The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1862-04-19
Hn0N DODoED RAffRRv.
In Camp asar xev Madrid. No, !
1ArcA 1ass, ISM /

crowned or arms, a6d not the leass in
portaDt in its resuls., 10 the one that securet
the evacuation Of Neu Madrid. The peork
Of lows have, no doses, read the gesera
details Of the fgh., which oecurred on ii,
18th Of March, and OF the subseqoen'
evacuation on the night fol!osing bu, from
the Interest which tie State nigh, materially
be supposed TO take in the safe,, and cue.
cess Of her own troops, send you few
particulars Of the Fxrt which q portion
Of those troops bore 10 the battle thai
has gained for the Uaicn cause victory
iraughs with such rich advantages.
On the afternoon Of the l2 h, -four heavy
siege gaDs, for which the army had been
waiting, arrived, and we're placed 10 posi-
t'on that night. We received orders to be
ready for the battle expected on the follow
ing day. Early on the morning Of the 18th,
the heavy boom Of Our eight inch howitser
awoke the echoes Of the surrounding forest,
aud the very frss shell, il il said, landing
in one Of their forts, cent twenty Eve Of the
startled rebels TO eternity. From that mo-
ment, as irregular intervals, the roar Of ar
tillery vas heard until the darkness OF nigh,
closed the scene. Gen. Stanley's Division
occupied position On the right, supporting
the heavy guns. On these depended the
main hope Of success, a. the rebels were
strongly fortified, and fought under the
protection Of their gun boats nine in num-
ber- carrying guns Of large calibre. Ia
view Of the strength Of their fortifications,
ami the Co operation Of their gun boats, the
rebels have designated the place the " Their
mopalae Of the West" Gen. Hamilton,
Division occupied the centre, and Gen,
Paine's the left Gen Palmer remaining in
the rear, supporting the centre, and acting
rs reserve.
During the forenoon, our battery, the q
Iowa-more familiarly known as Dodge.
Battery, commanded by Capt. Spoor-re-
main, with Geo. Pslmer's Division in the
rear. About Il O'Clock We were ordered "a
join Gen. Paine on the left, who had no ar.
,il!ery 10 his Division. This brought u.
near the enemy. We took our position in
the edge Of some woods, close against tn,
town. The General vas on the ground
when We came up, and we fought under bi,
eye during the engagement. He fret di.
rec,ed our attention to building, standing
isolated in the town, from which the enemy
had been observing our movements. A few
Of the rebels we're on the top Of the house
when VIC commenced firing, hut they soon
disappeared. They d,dnt climb dorn, how
ever, nor jump eg-they rolled Of: After
firing few rounds upon this building, the
General next pointed out large mil, from
which the rebels had been firing upon bis
Infantry. This vas before our arrival
upon the ground, and when the General had
no artillery at hand. The eject Of our Gre
was to wake up masked battery near the
mill, Of which We bad previous knowledge,
although it's precise position was not known.
We remained under the Ere Of this battery
during the engagement, and the missiles
Of their pieces hseu dirt into the faces Of
our cannonesrs. But the boys fought with
the courage and coolnsss Of veterans. In
deed they seemed to enjoy ii. In the mean
time, one Of their gun boats lying near,
whose pipes We could see through the trees,
hearing our Gre, moved up the river short
distance, turned in position, and opened
upon Us with her "big gons." The thunder
Of a heavy report resounaed upon the air,
and the next moment shell came whiIzing
over our heads, bursting just In advance
or course it was nov time to leave, NJ
least the General suddenly came to that
conclusion, aud ordered Us to " timber up"
The gun boat vas out Of our range, and 10
any event, vas impregnasa abIe to the shot
and shell Of our light battery. We obeyed
the order Of the General with alacri'y, and
left on the doable-quict, every face smiling
as il We had been engaged in some rare
spors. The engagement vas Short and
spirited, asd We came OF wisboss the lose
Of 4 man.
Two pieces OF The battery, under Lieut..
WaIiing, we're out during the whole Of the
nigh. Of the 18th, ready 70 answer to mo-
mcn,'s notice, occupying a position on the
extreme left. A storm Of rain was buried
apou us most Of the sight, and se re'arned
10 the noro;ag without having cred q shot.
With the earliest dawn We expected TO be
called upon 10 repes the battle, bus TO our
.arpriss wers lsfs 10 camp. Meantime, no
firing vas heard from the heavy guns.-
Finally, abou. 8 o'clock 2. NJ, Wild, es-
uIsans cheer rose upon the cir, going up
fro. reeiueos si,ss regiment, spsil Is had
,rsversed the rosnds Of the eseaopuent--
The rebsls had eracsafed the place 1.-The
great sTbermopylas Of the West" whose
rsssed strength promised 70 bid defiance to
the most desperate sssssl', and check the
tide Of Yantee Invasion, had fallen; not
bccaa.e its ssrsaeth vss NOS truly forni-
dahle. bss bssssss the heArts Of those
vhose busioess is wss to defend is, failed
them bee.sse the fatality hanging over 90
,choly cause, ssssrsss the strongest ars,
and rssaess pssgpabls 70 the sssasls Of sss
;,v.ders, The strongest Fortress. On sse
Is.h Of Marel, sAoss sroops Who bed oees
e.eased 10 The agAs Of the l3sh, sefs pes-
-i,,ed - vis;s sAs plsss asd as fertihss-
,;o.s. a. . eoupKssss paid sSes b Gss-
po.e. To shs nssis oe ~ efs esd drso,
,;,h eoloss Ayiae, us n.feaed isss sse
.ssv,, vhsrs, sss ~ daysbefssss sssss's