The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-12-18


men without rations in their havcr>acks
or water in their cantccns, the regiment
was depioyed in front OF the enemv's
left, rs skir:ni~l,crs, to act rs grand
guard ull the hext n. M, each alternate
man sleeping an hour ut n time.
The daylight came, and with i our
heavy siege guns opened upon central
battery Of the enemy. Both SIDES had
been busy during the night. Kosecrans
had planted new batteries in positions
which would cffsc,uany protect the post
held by 10 or $4,000 troops against
superior force-and kept the empty
wagon trains running through the
streets, and All empty train Of cars rum
ing to and from Iuka, 10 deceive the
1 enemy into belief that our forces were
skedaddling. "Thc bait took, and the
rebel generals anticipated en- easy
victory believing our early cannonading
was the work of our "rear guard
| Our positions were taken at daylight,
and glance sufficc1 to reveal the ad
mirablc gcneralship Of Rosecrans. The
men Of our side, refreshed by what
crest" they had taken, and having been
supplied with hard crackers and water
during the night, were "eagcr for the
fray
For nearly half an hour after sunrise
all was rs still as death. not stra,
shot being heard. The skirmishers Of
both armies were feeling for each other
in the forest, which separated the foes.
At length the shots became frequent;
and diminishing went briskly OH till
about 10 o'clock, when We discovered
our sha,p-shootcrs re,reating, and in
the course of five minutes they came At
full speed with the rebel army at their
heels. As soon as they got out of the
way Of our Guns, our nearest batteries
opened on the rebels, and though the
carnage was fearful, it did not check
heir terrible advance.
Our regiment was stationed at the
right Of the 9th Wisconsin battery, to
i support it, with ord rs TO retire, it the
enemy came to strong for MS. 1t was
planned for the rebels to take the bat
terry. and force had been stationed in
! long rasine 10 our right 10 flank the
rebels. and two other batteries to our
rear fright and lef TO cross-fre upon
closing MP their gaps which our cannon
and rifles made at every discharge.
They came against us, the 10th Miss,
t 81 Texas aud an Alabama IN Arkansas
and Missouri regiment They siIen
ccl our battery. planted their colors
over il, i, being raised again as often rs
our men shot its bearers, they had
hankel us on two sides, and the order
was given to .sabo,t face !" Three
times was the order repeated before ON
| UpN , Cottitl III UitstS " hiio" WIN Wa
meant-they didn't wish to leave!
1t was here that Orderly Serg't. John
MGStebbing fell. He died fighting like
\ hero, rs he was. He was shot thro'
! the head and instantly Killed.
We retreated few rods in line Of
battle loading as we retired, taking new
positions and again retireing and cor
poral Randall, fell, shot through the
kncc-many Of the regiment being Kill
led and wounded, A. N. Roberts also
ofCo. &C. was shot til ough the shcul-
der, bst still kept his place IN the ranks
until he was ordered to leave. Wesley
Randall, as your readers at home are
aware died in the hospital fr.m the
effects, Of his wound on the 9Th Of Oct.
In his character and bravery he was a
modd msn aad soldier. Corporal Ro.
berts was in the hospital couple OF
weeks, when still stiff from the effects
Of his wound, be returned for dnty.
The rebels saw the trap into which
they had fallen and in turn retreated,
our boys following them up with wild
hurrahs, causing them to leave their
dead and dying upon the field. What
occurred in the center and left, it is
unnecessary for me to state at this late
day, as your readers were familiar with
the facts long ago. Suffice It to say
that every Iowa regiment did its duty,
nobly and we'll The battle was ended,
the loss to the regiment being 40 Filled
and wounded.
| While every company Of the regiment
performed its duty equally well, it will
doubtless be satisfactory for Our friends
to know that the Co. &C." was not
found wanting: that while We were 50