Nebraska advertiser., 1862-02-20

ed not a single foot backward. Brave
ly, determinedly, without finching, these
four regiments held their ground, deal
ing death, dying and fighting against ap-
paling odds, and in the face of every dis
advantage. The Eighteenth Regiment
seems to have resisted the severest storm
Against their ranks the rebels directed
their heaviest; fire but instead of fall
ing back; they advance to the very face
of the enemy and there stood as it were
in the very jaws OF death, fighting brave
ly and determinedly, with scarcely a pros
pect that a single one would escape sure
and swift destruction. For three hours
thse four regiments, nubering 5000 held
their ground against the whole rebel gar
rison.
Never on the American continent has
a more bloody battle been fought. An
officer who participated and was wounded
in the fight, informs US that the scene
beggars description, and must ever be be-
yond the conception of those who were
not present. He says that he scarcely
thinks he exaggerates when he says that
so thickly was the battle field strewn with
the dead and wounded that he could have
traversed acres Of it, taking almost ev-
cry step upon a PROSTATE body. The reb-
els fought with desperation, seeming TO
be inspired with what will prove meas
urably true, that their hope for success
in this rebellion were intirely connected
with the result of the battle then raging.
Their artillerists were skillful, using their
pieces adroitly and with most fearful ef-
feet. On either side could be heard the
voices of those in command, cheering the
men on, using every means to fix them
in their purpose to die rather than yield
the contest. In such a fight, the four
Illinois regiments we have named held
their ground for fnll three hours. Near
ly one third of the whole number had
been killed or wounded, yet the balance
stood ready and willing tofall sacrifice to
their country. Over five hundred of the
Eighteenth were in death, or suffering
from wounds. The other commands had
suffered less, but greatly; and for a time
without relief, it appeared that nothing
short of humiliation could be expected.
At this juncture r-einforcements arrived.
The battle was waged with renewed vigor
on our side, but with no less determine
ton on theirs. About four o'clock our
right wing turned their left.
The rebels fell back into the fort, the
the stars and stripes were planted upon
the position occupied by their left wing
and for the time at least the carnage and
slaughter ceased.
Lieut.. Col. Thomas H. Smith of the
Forty-Eighth Regiment fearlessly it into
the thickest of the fight fell pierced by a
ball and died upon the field.
Dresser's and Schwartz's batteries
were brought into action but were soon
taken by the enemy. The 18th Illinois
regiment with dubbed muskets recovered
Dresser's, while the 3lst recovered
Schwartz's. More daring deeds than
those did not characterize the battle.
Two thousand of our soldiers are re-
ported as killed and wounded, the dead
it is thought numbering fully five hundred.
The rebel loss is said TO fully as great or
greater. Yet the battle IS not yet ended
the victory aimed at is not yet ours.
Fort Donelson is not yet, but must be ia
ken. This is the determination and will
be carried out though ten thousand lives
be lost in doing so.
Col. LAWYER is dead. While he was
heing conveyed from The field he was as
ked if be was seriously hurt. He replied
that he thought not that his wounds though
severe were not mortal. He had scarce
ly finished speaking when another ball
struck him and killed him. He proved
himself a brave ma n and died a true sol.
der.
Among the last and most painful items
of intelligence that reached US last night
is the reported death of Col John A. Lo-
gan of the Thirty-frst regiment. Tho
severely in the arm and body early in
the action he staunched the blood and
continued in command of his regiment
until it is said he was laid low in death.
Mhn Mnrk nnns prnunlu nn