Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1862-04-29

From the "Shiloh" Field of Battle.
lCorresponleneo Of the Star & Chronicle.l
Five miles above Piusburg Land. }
inc. Tenn. Anril Is. 1862.

Ing, Tenn, April 10, lSo2.
We were epcamped at Crunps Landing,
FIVE miles below Pi,tsburg Landing, until
Sunday morning the 9th inst, when orders
came for cur sth Ma. Reg. with others to
be ready to march iu twenty minutes. The
night previous, myself, with several others,
were detailed for picket duty for the fol.
lowing day. Sunday morning (6th,) We
were on our posts about an hour, when the
Regiment received the order to 90. We
were not relieved, aud consequently did
not participate in one of the greatest bat
ties on record. The Regiment did not
return, and the camp equipage was not
removed until yesterday, SO We had to re-
main on picket till it was brought away.
From what l saw yesterday as | passed
over the battle ground, and from what l
learned Of my comrades respecting the
fight, | will give you few items which
may be of some interest, although it is
some time since the battle. Our Reg,
with the llth and 9th Ind, aud
Thomsons 9th Ind. Battery, form the First
Brigade of Gen Lewis Wailace's division.
Monday morning, this battery was the
first to open fire on the enemy, dismount-
lag one of their guns. The brigade ad-
vanced on them, when the enemy fed,
losing two more guns spiked. La cross
lug au open field, the Rebel Cavalry made
a charge on the battery, but were repulsed
with great loss By our Regiment. Their
leader fell, pierced by seven balls, while
his horse was completely riddlcd. Our
men kept steadily onward, driving the en-
emy from one position to another till toward
evening, when their rout became complete
Although our Regiment was under an
almost constant rain of she'll, grape, canis-
ter, most of the day, only one man was
killed, and twenty odd wounded. The
other Regiments suffered more than ours.
As you pass over the battle ground, and
see the many newly made graves, the dead
horses laying around, the trees (some a
foot in diameter) twisted and torn of, and
the earth plOwed up, you will have some
idea Of the nature of that struggle. The
dead have all been buried, while the
wounded have been taken down the river
The loss on both sides is very heavy, but
that of the enemy must have been far the
heavies,-I have asked many different
ones, and they all agree in saying that,
where they had been, three Rebels lay
dead to one of our men. One Of my com
rades informed me that he stood aud
counted li0 dead Rebels around him.
About /! mile toward the river from here,
is where the gunboats made such havoc
among them. On Tuesday morning, sew
eral from the company 20 which belong
were there aud say the dead and wounded
lay piled on each other two feet thick
The shells set the woods on fire, and many
Of these we're burned to crisp, presenting
a horrible scene. 1t is singular yet true,
that, here, as well as at Fort DonelsoD,
most Of the Rebels were shot in the head
Their canteens were filled with whisky,
and many of them were SO drunk when
the battle commenced as hardly to be
able to walk. This the prisoners say them
selves. They also state, that, before
leaving Corinth, Beauregard made them
speech, telling them if they fought we'll
and whipped US out here, they should cat
their 4th Of July dinner in St. Louis.
(We think this very probable, but much
against their will, as the next fight will
perhaps show) He told them they were
not fighting Yankees, now, but Western
boys. On Sunday evening, after they had
driven our troops some distance, and got
possession of some of the camps, be made
another speech, telling them not to destroy
anything, as all was theirs, and by
o'clock next day he intended watering
his horse in the Tennessee.
We are now camped in the advance,
,u the ground where the Ohioans were
irs. routed There is strong picket out,
think they will not catch US mapping if
hey come. Another battle is impending.
The troops are in good trim, and eager for
be fray. Gen. Halleck is here, and great
hings may be expected from the Union
roops on the Tennessee.
WM. REED. of Hartley, Pa,