Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-04-24
LATEST NEWS
BY THE NAILS.
Letter from the Iowa second.

tA- PiIrsBusG, Tenn, April IL.
Mrssss. EDrro.a are quiet here
again, and there is no visible effect Of the late
battle upon our troops, except that they are In
high spirits aud anxious for "a advance, tAat
The issue may be tested in finsl engagement
The weather is warm and pleasant. and the
inserniaabls drill goes o.. ]e NJ
It has been 80 long since the 6ght that the
fall particulars are BY thi. time generally
known. Our regiment. though II did not bear
20 prominent a part - at Fort Donelson, per-
formed one Of considerable importance.
Our position VAS near the center. ard along
the skirt Of the woode. With sn open space cf
ground in front Of u. We we're not attacked
BY infantry during the entire day. the rebels
choosing rather to attsck that part Of our line
where they could 6gbt dtder shelter Of the
timber. We could zee them fling past in the
woods hey youd. and attacking the line on either
Close 10 our rear. on eight sminence. vas
posted pair Of Parrott guns. and not far dis
taut in front Of "a was . rebel battery. At
about ten o'clock they opened upon each 9TH
er, and for the remainder Of the day terrific
duel was kept up between them. the rebel
guns often throwing grape Aud canister into
During tkis. fight. Col. Tustls. who was act.
ing risAdisr, took his position . few pisces
from our battery, and when the enemyis gurs
began TO take effect. one Of the gunners. some.
What alarmed, turned to the Colonel and re
uarked that they vsrs getting our range.
Let them get it" vas the cool reply Of the
king bis pipe as complscently as though the
affair was nothing more than game cf foot
ball. = roltg1
Capt. Litter, while walking around among
his men. urging them TO lay cloes to the
ground to avoid the shot and she'll which were
flyiug thickiy around. had bis left arm shat.
tered by the bursting Of she'll. He was i'm
mediateiy taken to the resr, and HE arm has
sinee been auputated. lie is now lying At
Savannah. and vii! in . few days be taken to
st. Louis, where be can have the benefit 0!
better surgical care.
While the battle wss raging fi%reest some
ludterous incidents wouid occur. During the
tight % Monday person on horseback was
seen coaaing at full spesd from the direction Of
the ereDy. He jest'culated and shouted wild
IL, and cur boys at FIRST imagined him to be
some chivah QUE Southsrner leading on his le-
gions to anaihiiate ~. but on q nearer ap-
proaca he proved to be an individual Of
color, and eeon ba wled out, Use yer prison.
er." He was rugged oot with the horee and
t:appings Of an officer. aud, not twith.tand ding
s'G Gensral Order No. 81 was permitted 10
come In and consider himself . "contrabapd."
On the same. day another individual was
seen skipping through The trees from the same
direction, while volisy of nusketry was sent
after bin from the rebels. When within speak.
log distance be cried out. me no fight ; by
Cot! me NO secesh." He then tod tie story
of his impresanent, said there were rany OF
his Germsn friends in the same fix, and aesm-
ed happy at his escape.
There have been disparaging comments on
the conduct of come regiments In the late bat
tle, and Iowa has not escaped the eslumny.
The fact 10 the Iowa brigadss were the last
troops to fall back. Net until both fanks Of
our rrny were being turned. and the enemy
almost 10 their rear, did the Iowa ,roope fall
back. and then 60 marrow vas their escsre
that IN cutting their way back the sth, 18th,
! and . large portion of the llth Regiments,
we're entirely cut off and captured.
In this batt;e raw regiments, scarcely more
| ttan organized, were placed on the out Q, ,sts
to receive the fret shock Of battle. or rushed
| icto destruction, aod because they did net
| stand Ike veterans, the men are termed cow
ards. But mismanagement on cur own part
has already brought more di.aster to our
cause thsn has the skill Of the enemy. and if
the same policy 10 continued IL Gill not be
long before some devoted bloekhesd will exc
! cute the master stroke, and send our whole
fabric to destruction. Whether Gen, Buell.
did or did not tell Gen. Grant that he could
elbow his generslship 70 h-ll with thinble.
fall Of powder" it l. the opinion Of this por-
tioa of the army that it would not be sn i'm
practicable thing.
We have vague ru0ovs - 70 the where
abouts Of the rebel army. but suppose they
have fallen back 70 the "lsst ditch !" whether
they are prepared to shed the ''Iast drop
therein will ere long bs esen. Gen. Halleck
is nov in command here. end our troops have
toe greatest confidence In bis ability 90 Gen.
eral. 1t ia expected tbst he will soon move
upon the defeated and dishesrt. ned enemy
and etrike home to the very halls Of the Mon.
teuzmas." The % Regiment IL now in Gen.
McArthur's division. II. B.