The Shasta courier., 1862-04-12

must We reached Fort Donelson in the
forenoon, after marching fourteen miles in the
mud, up to our knees, and were Immediately
ordered to take position in the center of the
lines, as reserve. The battle wes then
raging on all sides. We could hear nothing
but the stories of wounded and frightened
men, mingled with the roar of cannon and
musketry. The air was filled with bursting
shells and sulphurous smoke. 1t continued
to grow colder, water was scarce, and at
night we lay down in the snow, but could not
sleep. The next morning we we're ordered
to support battery which was engaged
While here we could see the long lines of
ambulances coming from our right wing. and
the report soon followed that that wing was
all cut up, batteries captured and ground
lost. We were in Gen. Smith division. =
McClernand was being driven back, and
must have reinforcements. Gen. Smith was
holly engaged, but told to take his two best
regiments He was in command at Padu-
cab, and had confidence in us. We were ia
ken along the lines toward the right, and for
mile and half saw nothing but defeated
and disheartened men, who had word of
encouragement for us, but SO were
whipped and cut to pieces. I'd will
not sing when you come out. +" etc. Our reg
iment were singing our favorite song of
Let the world wag it will.
We will be gay and happy still.
We marched around the brow of the hill, on
one side ef which was hospital filled with
wounded By some strange mistake, the
| 1lth had been left half mile in cur rear
Gen. Wallace showed us the hill where the
enemy were posted, and where our forces had
been repulsed. We did not pause long
Company B was ordered forward as skir-
mishers. We knew they were on the hill.
but it was 80 high and heavily timbered that
we could not see them, although having nc
idea that there was over 5000 waiting and
watching us, to get within a few feet Of
them before they opened their murderous
fire. Our company was near the top when
single shot passed near us. / warned the
men to be ready, and an instant afterwards
they poured on us volley from their thous-
ands of rifles. Without magnifying it in the
least, can say that the air was filled with
whistling balls that tore up the ground on
all sides, cut the limbs from the trees, while
the saplings bent as if in a storm. Our
Zouave drill saved us from destruction. Our
brave boys nobly returned the fire, thinking
their first volley would soon be over, and that
it would be their worst. The minnies were
now telling on their ranks, our one company
doing more execution that their thousands Of
men. New regiments were coming to theil
aid, and another company had got to ours
but in less time than can tell it came Sc
cend volley and third. By this time onl
regiment had got half way up the hill, and
we could hear the shopts of our brave Colo
mel, urging the men forward to assist Com
pany b. They were soon with us, and sem
confusion into the enemy's ranks. The lltf
had heard that the old 9Th was engaged, and
came rushing up on a double quick, arriving
in time to see the enemy running, to giTe then
a parting salute, and join in onr cheers.
The wounded wero sent in, and we mad.
charge on them and they broke, leaving theil
wounded, knapsacks and guns bohind. We
charged up to the entrenchmentswith bayonet:
| fixed, under the fire of their cannon, which
was pouring on us grape, canister, and shell
| r. A. - 10 hot Cow Sb
cannonicrs, and there was pcrceptible
Stacking Of their fire. We were row across
the ravine. where our forces had been re-
pulsed...in the morning The valley was
strewn with the dead, dying and wounded in
every direction, by far too many to count
They belonged to both sides. We sent al
we could to the hospital, hut our men had
fallen pretty fast, and it was our duty to see
them cared for first. 1t was 3 O'Clock when We
first started mp the hill. The sun was now
setting. Such heart-rending sight as il
went down upon, never before saw or wisf
to see again. We stood on the field where
our right wing had been slaughtered, and
could see war, in all its horrors, in more
vivid light than word or pen ever depicted
But we had driven the enemy before US
and were proud in the midst of death and
destruction.
In the morningwe had made up our mind,
to eat breakfast inside of their works or die
Then we saw the white flag coming to NEE
US, and we were soon in their works. Some
of their flags were torn in tatters, and our,
hoisted in their stead. 1t was now that VIZ
learned that We had been engaged the day
before with over 5000 men. The, 9 e.
tions were about four..miles acr
extending nine miles, .zkT
Mr.. Moffatt holds Lieutenant's Smmis
sion. lie modestly adds, that he tried to dc
his duty, but that many did more than he
did.
Telegraphic.
We are indebted to the Appeal, Uni,u. and
Independent for the following items of tela.
| graphic news. The overland line ia o,,t =,
working order nearly all the time:
PHILADELPHIA, March 29.-Jackson,. D..
rotechnic factory exploded this morpino.