Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-08-30

And now the dance commenced in earnes
and the music waXed fast and furious. Shell
burst above, beyond, and all around us. Sc,
eral cannon shot fell close to us, and muskt
and rifle balls whistlcd above us thickly, bu
all too high. AS we were standing still, await
ing orders, and not able to fire ourselves, thi
was as severe test of courage as could b
made 1t was here we lost our first man XII
led. The foremost companies, being thos
within range of the enemy's fire, had, by OF
ders, almost all laid down. had just got u
and walked over to Henry Blank for piec
of tobacco, when was called by one of tn
men and told that one of our company wa
killed FASTENED down a few steps and sav
Shelby Norman, one Of our best boys, stretched
on the ground, senseless, with a large hole il
his temple. The ball did not pass through
but passed along the front and top of hi
forehead, and protruded in a large bump Oh
the other side without breaking the skin. Th'
boys eyes were closed, and his breathing
heavy and slow I raised his head and put
coat under it, and sent Immediately for DR.
White, who appeared promptly. Just as he
came we received orders to advance up tn.
hill to the battery, which was threatened Pool
Norman was one of the bravest and mos
faithful members of the company. His endu
rance and pluck were remarkable He march.
ed from Renick to Boonville, sixty miles
barefooted, without once losing his place, and
without murmur. His very death illustrated
his spirit: While we were lying still waiting
orders, and sheltering ourselves by kneelins
from the murderous fire, drunken soldier
from another regiment called up to us and
said: "Stand up don't be afraid of them ~
The impetuous boy not being able to stand
even such an implication on his courage, ,sprang
to his feet with his musket, and STRENGTHENING
up stood facing the fire The next instant he
was PROSTATE and senseless. Many illustrious
names will be emblazoned on the records of
Wilson'S creek, but not among them all was
there more dauntless and courageous spirit
than that of Shelby Norman.
We hurried eff at double quick, throwing
lway our coats, haversacks, and every
thing that we could spare, and, breathless
md tired, were fronted and formed on the
summit of the reserve hill, right behind sec
ton of the battery, which was now silent, and
at the word forward" the whole line moved
rapidly down the slope towards the enemy,
who were charging the battery A Kansas
regiment was still between US and the enemy,
and we halted to give them time to retire.
Here the fire became terrific. The balls liter
ally rained about us. Without being able to
fire ourselves, we had nothing to do but to
listen to their music. AS they came, cutting
the leaves, the bark and the earth, the pecul-
Jar sound made by the balls as they passed,
seemed like the spiteful splitting of millions of
invisible demons. 1 forgot to state
that before we advanced to this position COM
panies D and E were detailed as skirmishers.
and were, all this time, engaging the enemy.
The Kansas troops here retreated in great
confusion, running helter-skelter, and took
through our lines, separating companies A and
F from the rest of the regiment. Just then
a large body of cavalry charged up the hill,
passing some thirty yards to our right, appa-
rently intending to flank us, and fired on US.
COL Merritt ordered us to about face and re-
treat, which we did in pretty good order, con-
sdering the circumstances. While endeavor-
ing to keep the line unbroken, ball from the
cavalry struck me in the leg. felt it immedi-
ately, and, though not painful, was famed
so that could walk but slowly and with great
difficulty My shoe filled with blood instantly
STOPPING to stanch the wound with my hand
kerchief, called the attention of Lieut.. Sat
terlee, who, up to this time, had commanded
the company during the engagement, who or
dered me to the rear, where | went in search
of a surgeon. The regiment retired so rap
idly that I could not keep pace with them, and
descended the hill and went back to the first
of the two hills which we held Here found
great confusion, several retreating companies
of the Kansas troop, ambulances, horses and
wounded, pouring in rapidly. After looking
in vain for the surgeon of some other regi
ment, our own being with his regiment, and
being refused admittance to any of the wagons
which were already filled, cut an old lame
horse loose from wagon, and mounted him
soon found out, however, that should have
to help him more than he would me, and as il
began to look a little like a retreat felt my
situation little precarious, and began to cas-
about for other means of conveyance. Righ
over me, in the edge of the ravine where thu
enemy had been posted, but from which they
now appeared to have retired, was the cavalry
camp have before described, and could se
fifteen or twenty horses tied there. l deter
mined to have one.
Riding over, found all quiet. Took tw'
horses, one with saddle and bride, which
mounted, and leading the other, retreated. o.
going back found George Greenhow, Nj
Lorber and others Of our company wounded
and giving them the other horse to use I Sc
out to find surgeon for them. The firin
had now ceased and we supposed the fiel
won. The enemy had been driven back wit
great slaughter. But just as we were cor
fortably settling down in this belief, fresh re
Inducements arrived to the enemy, and
again charged our batteries. The firing agai
became ir ircessant. Our boys repulsed tn
charge successfully, and again all was quie
except the playing of the artillery on the di
tant masses of the enemy. Suddenly til
1st Iowa was ordered up to support Totten
battery. The enemy had taken four of Sigel
pieces, owing to inefficient support from tf
infantry, and they now made last and de
perate assault on our batteries. Here it W;
that the 1st Iowa Regiment or rather comp
MES A, F, and E, made the most splend
| stand of the battle eXcept il NAV be the ye1