Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-04-26

Na~a HfRD ~ fnsUo0o0v
49, ~ 80 Ha4k Ape.l II, 1861.

rea00e0 camp tOsy so~
been cent hone that the 10th Iowa
threw dosn their arms and fed 1t the
f;r,t fire Of the enemy in the battle Of
Sunday last The rumor caused . deep
feeling among the officers and men Of
our regiment. Who the pe,fdious
wretch 10 Who fabricated this sentiment
il will be difficult to determine, but he
is no doubt some foe to the good name
Of onr State. That Ne retrsatsd, Ne 90
knowledge, but when the circumstances
are taken into consideration We think
you would have voted rs fools five had
remained. We received our arms ..
Camp Benton, and without drilling
day, embarked for the seat Of var. We
arrived at Pittsburg Landing on the
evening Of the 5th, landed and without
morsel tor supper, slept on hillside,
without tents, and exposed to violent
rain. We arose in the moroios, awak-
eoed BY tho cannon Of Bcaoregsrd, and
we're formed 10 line without breakfast.
We received our cartridges, and were
ordered to prepare for the fight Every
man who vas able fell into the lioe with
a,.crity, and oil seemed to b anxious
for the fight. At 10 o'clock Ne were
ordered to march 10 the right flank Of
our army, the 18th Iowa marching with
us to the same place. On our way out
We met the fugitive RENAME Of other
regiments coming 10 by hundreds, who
bad been driven of the fields by the
rebels. We At length came in eight Of
our battle ground, and it certainly did
credit to our commanding general to
order any regiment upon it. It was .
level, grassy field, little over quarter
of mile square, bounded on the est,
south and vest by . dense forest filled
With uoder. brush. On the south side
was stationed q large body Of rebels,
with formidable battery, and 80 per-
fectly concealed, that not man was
visible. We entered the meadow from
the east side, and had no sooner come
into full view than the rebel battery
opened upon rs, seconded by the con-
cealed musketeers Of the enemy.
The cannon shot ploughed our ranks.
while the bullets moved down the men
in every direction. Not . man paused,
however, but without returning . shot,
our regiment marched steadily across
till we gained tie forest on the vest
side Of the meadow, where we had at
least cDance against our concealed fee.
We had no sooner formed line for 40
advance through the woods upon the
rebels, than 4 staff officer rode up and
said: "Col. Chambers, we want your
men on this open space" We were
then marched out on the plain again,
exposed 10 the same murderous fire.
The regiment formed 10 two lines and
advanced to the very edge Of the timber
in which the enemy was concealed
Then the carnage began. All we could
do was to fire where we could discern
smoke, for not rebel could we see,
while We we're in full view. The men
fell 10 every direction, but the regiment
kept mp the uneven fight for halt an
hour, when the 18th Iowa gave way on
our left. The rebels had also gained the
woods on our right flank, where we took
our first position, and were fast gaming
our rear, at the same time pouring q
destructive fire upon rs from three sides.
Our officers saw our perilous position.
We must retreat in five minutes, or all
be taken prisoners. The order was given
to retreat, and we did net do it moment
too soon, for scarcely had we passed
over the level space, than regiment Of
rebel cavalry came in view.
At the time the 18th Iowa gave way
We had our bayonets fixed for . charge
on the battery, but it would have been
madness to have done it at that time, as
the rebels would have completely sur
rounded us. Not a rifle was thrown
away in the retreat, a. the slanderer al.
ieges, and IS for running at the 6rst FIRE,
many Of our men fired as high as thirty
rounds before the retreat was ordered.
II we had had battery with US the re.
suit might have been different, and in.
deed, at the very time We we're battling
tho masked battery, several powerful!
batteries were lying idle at the landing.
II seems strange also that we should be
especially singled out, when more 4 ban
dozen regiments fed in the course OF
the battle on Sunday. Our loss is as
heavy ss that Of many other regiments
that fought for six hours. Colonel
Chambers vas wounded severely 10 the
arm, Capt. Palmer 10 the head, Capt.
RuhI was killed, also Lieut.. DOYLE.
Lieu.enants Lucas and Madden were
wounded, and also Capt. Sut,ler, while
out Of the Sc men who marche out 10
our company (C.) two we're killed and
10 wounded. The other companies
lost 10 about the same proportion. The
Adjutant's horse was shot from under
him, aud alec the Majors. 1t is indeed
hard to be thousand miles from hon q
battling for the Union, and enduring al.
most superhuman hardships and priva.
tione, and then be branded a. towards.
The 10th Regiment will look to the
press Of Iowa for . vindication Of its
name, till it will have . fairer field Of
battle to do 20 itself.
Yours truly, C.P.
Company c, 10th Iowa Regiment.
News from Yorktown.