Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-20
The North western Campaign.
4 Journal Of the Eighteenth Indiana Regiment
By WALTER STANLEY.
IContinued.1

[Continued.
The dark forms of the enemy could be seen
plainly from our position, fitting around their
and we could hear them talking
over the events of the day. Some were en-
gagged in planting battery directly in front
of the 18th, and we knew that it would rain
down grape and canister on us as soon as we
made ourselves visible. At sunrise our bat
teries opened the ball. The enemy replied
with vigor and determination to our fourteenth
shot. Their batteries rained a perfect storm
of shot, shell and canister. Tops and limbs
of shattered trees hungove our heads in the
most threatening manner. Klaus battery
fell back. and the 22d Indiana soon followed
suit The 18th was now alone, and Col. Pat
tison after vainly endeavoring to rally his
broken line, ordered the 18th to fall back,
which was done in excellent order | want
it distinctly understood that do not question
the bravery of the 22d Indiana. Far from it.
They are "a brave men rs ever hailed from
Indiana. Under Davis, they were a pride TO
their State.
Pattison reformed his brigade, about 250
yards in rear of his former position. Sigel
came up and planted his batteries on our left
His heavy guns played handsomely on their
now shattered line. Klaus advanced and took
his former position. Pattison advanced, and
changed position by the right flank, still sup
porting Klaus.
We knew that our only hope was in victo-
nv, and began To press the wavering line
Van Dorm seeing that the day was lost COM
menced his retreat; Price still continued the
now unequal contest, with what was left of
the veteran Nj. :. c. General Curtis gave
ti>. -. L. I,,,
a serried line of bright steel bent to the storm
and slowly advanced on the batteries under a
CALLING fire of grape and canister. We cross
ed an open field-gave wild deaining cheer,
and the day was won. The enemy recoiled
in dismay before that shout. leaving their
guns in many instances unspiked. Price COM
menced a precipitate retreat and kept on I'LL
he got TO Memphis. The victory was deci-
sive, the field was covered with dead and dy-
ing. We returned to Leetown, ambulances
secured the woods TO pick up the wounded,
and the dead were decently buried without
distinction. And such is war.
March 10TH the grand army of the South
West, returned TO Sugar Greek. where we
will leave them writing to their friends. and
enjoying themselves, as best they can, for the
soldier smiles at the dangers of the past, and
dreams not of the future. The only trouble
was the scarcity OF provisions. Our trains had
all turnrd back. there was nothing in the
country and starvation began TO stare US in
the face. Nothing of interest occurred till
the .th OF April. BY occasionally moving
camp. the grand army are in the vicinity OF
Cassville. The town Is one grand Hospital,
and might saw the same of every town and
farm house within forty miles of Pea-Ridge.
Many have died. others have been sent home,
while some are still lingering in that gloomy
uncertainty between Iie and death. undecided
as to whether they had better die, or pick up
courage and get well. True moral courage is,
in fact the only friend of the wounded soldier
Ii he fancy himself mortally wounded, he will
a surely die as If he were. But lmust return
10 the army. They are under marching
orders for parts unknown; some think they
viii certainly turn up at Memphis now. but
tins conjecture Is uncertain. We left Cas-
vile about A. NJ. and headed East
There was no road, but we gave cheer for
the memory OF our comrades, who were sleep
ing their last sleep under the green sod the
wild prairie. and marched gaily away. We
will leave them winding Through the forest,
for,iing streams, threading the difficult passes
OF the 0zarks; stretching their serpentine
column over broken declivities or peering
down the dizzy precipices of the Boston
mountains. Description would grow monot-
enous. Nothing ofimportance occurred for
nearly month, marching steadily, with an
occasional days rest, and living on something
less than one half rations, were the cur
rent items Of the day, and the night too, as
far as that Is concerned.
May Sd, General Curtis. and his grand
army, suddenly turned up in the vicinity of
Batesville. much To the chagrin of the citizens.