The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-04-22

rear, anu vet occupying tne main roa'
to Corinth. The gunboats continued t.
send their shell after them until they
had entirely got beyond their reach
Thus ends an outline of the battle of The
first day.
There is no time or opportunity at this
hour to obtain a list, or even any accu
rate knowledge of the loss by killed
wounded or missing. Some Of our Ohio
regiments have suffered severely, al
though the number of those severely
wounded is comparatively small. Cur
shots in the arms and legs are very plen
tiful, 1t seemingly having been the OBJ
ject of the enemy to wound rather thar
kill outright, being in adherence to the
policy that it requires Jour men to take
care of one wounded, while none are re-
quired to look after the dead.
ARRIVAL OF GEN. BUELL's FORCES.
After wearied watching Of severa
hours of the most intense anxiety, the
advance regiments Of Gen. Buell's di
uision appeared on the opposite bank Of
the river, at five o'clock this afternoon
Steamers were Immediately sent over,
and the work of ferriage began, the 36tl
Indiana and the 9Th Ohio being the first
to cross, followed by the main portion of
Gen. Nelson's division.
They were succeeded by Gen. Bruce's
command, embracing among others, the
lst and Cd Kentucky. Cheer after cheer
,.rootaJ ,l,o ,r,;yal &c ,bo ro;, foroap,apts
knowledge of their importance in the
crisis being firmly impressed by all who
had witnessed the events of this dread
full day. Without moments delay they
disembarked and marched to the ad-
vance, where they rested on their arms
for the night. They had marched at a
double quick from Savannah, but their
comrades in the field had sustained an un-
flinching fight for fifteen hours, and they
were glad to relieve them and afford
them few hours rest.
THE SCENE AT MIDNIGHT.
AS / sit tonight, writing the epistle,
the dead and wounded are all about me,
The knife of the surgeon is busily al
work, and amputated legs and arms lie
scattered IN every direction. The cries
Of the suffering victim, and the groans
of those who patiently await for medical
attendance, are most distressing to any
one who has any sympathy with his fel-
low man. All day long they have been
coming in, and they are placed upon the
decks and within the cabins of the stea
mers, and wherever else they can find a
resting place. l hope my eyes may new
er again look upon such sights. Men
with their entrails protruding, others
with broken arms and legs, others with
bullets in their breasts or shoulders, and
one poor wretch | found whose eyes had
been shot entirely away. All kinds OF
conceivable wounds are to be seen, in all
parts OF the body, and from all varieties
of weapons.
1t Is midnight, and besides the cries ol
distress, all is silent, save the hourly dis.
charge of a broadside from the gunboats,
sending heavy shells into the vicinity oI
the enemy's camps. / should Judge that
they are having rather sleepess night,
under the circumstances. The rain is
beginning to fall heavily and mercilessly
on the poor wounded who are exposed to
its peltings. Every particle of sheltered
space is occupied by them, and yet there
are hundreds who have no protection
from the storm. Yet these are the cir.
cumstances Incidental to this terrible
war.
THE FIGHT TO-DAY
There is no use Of endeavoring to de-
ny that this is the battle of the great rebel.
lion. No harder firing has ever been
done in any con test which has ever taken
place in this or any other country
Soldiers stood at their guns aud fed them
with cartridges hour after hour, from
early dawn until sunset. Officers have
been encouragement to their men and
privates, musket in hand, have hungry,
thirsty and worn, fought with an energy
and perseverance which deties all dc.
scription. | cannot particularize, for
among SO many, fear should do some
injustice by emitting TO mention them,
WINE lHcN ilGuAy uSStiNc an tial Couih
be said of their bravery aud coon ess in
the hour of danger.
AN INCIDENT OF THE DAY.
1t might not, perhaps, under ordinary
circumstances, be proper TO mention any
case OF apparent cowardice which could
occur in such contest Yet | think
Justice demands that reference be made
10 tho condnct of new regiment, {
spare the name in consideration of the
brave sons Of the State, who had arriv-
ed at this point the day previous to the
battle. They marched TO the top of the
hill. after the battle had begun to wa,
hot, bnt soon returned, ana could not be
induced TO go forward at any time after,
wards. Their officers. at a late hour ii
the afternoon, rode among them and en-.
treated that they fall into line. They
told them that their brothers in prm,
had borne the brunt of the battle all the
day long. and now needed their help
But they refused to stir,
The sound Of cannon and musketry
the wizzing Of the balls over their heads
and the sight OF the wounded momenta
rily carried past them. was too much
and they refused 70 stir an inch from