The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-06-24
Remarkable Incidents OF the Battle OF
FAIR Oaks.
The Spring field (Mass J Republican

The Springfield (Mass J Republican
says
Adjutant Oliver Edwards returned to
his home in this city on Wednesday
morning, having been grsn!ed fu.lousL
from General Couch's staff on account
Of i'll health He has revived rapidly
since leaving Virginia, and hopes 10 re.
turn in season for the next battle. AL
Jutant Edwards left the federal camp
near Fair Oaks on Monday morning.
The men of the 10Th Massachusetts, in
camp are generally well, and every one
who is able TO lii finger thirsts eager
ly for another fight. They are now held
as a reserve under Lieut. Colonel Decker
Last Sunday afternoon they had skir.
mish with the rebels, in which thirty oi
our men were killed and wounded They
are at the very extreme left Of our lines,
III Very important position, and occupy
entrenchmenis and rifle pits.
The reason given for tho surprise oi
General Casey's division on Saturday is,
that it was stationed so near the enemy 5
main body that our pickels could not be
thrown out far in advance, and the sui
den dash of the rebels could not there
tore be foreseen or fully prepared for
On tie first day the entire Uuion army
numbered only O,000 men, while the
rebels had al least $4,000, and on the
second day, when our reinforcemeuts
had come up, we Were still inferior in
numbers, having only $4,000. The
killed aud wounded on the rebel side
must be far more numerous than ours,
and must reach 10000 or $4,000, while
the Federal loss was notlr5m 5000
Our artillery was admirably served and
cut through the rebel ranks like keen
scythe, Through grass. But they fought
well, With dash and determination. and
could net have been beaten BY any other
troops in the world, except their North
ern brethren. During the en.ife battle
no stragglers at all from the Union
ranks were TO be seen on the field. Every
man stood up TO his deadly duties ms he
would TO an ordinary days work. Mos
Of those who fell dead were in some atti.
tude of loading or firing; their brain.
were SO intent on their business that the
muscles became rigid in the very pos
ture in which the men were struck
/ down.
The following incidents are some 81
/ the many striking ones that occurred in
the two days engagement \ member
Of the loth regiment (name unknown
was surrounded by four rebels, who or
dered him TO surrender, He coolly re.
piled that "Ae IA her guessed not. aad
Immediately shot one. bavoneltel two
and broke the skull Of The last one with
the butt Of his musket. This certainly
seems Munchausenish.
Captain Mcfarland, Of the 10th Penn
sylvania regiment, having been taker
i prisoner by party 81 six rebels whc
We're carrying a wouuded officer to the
rear, very politely offered TO pilot then
! through tho bushes. aud CAREFUL,
brought them round among our owt
pickets, The summons. WHO come.
there ?" was answered by The captain
4 friend with seven prisoners. Si,
men belonging 10 the 92l New lorl
regiment Anderson Zouayes. hid lhem
selves on Saturday in their OWN camp
under some bushes, aud laid perlectl,
/ quiet all night, undiscovered by the reb
el troops who had taken the camp
Next day. when our forces drove tht
rebels out with great slaughter the eun
ming Zouaves turned up all right. anI
captured seven Of the enemy as prisoners