Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-08-16
Henry Pigman.

from the GAINESVILLE Guards
EnlroR CcURiRR:-I would have written to you
i'm Immediately after sad affair at Vienna, but the
thousand duties incident to camp within a few
miles of the enemy, has prevented my earlier per"
forming this duty. have received several letters
wit, REGARD to the affair at Vienna. This must
ss 70 as an answer to all at least for the present.
l do not know that can give more accurate ac-
count of the fight of June 18th, at VIENNA than
ba,., seen in your columns Whatever may be said
nv letters from traitors there or surmises OF cor
RESPONDENTS the rebels had force of 1T least l.5oO
men consisting of cavalry, infantry and artillery.
We were taken completely by surprise, and had
the range of their batteries been better, we wouio
have sustained II much more serious loss. AS IL
was. the fire was very severe. neeo not give
Won any particulars OF the fight Itself that you
have been sufficiently informed upon whether
there was any error in taking us there as we were
taken is not for ME to say. l desire in this com
mun;ca,ion to refer briefly to the conduct OF the
men under my command, and especially those who
were killed on that unfortunate night.
As to the conduct of the men. cannot speak
too highly of it. They rallied we'll and promptly
and had the order been given to march back into
that hail storm of shot and she'll believe they
would with alacrity have obeyed the order Some
exhibited a greater degree of GOODNESS under the
fire than others, yet saw no evidence OF shrink
ing or the expression of cowa!dice from any.
can trust nv brave soldiers now, for they have
stood their first fire like gallant fellows as they
1t is With melancholy pleasure refer to the
three WHO that night left us-Morrison, Mercer
and iipman. There were but few better or Drawer
men than Henry Pgman. lie was shot by can
non ball through The left arm close to the shoulder
He fingered till nearly noon OF the ietn, when ne
died quietly as child going to sleep we were
comDeed to have our wounded carried from Fien-
ma to cur present position camp Aiton) ois-
lance of some seven or eight miles had command
of the advance guard, and was not abeto give that
atten ton to nv wounded that l otherwise would
have done; Though l knew they were kindly and
carefully tended but once as l was passing poor
pior,ap. lust as they had laid him down to change
and arrange the blankets under him. was pass
ing and stopped to speak to him. went to him
and smoke to him. He looked back and recogniz-
ing M, said, with kind of boyish cheeriulness
"Whv, Captaiu-God bless you. Captain!' and
the sad procession moved on, and never saw MN
alive again. Early next morning he was taken to
| Alexandria where he remained till after DEATH
From the comrades who attended him there have
learned that he seemed to quietly die away, muir
muriug through the morning at intervals, d" Oh
mother, GEAR mother!" His last ineligible words
were. {" 1t is growing dark, dear mother. ano
earth was all darkness to him, but the light OF
heaven welcomed the spirit of a brave and noble
soldier. lie often spoke in terms OF warm affection
of his former employer. Mr.. A. Dixon and family
sucb vacancies in our ranks each day brings back
the story, aud yet it is with proud grief that his
f,ier Is should bear his memory in their hearts
fJr he died nobly and in noble cause. They are
all buried at Camp Lincoln in Virginia, aud then
graves are sodded and fenced in, and every car,
= taken of the mortal remains Of those who brave
~ iei!.
have 10 time at present to write more exten
ded account of the affair. have seen various &C
counts of the matter in which the rebels we're re
ported of few numbers. give y0u statement
know 10 be correct, that they had not less thar
1,5Oo. Hastily yours,
JouN q. HAzLErr, Captain.
| Wri len July 4th, 1851.