The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-22
From Corinth.
Special Correspondence Of the Consisrs- !,
Orr CoprN@n M~~y Mac IL

| Special Correspondence Of the Cousisr-
Orr CoRrNfs, Mns., May IL, 1852.
Believing that the people Of ottumwa and
vicinity feel an interest'in her boys enlisted
in the nth as we'll as those in the other
brave Iowa Regiments, send you one word
for their perusal f3
The regiment left st. Louis for this place
one week ago last Sunday morning. Where
"this place" is, will tell you by and by
We passed Paducah, at the mouth Of the
Tennessee, on Monday afternoon. At tina,
place We were told frightful stories-they
told US that boats bearing troops up the
Tennessee had, for the last week, been fred
into by rebels from the shore; how that we
would probably fare no better than others,
and that when night should come on our
safest way would be to tie Up till morning
Our Colonel thought otherwise, and when
night came he posted heavy guard and
pushed straight on. There was nothing "a
create excitement till two O'Clock 4. NJ Al
that hour while opposite Fort Henry we
were hailed by a hospital boat, the Captain
Of which, in connection with the Colonel Of
the post, requested an interview with our
Colonel. The result Of the interview show.
ed that three miles above the Fort the hos.
|pital boat had been fred into and obliged Ia
return. Our regiment was at once ordered
to put itself in fighting order The muskets
were all loaded and the men posted on the
deck Of the steamer. A large boat was lash.
ed on the side Of the steamer, and then start
ed for what was supposed d big battle The
place was reached and passed, but no rebel
made his appearance. EGG s1F tssaif
The country on the Tennessee was vel
described in letter written BY member Of
the 18th regiment and published in your pa.
per- II the country was all we were after
it would be wise to deed il back to the In.
dams, provided this would close the war.
Our regiment was ordered to report itsel
to Gen. Pope, who has command Of the lef,
of the Union army on che Tennessee. Ac.
cordingly we landed at Hamburg, six miles
above the place where was fought the terri.
bic battle Of Pittsburg, or Shiloh We land.
ed at Hamburg on Tuesday evening, and on
Thursday following reached this place
point about two miles from the Hamburg
and Corinth road, and six miles {some say
only four) southeast from Corinth. We
were posted on the extreme left Of the ,ef,
wing of our army, and in advance Of every
other regiment-quitSa post Of honor for a
regiment so green as ours.
In was on Thursday that the End iowa
Cavalry made its SPLENDID charge on what
it supposed to be single battery Of the en-.
envy, which turned ont to be four batteries
in all Of some thirty guns. You doubtless
have learned all the news Of this affair by
telegraph. Ourregiment on its march heard
the firing distinctly a messenger, too, pass
ed us at full speed saying. ''Bad news, our
forces are in full retreat ~ This tried the
nerres Of our boys. 1t was amusing to see
how differently it affected different men. To
some of our officers even it gave the "Ten-
nessee quick-step," Il shall let you guess
what that is,) and as the danger approx
mates so did the disease increase. One
Lieut.. B was so sadly affected that
he was obliged to get sick furlough and 90
home. You may see the gentleman before
he returns. II takes some such men to
make up the world.
Last night Colonel (now acting Brigadicr
GeneraD Percelrs brigade made an advance
Of two miles. This leaves us no longer in
the front. Last night the report came into
camp that Corinth was burning; but was
not believed-the enemy is still there. Great
ioy was created by the news from Virginia.
If 1t he true, the war will soon close. 49,
The boys from Ottumwa and vicinity N
our regiment are well. One, James "A.
Thompson, we left sick in Benton Barracks
with the mumps. When we left him he
was doing well. Let me say to the friends
Of these yonng soldiers that they make
brave men in the field. The nth win not
yield one whit in bravery to any iowa regi-
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