, 1862-04-23

This excellent Illinois battery, which has
now performed 4 brilliant part in two of the
most memorable battles Of the pending
war, richly merits the favorable recognition
Of the press and the country Captain Ed
ward McAllister, who organized this battery |
and commanded it in the bloody conflict, both |
at Fort Doneleon aud Pittsburg Landin4 Is
young farmer Of Will county, in this State,
and fair type Of the versatile, vigorous and
patriotic yeomanry Of the Northwest. Whilst
engaged in the peaceful pursuits Of agricul-
ture, and his heart untroubled BY the impulses
Of vaulting ambition, he heard the verg frst |
blast OF the Northman's loyal bngle calling
tile good and br:1ye to the defense OF their
country. he waited for no second summons,
but with Jealous alaerity ooeyed the first.
The ploE Of the husbandnan was Left in the
fn1row Of carly spring, and the hand which had
guided it was grasping sword-as sword, too,
acquired under no ordinary circumstances.
The people Of his town assembled oa the
Sabbath day, large congregation in one OF
the churches Of PIainfield, and in their pres
ence, amid prayers and pious invocalion5 to
Heaven, the Rev. Timothy Lyman presented
sword to Captain McA!}ister, as the sword
became its captain. Was at Cairo among the
first there; ut the battle OF Fort Donetson
he commanded four heavy siege guns. After
that battle, Gen. McClernand supplied him
Without military education, mere farmer,
but possessing lair share Of that peculiar
aptitude which distinguishes the American
character, lie has attained, in q few short
/ months, an excellence as an artluer1st which
has won the admiration Of the scientific aud
1$ex1,n- 1Fh h$r 0r1a md
| for gallant service, without the aid Of intluen.
| tial friends, has been promoted to Major Of
| Artillery.
The following authentic outline, hastily
| furnished by one Of his officers, shows the
part he took in the late terrible battle at Pitts
burg Landing:
P1T1eBERa LANDING, april :, 1862.
"Ne were attacked yesterday morning and
our army surprised by Beauregard with ct
| least 6, 600 men, and some think 80, 900. We
| went into battery at ha1f-past seven 4. H., un-
der Gen McClernand's eye, and fought like
the turies for two hours and a half with all our
four guns, when the enemy charged upon our
battery. aud lie infantry giving way, some
eight or ten Of our men were shot, and several
lorsts killed. Then We fell back leaving one
gun and three caissons in the hands OF the en-
envy. The whole line fell back and formed
again, were followed up and attacked on three
sides with desperate yigor. The enemy
charged again and again, but WAS held in check
| and Sometimes driven bark. But they out
Numbered US, aud finally drove our whole line.
| We (of the battery were most worn ont, and
after the battlc in the morning Were not
brought in again until our lines broke in the
afternoon about three o'clock Then We were
| put in the hottest place; but the confusion
| was so great that our men kept running past
our front and embarrassed our execution, We
we're obliged to fall back again, losing five OF
six more men and another gun. Then We
formed another line OF Ill the artillery lett nS
| for the last stand, aud were 10 + close to the
landing, and if beaten again, Grants army
| would be no more Lieut.. Borland had beer
twice grazed by bullets aud had his horse shot
! Lieut.. Coorer's horse was also killed. Th'
Captaia's horse Wis being held by the halter
for moment, when bullet severed the hal
| ttrn1d the horse rA, OF, and tile Capt. did with
out one. Only one thing checred Us: Buell.
| army had begun 10 come an.and like " ellla9to1
| at Waterloo We ali prayed for night or Buel
| to Gomez Then c:1lr the last attack On on
line of artillery. We had about thirty gun
in our line, our t*o OIL tue left, and gre.
God. how they thuudrred for about tw'
hours. The enemy attempted to storm Il
again, but could not -tand moment belpr
| our terrible storm Of shot and shell. Nigh
closed tue conflict, the cnctny having posi-;
sion Of all our catnPs, but before > o'cloc
!. five Thousand Of 1'urlrs men got over til
river, and there Werc more to come. B1t I
add to cur nllslortures, it set i'll and riiac
severely. The whole army were inst as tic
had fought. One company lad tarpau1ins au
didn't get very wit. Well, at daylight Il
next morning our side ee::an the light. "
= all made up our minds that we must conlu'
or dit on thc field. a1eClvrnand ordered 0,
tatt.ry up with lis division, and calling C!l
| tain McAllistcr up 70 him. said; "CA1tu
your two guns arc all have left-do }o1
best" We all thought our last day h:
come, but resolved to make the most OF o.
time. whether more or less: The tieneral p'
US in position, anf told us to shell the tim!'
b4fore his division went in. He stond BY III
:. saw us work. Wien he WIS satisfied Y
ceased, and the Did Donelzon boys went /
The General soon sent for Us agliu, aud y
fought under his eyc, sbtking out Il batter
in which battery oil risied guns helped L
stationed some considerable distance to q
right, but Which the enemy 5 cavalry cllar5
and drove away. Then We turned upon t
also. Here We stopped for halt
hour, for our ammunition WAS gol
but q load came aud We opened
them again, until We used
that load and then the infantry wens IN ;s:;a
strong. 4 light b1tttry took our pll
aud VIZ fell bail; to our tirst stand, aud to
in another load OF shc1l4. For four hours
waited orders, during which the muske
was roaring upon all opposite ridge like
mighty storm, hut the consending a:as
out risk of Ii ling Our OWN men, AMI
/ fight was over or lest camp ground, Buc
men pouring into our support all
time Then Gen. McClcrnaud sent for
to come On. The enemy wing been dry
back, had brought up Two. batteries WI
were holding our who'll line in CHECK Ge
raj Sherman met us, and 50 did Eoileys OF sil
el1ell md minnie balls Says he, pointing
wards one Of the e0c1nys batteries. '.Capia
silence that b21trr} as st",n Us possible
went into battery in fce OF storm Of c
non-ba1Is, and opened op them with our bio.
shells, the Cap ain sighting one Of the g
himself. We silenced that battery in just
teen minutes, and the infantry went up :
took possession Of it. We had two OF.
men wounded, and one cannon bali Iii
three Of our horses.
The other rebel battery still playing ul
the infantry, We moved 4 quarter Of Il
further Of, went into battery again IN
sight Of them, and drove them off the I'll
. folso~cd aud poured shell into them till
supply all failed. About that time the 6
ny $ whole army fell back in confusion. I
ende the battle, but we got another loae
shell and staid On the field till dark Oar
tery made its two last efforts directly III
the eyes of Generals Sherman, McC1erns
and stranger General belonging to Bu'
army, aud they ail praised us to the sb
TaGlor's battery was not in this days fgl