The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-09-10
WHOLE NO. 3O8.
Correspondence.

Correspondence.
Ar HOME, August 2sth, 1862.
Dear Times Our unusually quiet city
has heard the tocsin ring and her sons are
arming for the conflict. The robes of peace
are laid aside, the temple Of Janus is open.
ed, and the "banners stream from the out.
er walls" No time for moralsing now -
Momus yields the stage to Bellona, and
laying aside his mask, grasps the spear and
dons the helmet. The Sucker State res
ponds nob!y to the call of Father Abraham.
The cry Of ''the Union in danger" was like
the exhibition of the Fiery Cross" among
the ancient Highlanders from woodland
and prairies, s,-from hill top and valley, men
came at its summons to uphold the "neteor
flag and, crush out the rebellion.
Talk Of drafting in state where 5000
men have volunteered in three weeks. This
county although one Of the smallest in the
State, has furnished six companies under
the late call. Would it not be good thing
for the Government to employ Col. Corco-
ran to recruit for the old regiments. How
the recital Of his rongs, and the horror
of the Richmond prisons, would stir up
our gallant western boys. One blast from
out his bugle horn, were worth thousand
men.
1t was here the 11th regiment, Ill.,, vol.
unteers was mostly raised, which for cool
and desperate fighting ranks with the I'd
and 7th Iowa. They fought side by side
at Donelson, forrninga a part Of three bri-
gades under the command of Col. Wal
lace, (killed at Shiloh) and proved them.
selves, every man hero. For five hours
these federal regiments withstood the attack
of $4,000 rebels, strongly supported by
artillery, and fighting with the enemy of
desperation. The first attack was made
about 7 o'clock when the enemy came
sweeping over the hill in large masses. -
Our men were ready and every bullet told.
Closer and closer came the rebel horde ::
their front ranks went down again and
again, under the deadly fire Of our rifles,
but others stepped forward and took their
places. Our men fought like the trained
veterans of a hundred battles;-their ranks
were fea-fully thinned, but the command
to "close up was promptly obeyed and
their front presented line Of fire no rebel
could cross. For thirty minutes the fight
ing continued without cessation, when
the rebel line began to waver Col. Ran
som saw the decisive moment had come,
and sharply the order rang out, "charge
bayonets." The enemy did not wait for
the cold steel, but broke and ran, and a
shout went up from our brave fellows that
made the old woods ring. After this severe
punishment, the rebels did not appear for
some time, and our men improved it to get
some breakfast which was partaken in line,
"every gun loaded and every eye peeled
for the enemy" They had not long to
wait; the rebels again came over the hill
in larger force and splendid style. This
fight was longer and better sustained, but
after two hours Of fierce and desperate
struggle they again ran.
After short lall, the fight again com
menced, each party had been reinforced,
the rebels bringing up their reserves and
hazarding all in final attack The fight
now ragged with unexampled fury, our men
went down in scores and hundreds; the
best blood of the nation ran in torrents,
still that little band stood firm. Bayonet
and cavalry charges were rcpelled with the
cold steel, while the musket rang out the
knell of hundreds Of rebels. Three times
our TANKS were driven in, but rallied again
through the determined heroism of their
officers. At last Col. Logan commanding
the 3lst on their right, sent word they
We're out of ammunition, and ordered Col
Ransom to fall back, at the same time their
left was turned by terrific charge of rebel
| cavalry. The messenger never reached
them, and for half an hour longer our boys
stood th>ir ground, while
"Cannon to right of theirs,
Cannon to left OF theirs,
Cannon In front of them,
| volleyed and thundsred."
Col. Ransom finally gave the order to
fall back this was accomplished in good
order, with ranks unbroken, the men fight.
ing shoulder to shoulder until they reached
our lines, when the one hundred and twen-
ty heroes, out Of six hundred who went
into action rested from their labors. 1t is
not my purpose to write history of the
fight which made Donelson immortal -
this has been done already by abler pens
than mine. Nor would claim greater
honor for the l1th than belongs to other
regiments. l have followed it's fortunes
more closely because am indebted to its
SCARED and disabled heroes for most o: the
facts here narrated. Among the hon
ored dead of that eventful day, was Capt
Shaw, prominent lawyer and leading citi-
zen of this county, who left lucrative
practice, and home surrounded with every
thing that makes life desirable, to serve his
country when cher ne> d was the sorest."-
His kind attentive care, his prompt and
soldierly bearing, won the affection Of his
men, and the esteem of his brother officers,
and his early death deprived the
country of the services Of one who
would probably have risen to high com.
mand. In the early part of the engagement
he was wounded by musket ball in the
wrist, but wrapping his handkerchief
around, he continued to cheer on his men.
Later came shot making a painful flesh
wound across the breast. When tHe con-
test ragged the fiercest, and the grim bat,
tie dice" flew the thickest, his orders were
coolIy given, and promptly obeyed. When.
ever man fell, his cartridge box was re-
moved and contents distributed along the