The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-04-26
Col. Dickey's Cavalry at the Battle OF
Pittsburg Landing. or ssShiloh."

Coll Dlckey's cavalry NJ tne DaVle
Pittsburg Landing. or ''shiloh." f
In all great hand to hand fights, like
that at Pittsburg Landing, it is seldom
that cavalry cut any conspicuous figure
especially when the cavalry force present
is SO small as to be Insignificant compared
to the infantry. At the battle of Shiloh
Col Dickey's cavalry regiment composed
probably half of all the cavalry present
Still, it it not to be supposed that in such
stirring scenes the cavalry was wholly
idle, although such is almost the infer
ence from the little mention that is made
of the cavalry in most of the newspaper
accounts of the battle A correspondent
of the st. Louis Republican, however who
appears to haye attached himself to the
cavalry during the action makes occasion.
al mention Of Col. Dickey's regiment, and
it is from his well written account of the
battle we clip the following paragraph:
A BRILLIANT MOVEMENT.
There are some movements on the bat.
tlefeld which are both beautiful and ex.
citing. The handsomest thing witnessed
by me during the whole battle occurred
on Monday, about 4, P. Nj. The enemy g
guns had been completely silenced on our
left and center, but the fight ragged fierce
ly still on our right Now would come a
few moments of cessation, then volley at.
ter volley, as if contending regiments
were obliged to stop and rest and then
60 at it again. Finally the firing grew less
and less, fainter and fainter. At this in
terestIng moment | saw General Grant, on
his large, cream colored charger, sur
rounded by his staff, looking intently in
the direction of the firing. He evidently
supposed the enemy was preparing to re-
treat. He looked around, and saw near
by, on the head of long ridge, the Sec
ond and Third bsttallions Of the Fourth
Illinois Cavalry, admitted on all hands to
be the finest cavalry here. The first
named battalion was commanded by Col.
Dickey in person. and the other by Major
Boz, man. The General ordered them to
follow. and dashed down at gallop full
half mile. followed by the cavalry in col
umn Of s9uadroons. with sabres drawn,
p preservIng the most perfect lines, passing
between several regiments of infantry,
vino shouted and cheered as the General
and cavalry galloped by; and then it was
that all felt. for the first time. the day
was ours. God be praised, the enemy had
already fed behind swamp: and al
though our cavalry could not pursue, still
we were glal to get rid OF them, even Oh
those terms.
The LAST FIGHT OF THE BATTLE.
No pursuit was ordered until the next
dav. when General Sherman. with the 4th
Illinois cavalry, and force of infantry
and artillery. went out upon their track.
Some eight miles from here we discovered
the presence of the enemy in n forest
across an open field-to the right of which
was what seemed TO be an abandoned
rebel camp A regiment of infantry was
ordered to advance and ascertain the
character Of the epemv-whether infan-
try. artillery, or cavalry. A company
was thrown out as skirmshers and We're
fired upon bv rebel infantry concealed in
the tents. A large body Of cavalry i'm
mediately charged from the woods upon
our infantry, (Seventy seventh Ohio who
opened ranks and allowed the whole
charge to come upon Us who were drawn
" short distance behind them. Our
horses of course became unmanageable
and we expecting that the infantry would
receive the charge were unprepared for
it. We rallied however Immediately,
and hand to hand fight Of the most ter.
rife description ensued The bullets flew
ike hail all around Us. and we sent a per-
feet storm of them into the rebel ranks
They broke and fed and were pursued by
\ detachment of Major Bowman's battal-
on under, his command, through the
woods, which We're soon strewed with
lend and wounded rebels So ended the
,attle of Shiloh. ..,..
As l have slreay stated, the last fight
vas on Tuesday, about five miles beyond
our lines. The most interesting feature
of this skirmish, for it could hardly be
,alled battle, was the hand to hand en-
counter between some of Col Dickey's
.avalry on our side, and some of Col. For !
'sts cavalry on the other Col Forest is /,
he celebrated Mississippi Ranger, per
ect dare devil of a leader, who escaped
With large portion of his regiment by
winning Slough on Sunday night be-
ore the surrender at Fort Donilson In
his affair on Tuesday, he led most des-
,erate charge against the Ohio infantry
Unfortunately for him, he encountered
;argeant John n. Parker. of Company NJ |
Capt OougeJ T0uTtn iiiiIiois cavalry, ana 3
fter exchanging a few shots received /
'all through his back. from side to side, I
which, if it does not kill him. will proha-
'ly cripple him for life. This was one of I
he most gallant encounters ever wit 4
lessed
Several privates distinguished them
elves on the location, either by killing
r. unhorsing each his man. Major Bow
nan unhorsed and captured an officer
u fact the rebel cavalry had discharged /
90 many shots at the Ohio infantry, be-
ore they came on to our cavalry. to resist
ur charge Our boys had too many
hots in the locker for them, and we
scaped with a few horses killed and
and some boys badly hurt.
How SoI nIrpS M.rr DnI-cuvrrS 4