Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-19

= CAxr SEAR SveAR CkKKK. AJAX
March .. lt62


March ., le62
EDIroR SESrISrL: Since wrote YOU last at Camp
HaIeck. ten miles beyond this, which we left some
ten or twelve days since on account of bad water
events so numerous and OF such exciting interest
have ,ranspIed. that hardly know where 10
commence. viii give you short detail and as
usual refer you TO the daily papers for full par
tculars.
On the night Of the 9Th inst. we were all aroused
from our slumbers. and ordered to Issue and cook
two DAYS rations and bold ourselves in readiness
to give battle to the enemy. who coming
upon u in great numbers. He was there already
attacking Sigel's forces who remained back in
his encampment near Camp Halleck. During
the day following, the 9th, he (Sigel) was sue
cessful in repulsing the enemy, but thought it
advisable 10 fall back so as to concentrate all our
available force. While he was engaging the
enemy We were fortifying our already strong po-
stion at the creek, supposing that he would fol
low up Sigel's retreat: before night. however, we
were convinced that no attempt was intended TO
be made to face our bristlng cannon. or descend
into the certain valley of death which he would
have to cross in continuing the pursuit, but that
he willy enough To be thanking us so as To
cut off our retreat from the entire rout and over
throw he had prepared for us-we saw our situa
ton. abandoned our position at the creek. fell
back with our baggage train one mile halted il
on an emnence that would take some hard fight
ing for the enemy to reach. who had by this time
got in our rear. That night we slept on our
arms momentarily expecting an attack. Next
morning, the Eth, our forces were moved out to
find the whereabouts of this mOnstrOus army
numbering, some prisoners state. from
forty to fifty thousand He not long
in making his appearance; at about quarter past
nine o'clock Se heard the thunder of artillery
the work of death had already commenced. As
/ do not know officially what forces we're engag-
ed, will not attempt To give all. | know Sgel
there; | know Davis there; that the
Odd, the 18th and the 9Th Indiana regiments with
the two Illinois regiments, the two of the other
brigade comprising our division were there The
roar of cannon, the roll of musketry and the
clash Of cOntending arms were heard until after
the sun had sunk in the West. Those of Us at
tached to the Quartermasters Department hav-
ing charge of the train of wagons, the rations,
along with other forces not engaged, when we
saw with what determination our enemy held on,
were more than once fearful what might be the
issue. We we're ordered to have our train ar
ranged in such a manner that il might be readily
burned in case of our men not being able to hold
their ground. We held it though but the sacr
flee was great. Col. Hendricks was killed early
in the day; one OF our Leutenants. Perry Watts
of Company h, and greater number wounded,
two of which will prove fatal.
Our men remained on the field that night We
sent them some refreshments prepared for them
during the day by men left back for that purpose.
The next day by sunrise our ears were again Sa-
luted by the sound of arti cry, and the din which
came from the field of battle told US what was
going on. Peal after peal follow ed in quick sue
cessiOn, and the continuous and heightened sound
of musketry which now seemed to be nearer and
then farther oil, continued until ; . o'clock in the
afternoon and all was stl-the enemy fed the
day was ours. If our loss was great his was ire
mendOus The battle field was literally covered
with his dead aud dying. No accurate computa-
ton can yet be made; to say they had fallen by
hundreds would not give you any idea OF his
loss
To-day, the 9Th, our dead and wounded were
looked after, and those still living made as COM
Portable as possible No trace of the enemy is to
be fosnd. A provision train arrived from Spring
field without being in the least obstructed. Nc
Cullough and Mcintosh were killed and Price
wounded. We have about three or four hundred
prisoners certain; there may be more, can't say
yet.
Our Colonel (Hendricks) died like a true
soldier at his post As saw him i'm camp.
with the boys, the kind hearted gentleman moving
among them as their father looking after their
wants, giving to each a kind word TO smooth the
hardness of a soldiers lot; so he stuck to them
in their hour of trial, and showed them that he
was willing. along with them, to risk his life.
rather than see dismembered one of the greatest
Governments the world ever saw. and to hand
down to his and their children the liberties pur-
chased by the blood of our fathers He is dead
but future generations will bless and venerate
him as another martyr added to that list of noble
spirits who will not lose their reward.
| subioin a list of killed and wounded in our
brigade, and close, as il is late:
ODD Indiana-9 killed, - wounded, mortal
ly; lSth-4 killed. 20 wounded, 3 MORALLY.
missing; Sth-5 killed, 80 wounded 3 missing
Yours, &c, G.. s. q.