The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-04-18

PrTTsBuaG, April s, 1862.

IIIIhBUkts nPfh % A5o-'
FRIxxD RIcHARps: We were attacked
on Sunday morning, and as completely
taken by surprise as ever any army could
be. The first intimation apy OF US had
was the opening of their FIRE on our troops.
Who is to blame for this gross negligence
| do not know, but most assuredly some
body. Major Belknap and | were on our
way to the river when they began bring
ing in the wounded. This was about s
o'clock in the morning. In a few min
ntes Dr.. Wyman came down with Col.
Moore. He informed me that lie would
have to take his leg of. He said his
regiment was cut all to pieces. | met
DR.. Hickey, and he was the most excited
man ever saw. He said we were whip
ped, and would all be driven to the river
10 less than twenty minutes. Says he,
''pack up your traps and leave, John, for
what tell you is so. have lost every
thing Major Barney King Of their
regiment, was killed early in the day on
Sunday. remained at the river all day
Sunday, and every messenger that came
in said they were driving us in and whip
ping us. think there must have been
eight or ten thousand troops on the levee
on Sunday afternoon. They were nearly
all remnants of regiments which had been
on the extreme advance, and were FIRST
attacked and driven in. BY some bad man
agement all the green regiments, most Of
whom had never been under fire, and a
great many right from camp, had been
put away out in front. and consequently
were the first attacked, and became panic
stricken, and created the most exaggera-
ted stories imaginable.
The Iowa End got into action about 10
clock and staid until dark, and at it early
next morning and never left until it was
all over. The regiment lost 10 killed and
so wounded. Go. A lost two killed and
ten wounded. | will furnish you with
list of them, which please be kind enough
to publish, il you have not done SO before
this reaches you. Captain Bob Littler
lost an arm early in the morning Sunday
before the regiment had fairly got into
action; Capt. Moore, shot through both
legs, very serious; Capt. Cox. through
the right leg, no bones broken; Capt. Abe
Wilkin, through the arm, serious; Capt.
Mills, in the face, slight; Lieut.. Wilson,
hand, slight; Lieut.. Brawner, side, seri-
Gus; Lieut.. SehoGeld, in leg, serious
These are oil the officers of the I'd. Col
Ried Of 18th in the back of the neck, Sc
rious; Lieut.. Reid, same place, slightly.
There is no question about it but that
We were whipped on Sunday night, and
had not Gen. Buell. and his forces arrived
then most of us would have been taken
next day. / went down on the boat after
the FIRST of Buell's men had arrived, and
talked with one of Gen. Boylc's staff. He
informed me that 3S, 900 men were on the
way, exclusive Of Mitchcll's division, who
had gone higher up. Twenty four thous-
and of them arrived in time 10 participate;
the balance are coming up to-day. The
men here all curse Grant, and are willing
to die by Buell.. Nobody seemed to have
any confidence in Grant, but think Buel
can do anything.
The Iowa cd. It'll, 18th and l4th were
in one brigade, and came very near all be-
ing taken. The 18th and 14th were ia
ken almost to man, but the I'd and 7th
escaped by running gauntlet between
two fires at about rs yards distance This
is where they lost most of their mon, the
I'd and 7th getting through, but the en-.
envy closed in and cut off the others.
We have lost fully 5000 prisoners and
|
about 5000 or 6 ZOO in killed and wound
ed. You need fear no exaggera lion, as
make this statement after careful inquiry
Of our and other surgeons. walked
over the battle field to-day and in one
place stood still and within circle Of
about one hundred feet in diameter, Icount
ed thirty-two dead rebels. Behind one
tree FIVE rebels had crouched, and six.
pound ball struck, penetrating through
about fifteen inches Of wood and killed
them all, and they lay just As they fell, al
in heap. This may seem an exaggera
ton, but Capt. Cox, Lieut. Eaton, o.
Lieut.. Davis and dozen others will tel