St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-12-04
STEARNS CO., MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER A. 1882

leave pickets to throw him off the trail,
ordered the first brigade to drive in the
pickets at double-quick ani follow them
up. This Brigadc-thc Min. 4th, Wis.
26th 1ndianna 18th and 59th, Iowa 5th,
and the 18th Ohio Battery, obeycd the
order with alacrity, and after chase of
two miles, came suddenly upon Prices
whole force, 10000 men, drawn up in
line of battle, who Immediately opened
fire on them. The sun was not an hour
high. The Brigade returned the fire.
The Battery became the object Of con-
test, and was taken and rctakcn 9 times !;
Of l07 horses led to it in the short fight,
only IL were led away uninjurcd-of the
100 men belonging to it, 10 were killed
and wounded; and when light failed 50
that they could no longer sec to fire a
shot, the Battery lay between the con-
tending parties, who rested on their arms
each about 10 rods on either side of it.
The End Brigade had como up, and each
man lay down suppcrlcss with lis gun in
his arms, ready to tcgi i'm in the morning !;
but when morning came the rebels were
gone, aud our troops too weary to pursue
by noon their supplies came up, and they
had dinner. .
1t was during this battle, that boy of
Capt. Lcus's company who had always
been thought soft, was wounded in both
legs and ordered to be carried to the rear,
but when the carriers came to him he pro-
tested and scoldcd, indlly cried, sobbcd
and blubcrcd, he wasn't going to the
rcar-hc wasn't-could fight as we'll as
any Of them, and on his knees he stood,
loaded and fired as fast as any Of them,
until the fight was over. Capt. Lucg told
/ the story when here, bit VIC were unable
to learn the boys name.
The battle cf Corinth was fought six
days after this, and lasted two days The
night after the first fight, Rosccrans was
in bis saddle all night. Batteries were
planted and men formed in line over three
miles long, running through the town and
facing rorth, the enemy, facing south cast,
beginning the battle at tho south where
the lines were closest, and gradually
swinging in, like a gate, until the whole
line was engaged. With an advance bat
tory the enemy began throwing shells, at
the first glimpse of day. The gunncrs
at the scige guns of ''0ld Battery Rob-
inct," took range by the flash, and with
their first round dismountcd every gun.
Where he stood. Capt. Innlan said he
coald sec the enemy come up IL battall-
ions deep; and our scigc guns with show
ers Of grape cut great roads through
them, but they came on, on until our men
could hear their commanders shout:
"Ncvcr mind that, boys, close up, close
up" And up they closed, and came on.
i Col. Rodgers of Texas, dashed forward,
at the head Of his regiment bearing the
Stars and Bars in his hand, and in the
side of the carth-work Immediately before
the guns he planted the flagstaff with the
colors flying at its head He and they,
were instantly shot down and by request
of the few of his men who survived him,
he was buried where he fell.
The Ohio 11th Battery again became
an object of contest, but the Brigade had
pledged each other that the rebels should
not have it until they had been driven
from it by the point Of the bayonet The
enemy charged upon it, aud in the face of
the most deadly fire came on until within
two rods of it, and as the mcp loaded and
fred, the quickest be ever saw, he could
see them set their teeth hard, and hastily
fecli if their bayonets were firmly set In
two minutes they expected to dash for
ward with them, when the enemy broke
and fed. He described one charge made
by portion Of the Min. 4th alone, double
!: quick, running loading, and firing with
the utmost speed, while keeping line like
a wall. Their division General chee.ed
them on the spot, saying it was the hand
soonest charge he ever saw. 1t is gcner
ally claimed that this charge turned the
} tide Of battle in our favor. Capt. Inmar
says that the first fire Of it silenced q
masked battery, by killing SO many of the
gunners that the rest ran away; but they
, knew nothing Of it until next day, when
I AZ a. ~