The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-10
Our Army Correspondence.
LETTER FROM THE FOURTH REGIMENT.
THE RATTLE OF ICK A !.

promised you in my last that | would
write you again when anything transpired
worthy of attention. Having since that
time been engaged in hard fought battle,
a few particulars may not be uninteresting,
and shall give you only such particulars
as know to be true. We had been all
anxiety for several days previous to the
battle, and ready at any time to move at a
moments notice.
The Third Division, Go which we be-
long,) composed of two Brigades, started
on the morning of the 18th in drench-
ing rain which had continued during the
night, on the road to Iuka. Having to
travel through the enemy's country, of
course our march was slow and careful
We bivouacked six miles from here for the
night.
Colonel Sanborn was in command of
our Ghe FirsD Brigade, which was in the
advance and continued so from the first to
last. On the morning of the 18th we
again started and went along without any
opposition until we were within six miles
Of Iulla, when We came upon the enemy's
pickets. Our cavalry (the Sd Mchigan)
in the advance of lis drove them in very
handsomely until we were within three
miles. where we were obliged to send for
ward four companies Of skirmishers, who
continued to drive them until within one
and one-fourth miles of Iuka, where We
came upon their main force.
We formed our line of battle, placed our
battery in position, and made all our prep
arations under the fire of the enemy, who
commenced advancing upon us immediate
y. When they had approached pretty
close to us we opened fire with everything,
and then the fight commenced in earnest.
The infantry firing surpassed anything l
had ever heard or imagined. | thought I
had heard some pretty good volleys at
Corinth, but it was nothing in comparison,
for this was an infantry fight from first to
last
will here say-ieieUrophic dispoiches
to the contrary notwithstanding-tllat our
brigade, Buford's Brigade as it is caled,)
composed of the 9th Iowa, Goth Missouri,
18th Indiana, 18th Minnesota, and 10Th
Iowa, with the 18th Ohio Battery, opened
the fight, and with the exception of two
other regiments. the 18th Missouri and =.
were the only ones octuoHy engnged
throughout the whole engagement. | see
the dispatches say that Stanleys Division
fought the battle. II is not 50 and if any
of his men fired a gun, it is something that
none of us are aware OF. Our brigade
fought them Single-handed for long time
and reye neoer supported except by the
two regiments mentioned
We fought ten regiments that we know
of, having taken prisoners from each one;
they were the Sd Louisiana, Sd Texas, Cd
and 7th Alabama, 18th and 14th Arkansas,
37th and 3Sth Mississippi, and the LIST
Texas Legion. How many more we cannot
tell. They fought with desperation, but the
Yankees" were too much for them The
Sd Louisiana were pitted against the 9th
Iowa. who had the hardest ighting, as the
number of the killed and wounded will at
test. Our Fourth Minnesota did nobly,
but was not pressed as hard as the regi-
ments on the right of the battery The 4Sth
Indiana joining the battery on the left.
They began to move and finally broke, raj
lied again, but did not 90 up to the ground
they had left. All the other regiments did
bravely, standing up to their duty man
fully.
Col. Sanborn receives the highest praise
for his GOODNESS and the management of
the brigade, and he fully merits all that
can be said in his praise
Night closed in on us and we ceased,
intending to renew the fight in the morn
ing, but found the enemy had left during
the night, and were entirely pauic struck.
1t was supposed by us that General Grant
with Ords Division, who were within five
miles of Iuka, would attack them from the
north in the morning. Had this been done,
it would have been a complete rout, and
probably capture of the whole of Prices
army.
They .foiled to came mp, however, and all
the advantages by the victory gained, by
our gallant division, were lost our men
were too fatigued, having been day and
a half without anything to eat, or what is
the same thing, or we would have followed
them. What the reason was that General
Grant did not come up with his men, is
more than any of us know; as it was said
to be the understanding that he was to at
tack in the morning. The loss in our brigade
is one hundred and thirty killed, as gallant
spirits as ever died upon a field of glory,
and four hundred and fifty-four wounded,
and twenty -four missing. You may cal
culate from this that the fight was despe-
rate, as it commenced a little after FIVE
O'Clock, and ceased at dark.
will not attempt to describe the scene
upon the battle field, as rode over it the
next day. The dead and dying were lying
all around, rebel and union side by side,
to war no more in this world at least.
Some were wounded by grape, some by
SIX pound shot, torn to pieces. Horses
with equipments on, were lying all around
l can assure you the sight was horrible,