Nebraska advertiser., 1862-02-27
Er0m the Nebraska Reglment.
CN BOARD STEAMER WHITE CLOUD,
Cumberland River, Feb. II, 1862. !

DOnelSOn. COI. j. M. mayer. our gall
liant commandant, was placed ia charge
Of the whole fleet Of transports, consisting
of twelve steamers, filled with troops
He turned back all the steamers going to
Fort Henry" and reached Paducah
early next morning, where we were
Joined by six gun boats, under command
of Commodore Foot, Leaving Paducah
about 8p. No., 18th inst, we steamed
slowly up the swollen Cumberland, and a
more glorious or heart-stirring sight was
seldom witnessed than our splendid fleet,
with gay and loyal colors floating and
music playing, while the welkin ram the
wild huzzahs Of the lusty fellows on board.
We reached within two miles Of Donel-
son on the night of the 18th, and landed
next morning-but what a change had
come over :he scene. All the way up
the Tennessee, snd round again up the
Cumberlan, the weather had been balmy
and spring like but on the morning of
the 18th the whole country was covered
with snow and the weather cold as Green
land. About two o'clock p. NJ, the brig
aiding of the troops was completed, and
away we tramped to the scene strife-for
already had the battle commenced, Gen.
Grant having opened fire upon the rebel
entertainments the day bafore.
On reaching the ground in the rear Of
the fort our regiment was placed in the
division Of Gen. Wallace, and the brigade
of which it constituted the senior and first
regiment, was placed under command of
Col. Thayer. Cheer upon cheer greeted
US as we double-quicked past the dense
masses Of loyal hearts drawn up on the
left and centre Of our army, while we
hurried on to take position at the post Of
honor on the right. The gunboats had
already opened fire, and the loud BOOM
ing Of the guns seemed to exhilerate our
men as they r~everberated over the bro
ken country. That night we bivouacked,
and early next morning we heard firing
in the direction of Gen. McClernand's
division. Soon the report came that the
rebels had driven back McClernand's
forces and captured one of his batteries.
With that report came a command for US
to march to the front, and away we went
double quick and eager for the fray.
On the way we met the caissions of
Swartz's battery, all that was left of it,
the rebels having charged and taken the
guns-and pell nell came some Of our
discontinued troops running from the enc
my, while we were running to meet
them. Gen. Wallace filed US into line of
battle, placing three guns of the Chicago
battery on our left, and just as our line
was formed, on came the enemy, flushed
with the victory over Netherlands
troops bang, bang, went the guns OF our
battery, and then came our turn, and to it
we fell with a Will. We were ordered
to kneel and fire, and down went the
front ranks of the enemy. Staggered
and surprised, they fell back in disorder,
but rallying again, and bringing up a
battery to bear on US, they tribe it again,
and never in my life, although 1 have
seen several battles, did | witness more
terrific firing, or more gallant conduct
than was then shown by the glorious First
Nebraska regiment. The fire rolled
from them in one incessant thunder, and
the enemy fell like grass before the
scythe. And again COMPOUNDED the enc
my fell back, but with courage of desper-
alton they assailed our position once
more, and again the terrible fire rolled
forth, whilst our battery Numbered des-
truction among them and this time.
nearly all their officers being killed or
wounded, the enemy beat a p~recipitate
retreat, leaving u victors of the field for
the day.
1t is no ordinary compliment TO pay a
regiment unOer such circumstances to say
that it behaved like veteran troops, and
when I tell you that two regiments of
raw troops posted in our rear below, be-
longing to our brigade actually fired into
US under the wild excitement of the scene,
you will scarcely deny US the claim of
veteran steadiness. Bullets, grape and
she'll pouring upon US from the enemy,
and our troops firing In our rear, "a
putting US in rather an awkward position;
but discipline told in the trying moment,
and the First Nebraska stood their
ground, and with the help Of their bat
terry our regiment alone repulsed the
whole force which drove Gen. McCler-
nand's troops from their position. So
gallant was the bearing our regiment
that Gen. Wallace in person compliment
ted the men upon the field, telling them
they had done nobly indeed.
Our share in this siege l have now
told you. 1t lasted just forty-ive min
utes, and Yesterday the Lieutenant Col
onel of the Fourteenth Mississippi regi-
ment told me we had killed and wounded
over three hundred of his men, while the
other three regiments which formed their
column of attach, suffered in proportion.
Our casualties were small-two killed,
two wounded, and seven slightly woun-
ded, is the sum of our loss. l cannot
state the aggregate loss of the Union
forces. 1 should Judge, however, that
400 killed, and perhaps 500 wounded
would cover all during the siege. The
rebel loss is probably about 1900 killed,
and 1000 wounded. Twisted the ground
occupied by the troops which attacked
the First Nebraska regiment, and coun-
ted eighteen dead in a space of fftv
feet square. The trees and brush we're
literally girdled by our bullets, and the
marks ranged from two to SIX feet from
the ground. Better fighting l never wit
noSSad con fu,o dao1 oGcprs amODu