The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-08-13

even the starred shoulder-straps TO de-
note his rank-a man who never wastes
time-who is indefatigable in his pursuit
and attack Of the enemy, and equal y un.
firing in his efforts TO secure the utmost
comfort Of his men, compatible with the
circumstances Of a soldiers life. When
his line is on the march, he is ever among
the men, with kind and cheering word
for every company a pleasant look, or
kind salute, or hearty grasp of the hand
for every officer or private with whom
he is brought on speaking terms by bus
mess and in fight he is always at the
front of the column, in the thickest of the
danger, encouraging his soldiers by
cheering word and fearless decd. He
takes soldiers fare with the rest, asking
no better food, and no more luxurious
bed than the newest-recruited private un.
der his command. If he sees a man
without proper shoes or clothing. he has
that man with his captain sent to his own
quarters, where the man is served with
the garments be needs and the captain
receives reprimand that leads him to
look more closely after the comfort Of
his men in future.
That such a man should be the idol o
his soldiers is not surprising. The meas
ure Of their alteration for him words fail
to express, though the following slight.
ly proane. but uncommouly emphatic
statement Of one Of his men, will per.
haps approximate it: "We would, ev.
cry one of US, fight for old Mac till hell
froze over, and then die on the ice,'
which frigid statement was cordially in
dorsed by all who heard it uttered.
OF the battles of Rich Mountain and
Laurel Hill, the men say that some OF
the Rebels fought well, but the majority
ran away early in the action, and APP
peared 10 be stricken with astonishmen,
that the Union men could fight at all
They had been led to believe that the
Federals would never stand fire, bu
would run away at the first opposing
shot. Their chief care seemed to be, af
ter each defeat, to get their dead mer
out of sight of their own men and of oul
forces. In one place on Rich Mountain
our soldiers found about 60 corpses o.
the enemy, pitched by their comrades
headlong down the disused shaft Of an
old coal mine. In another spot 81 bod.
les had been thrown into a ditch which
had been dug for the reception of otfal
from the camp. In still another place,
/ 5 corpses were discovered lying under
the lee Of a huge rock, covered over
slightly with brushwood. In the battle
of Rich Mountain alone $50 Rebels were
killed. nearly every man being sho,
through the head, from the fact of their
sheltering their bodies behind rocks, and
exposing only their faces.
An interesting incident OF the surren
der OF Col. Pegram is thus related. When
Pegram advanced to hand his sword to
Maj. Laurence Williams, each instantly
recognized the other, and both were
moved to tears and turned away unable
to speak for several minutes. They had
been college classmates and had met
thus, for the first time in many years.
| Col Lander behaved most gallanty a
Rich Mountain, as indeed he has done
ev ryw here else His horse was shot un
der him he then advanced TO the very
front of the column. and ascended rocL
whence he could overlook the nlrench.
ments Of the enemy, and there coolly
gave the word OF com mand 10 our boys
when to fire Immediately after the enc
my had fired, the Colonel would CT,
snow boys, up aud pour it into them.
our men would tly rise and deliver
their fire. and then as quickly lie dowI
to reload. By this cool headed and fear
less management, our men escaped ser
ious loss while the enemy suffered Sc
verely.
! One captain of gun, which had Civ
en- our men much annoyance, held hi
ground after every one of his men ha,
deserted him. and, by his own unaide,
exerlions, he loaded and fred tue piec
three times. Col. Lander called to on,
Of his men 10 load rifle for him, which
the man did, aud gave it into his hands
The Rebel gunner was preparing TO fir,
the fourth time he was alone, and Col
Lander. 10th 10 kill so gallant foe, erie.
TO him TO surrender the captain refused
and continued loading his piece Ga 6
pound cannon). when Col. Lander reluc
family yielded TO the necessities OF tn
case, and shot his brave enemy dead.
In every instance did Gen. Nc cClcllar
and Col. Lander behave with similar gal