The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-04-17
BATTLE OF PITTSBURG.
letter From Lieutenant Porter,
PARTIAL LIST or Killed AND WOUNDED
I'm Com panics ID and X.
SAVANNAH, Tenn, April 9th. 1916

oASANNAH, Iehh., Aprl Sth, 1867.
Ny DEAR WIFE You doubtless by this
time are very anxious to know how I am,
and whether was killed or not. can say
that lam quite well, with the exception r.
slight wound in my arm. A small bullet
entered the flesh above the elbow and stop
ped at the bone consequently am at this
place, 8 miles below Pittsburg Landing,
where the fight was commenced. A great
many were killed and wounded. know Of
but three Of our Co., killed Orderly Fowler,
Joseph Bryant, - Trick. There may be
others by this time, as was only in the
first day. fight, and although our regiment
was not ordered out, great many of the
18th went into other regiments to fight.
We landed at Pittshurg Sunday morning,
about o'clock. and about o'clock We were
ordered on. on the field. The 7th. 2d and
other regiments had been engaged all. the
morning. The 18th and l6th Iowa went
out together and occupied the ground thel
other regiments had fallen back from. II
was in billy woodland, with here and there
clear Tspot, where our troops had been
encamped. We were marched out on quick
time, for about three miles fro~ the river.
On our way out spoke with Eaton, who
said he had his horse shot under hian. We
met battery after batter7 leaving the contest.
and stragglcrs without number at full speed
We were led into the open space near the
enemy, who were concealed in the adjoining
woods, and soor opened fire upon us. Our
boys stood up to the work, and some ofthem
began to fire without orders before we had
got into line Of battle. We were then fled
to the left and got into a low piece of ground
and formed into line, and marched up the
hill in view Of the woods where the rebels
were concealed. The Texas sharp shooters,
Alabama and Mississippians, and am tod
about 10000 were fighting against 1000 Of
our men. We could seldom get sight of
them, the bltter-nut clothes were so near
the color Of the dead leaves. have often
heard Of bullets whistling. but never heard
anything like that days firing The balls
whizzed passed our heads, cut our clothes
and one passed through my pants close BY
my knee, but did not cut the skin. A spent
ball struck me on the shoulder winch stag
gered me, but did not cut my blouse. Col
Reid was wounded in the neck and had to
leave the field ; also the Adju.ant, and soon
we were left without field officers A few
Of us took the responsibility Of advancing !;
we got within cne hundred yards of them,
and was'e,mpelled to retreat, closely pursued
by the rebel infantry, and their cavalry try
ing to flank US. In the afternoon matters
were maraged some better, yet we were
compelled gradually to fall back, until an
hour before shutdown, when our artillery
commenced playing on them again. and held
them in check. The gunboats from the
river opened on them with their guns, and
shellod the woods eff,ctually, silencing many
rebel guns for the night
Gen. Buelrs division, 60, 900 strong, ar
I rived in the evening, and engaged them
Monday morning, driving them back about
! six miles that day, and since that time
know not how matters stand, but we are in
formed they aredfivcn back beyond Corinth.
The wounded in our company as far as
know. are Ed. Nsser, Grey, Clark, Meser-
IA. Frank Byrd, and Roach These are AL
Il can ll.ink Of no,v. James Nosler has .
lad wound in the leg. John Holloway is
here in hospital, is rather sore in consequence
of being knocked down by some missed du
the fight. Young Wilson is safe so is Ad
dle.nan. Martin Gephart hay, not seer
since the first fight Captain Hedrick is
badly wounded, and is somewhere in hospi'
tai. Our Co and Regiment were complete.
" scattered, and Monday morning we had
not found more than half Of our boys. saw
VIII Cochrane in the morning before ths
f;ht, and gave hin the letter. | saw Q
member OF his c,mpaty who said VIII va