The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-04-03

they STOOD so muln i'll Hecu, 10 aoAAS
had been on guard nearly 4s hours.
At 2 in the morning we fell III line
again and made for our battery rs it
was understood that the Iowa 10th
would support the battery for the day.
The morning was exceedingly dark and
one could hardly see their file leader,
and it required the utmost precaution
to keep from falling. In some places
the water ran knee deep, and when we
drew up in line OPPOSITE the Pits occu-
pied bv our men the day before we
presented curious picture closely ap
proximating Jack Falstatf's Staff
We were ordered to keep close to the
ground, and every moment expected a
missile to invade our ranks and thin our
number. We had not occupied our
position but short time when one of
the Gents Aids brought us the informa-
ton that the enemy had evacuated their
works during the night! We could
hardly believe the news SO stubborn
was their resistance the day before.-
However n detail of = company from
our regiment was made to guard the
Fort, and in u few moments the old
flag was planted on the walls, amidst
the cheers Of our men, and was caught
up by the rear and re-echocl back to
camp miles distant.
The information reached ms by two
deserters from the fort bearing flag
of truce to keep scouts from firing on
them. Everything bore evident signs
Of q hasty retreat and evacuation
They spiked all their guns except one
with nails, and threw their artillery III
the river, the water being quite shallow
did not cover j, and could plainly be
seen. Our men up to this date have
raised most Of the guns and have them
bearing on the river. They had Il
large guns on the parapets, and Of mag
nificent style and Improvement. We
found over thousand pieces Of small
arms, and tents enough for eight reyi-
nents. We also took about 200 horses
and 500 mules, sugar, tobacco and mo-
Eases in abundance, their commissary
stores amounting to considerable. We
only took Is prisoners, one Of them was
sound asleep in tent. Eight were
left on picket, aud marched i'll the fort
after it was in the possession Of our
men. One man was found dead in the
fort not buried, who was supposed to
have died since they left. Nine were
found in one grave, and three in ano,h-
er, making 70 we IRE confident Of Kill
ing, but cannot tell the number Of
wounded rs they were taken with them.
They lost according to the statement
Of one Of the prisoners between - and
20 by drowniing, they fell in tie river
like sheep, and SO great was their haste
that they left the planks on shore, and
cut the ropes from the boats. An old
negro slave sail we killed q Of them,
but ! DO not voueh for the truth Of the
statement.
Our loss was nine killed, and fifteen
wounded as near as we are able to as
certain. Aparty OF scouts rallied from
one Of their posts and made a charge
on our pickets, killing at one volley 9
of our men and woundine 3 more
The reports differ and it is hard to as
certain the truth. While planting the
batter les OF the evening Of the 18th
Capt. Of the III. 10th and two priyates
were shot by the pickcts. While our
men were on guard several shells burst
near them, rendering their situation
quite uncomfortable and shots were
made at their pickcts. One shot
struck in few feet Of one Of the men,
burying itself in the ground, bnt none
Of them was hurt. Two Flags were
taken, one presented to Tennessee
regiment by the ladies Of their respec
tive names ard had enscribed on its
face, "Our hearts are viM you" The
other, Of coarse material and secret orr
gin had ens,'ribed "God and our rights"
They are not brave az a foe without
they know they have superior force,
and depend more on the round numbers
Of their men than on the military skill
of their commanders, at least it is true
in this case. They had six regiments,
some numbering eleven hundred each,
to support their guns, in front they
completely chequered the ground with
rifle pits, while in front Of the pits was
an abatis work making the place per-
feet Gibralter. They could have held
ont for long time against us, or until
reinforcements arrived and moved us
like grass before taking the place. But
they were not brave and surrendered
after "a hours resistance and concealed