Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-08-23

thigh. Sergeant Dcttmcr, of the Jackson
Guards, fell MORALLY wounded, and the hand
some Frank Rosenberg, private in the same
company, fell dead pierced through the brain
The killed on the Federal side was about
15O and the wounded about $50, while that
Of the enemy was treble this number. Capt.
Granger who was constantly over the field
during all tie day says that he saw more
than 800 of the enemy lying on the field
from Totten's battery eastward along the
south bank of the ravine. Their loss must
have been immense as their columns were
always dense, upon which the skill Of the
veterans who manned our batteries scarcely
ever threw away shot In the conflict
above spoken of they left 200 bodies-in
short the prisoners taken admit that their
loss was perfectly awful. In addition to the
killed the Union men took $50 prisoners,
about 400 horses, beautiful secession flag
and several cases Of revolving rifles, Mimic
muskets, swords, &c.
The success of Gen. Sigel was Indifferent.
He commenced the attack in fine style, but
was met by heavier force of men and guns.
He defended his position bravely for several
hours, but finally the enemy aanked him, and
his artillery horses all being killed, be dis
mounted five of the guns, set fire to the car
riages and with single piece cut his way
through and retreated upon Springfield
Those were the only guns lost in the action
There are many incidents connected with
the battle Of great interest. After Captain
Mason Of Co. Q. was killed, and Lieut.. Pur-
cell wounded, no other commissioned officer
remained. The color bearer also fell at the
same time, when private Grant suddenly
caught up the the colors, AMI waving then
aloft took comm md of the company, and re
Co. A. subsequently relieved him and took
command OF both companies.
Gus Munree of Co. while carrying his
gun at a trail had it struck by cannon shot
which shaved off the breech as completely
as is done with saw. Cha'ley Clark q
90. |, was struck by three balls WIN Oh
shaved two buttons from his coat and die
no other damage
Capt F. j. Heron was knocked over by
she'll, but was not materially hurt.
At one time during the action Captain
Granger of the Regulars saw large force Of
the enemy stealing through the timber or
the north bank of the ravine evidently with
a view of getting to the left and to the real
of our position. He instantly took three
companies Of the Iowa Regiment, and by q
detour reached small ravine directly in thu
line Of the advancing column, and directed
the men to lie fiat down. On came the enc
my unsuspicious of traps, and chucklng in
anticipation at the success of their maneuvre
"Now, boys" said the Captain, as the enc
my came exactly opposite, Now, boys, KEEP
cool, aim low, and give 'em h-nP' "By
Cd, Sir !" said the Captain after, in rela.
ting the circumstances to me-''your boy
just raised on 'em just as cool as a cucumber
and in ten seconds there wasn't one of 'en
IN sight"
EYES," said Major Sturgis, 'your fellow.
fought like devils, and if any man after thi.
ever says to me that volunteers won't fight
| III make it q personal matter with him
! Yes, SIT. your men fought just like devils 7
am full in the belief that these emphati,
compliments to the volunteers, and particu
larly to the Iowa Regiment, were we'll earned
by the gallant men to whom they were paid
To be sure few men from each company
sneaked from the tight--but there must b.
towards o! necessity in so large crowd
The shooting of the enemy with small arm
was universally low they aimed to woun,
ard not to kill, probably knowing that ever,
wounded man required two others to carry
him to the rear-thus weakening the fore
much more than by killing men outright
Several times during the day our force
were drawn into deadly traps by the enem,
concealing force Or masking battery an
then displaying the American Flag artIfice
which twice at least during the day wer
| successful.
By three P NJ, the forces had all retired
and soon after the wounded began comm
in. The hospital was filed, and then larg
hotel, the Bailey House was taken posses
sion of, and finally large Methodist Church
Some of the wounds were horrible som
ha / the lower jaw shot away, others ha
arms torn off, others came in with leg
dangling over the sides of the wsgon-al
thirsty, and calling almost necessarily 70
water A flag OF truce went out soon afte
to bring in the wounded and bury the dead
and ur to late hour the work still wen. or
The men who bore the flag report that the
were taAen to McCGloch in person, VIII
treated them with great courtesy, joked wit
them little about their i'll success, assure
them that he intended to kill Sigel at al
events, offered them some refreshments, an
readily gave them the desired permission t
carry away the wounded and bury the dead
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