLOW.
The rebels say the retreat of our troops at the close of the day was "a regular Bull Run rout, with the loss of a vast amount of small arms and ammunition, several pieces of artillery and untold numbers of slain." Such lying as this is quite refreshing. A few more such victories would use up the entire rebel force at Columbus.