The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-05-16
Letter from Lieut.. Colonel Rice.

Hr.pQp.sTrss. a7th. .Res't O. Y.I.)
Department OF Missouri,
April 7th, ise2.
Dear folks,-Before this reaches you. you
will have heard 1.-TWO days yesterday and
10 dsy.l OF the hardest fghiirg that the
world ever knew. W
We are in the advance, and tight on the
main road 10 Corinth. Yesterday morning
at daylight our pickets were driven in. BE.
fore breakfast, we had our regiment formed
IN order Of battle. Colonel Mungen and
Major Walker were both 80 unwell that they
could not tske the field; so ! was the only
Geld officer in charge. Not long otter we
had formed, the enemy came in sight on the
road. They hearing that We were 10 be re-
,nforced by Buelrs Division. thought bet
ter for them TO attack US before our rein.
forcement. When they had got in range
(and IL was but q short distance, owing 10
the wood and O curve in the road,) ordered
the battalion 10 commence firing. They hsd
already opened upon US.
Our boys hsed yolley sf'er volley, when
the len wing thought my command was to
retreat, About tins time. was unhorsed,
by something, ] know not what, (the boys
thought n spent cannon .ball.) | soon had
them rally again, and advance on the enc
my. Now, our FIRE was CALLING and destruct.
i've; 50 much so, that they Tetreated and out.
asnked US By occupying the camp ground
OF the SD Ohio regiment, 10 our left; and
commenced FIRE with the artillery, and
small arms. Now, OF course, we had 10
give way. We did SO; and again re. formed
facing them. Our ammunition had given
out, but soon had it ieplenished.
In the meantime. Col. Mnngen, Majol
Walker and Mr.. Mcclure. who were sick
with some Of our goods, had been removed
Our reinforcements had not yet come up
and we had 10 give back. We rallied sgair
with new force, and again received them
our ranks thinning out by tbs dead and
uouned.
About this time, or soon after. the most
sad and heah-renhirg part OF my story
comes in. Captain GribLen. Than whom a
brayer man never lived, while urging his
men 10 the deadly work, with his facet
ward the enemy, fell. He was shot through
the breast. staggered lew steps and fell 10
the ground. Ills men csnght him--l rushed
to him, and said "Captain, don't You
know mei--Spesk 10 met but life WAS al
most extinct his eyes were fred. and he
was breathing his last. ! had him carried
TO the river aud cared for. Poor mani his
battles are 'er, and his spirit has fed TO q
happier land, where there are no wars and
lconientions
Many OF our officers are sick, and there
were scarcely any left 70 command their
men. We suffered terribly. Our ranks
were probably decimnted with the dead and
wounded; and'many. ! fear. ME taken rris'
oners.
The battle ragged all day long - twelve
hours; they being constant reinforced and
we the same. In the afternoon we repulsej
them and held our ground. We slept on
our arms, In line OF battle. during a dTench.
ms rain, aud at daylight this morning the
ball was opened sgain. Our brigade, which
had suffered most perhaps, and our regiment
more than any in the brigade. was ordered
10 rally onr men and find provision; for our
men had had nothing for twenty -four hours,
and some for thirty. six hours. This morn
ing we were reinforced by Lev. Wsllace's s
division and also Buel's.
We were held most OF the dag as u reserve.
The fire was exceedingly hot, and the field
warmly coniestedj but ailength. about four
o. clock this afternoon, they retreated, holly
pursued by our cavalry,
Por my o~n part. came of safe, but very
much fa,igued and worn out. II is almost
miraculous. How ! escaped, l know not,
being 90 much exposed, on horse back. We
now, with members much dimi finished, occu
ry our Old position. Everything that was
i;n, was destroyed a. much aspossiblc. -
We got possession sgain at five o. clock; bu,
how changed. or our goods, have lost
heavily. as have all.
Some Of OUT boys were down on the
grounds where we had the FIRST hard fight,
and they tell me that 78 lie low in death, be.
sides many new graves. Our acting Bhgs-
dier. General tails me this evening, that the
Commanding General, (Sherman,) OF ouI
Division, compliments OUT Regiment highly.
My love to ell. In great haste.
s-- Your Son, MAJOR.