Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1862-05-07
wnom euR wAk e0nR ExscNDkN'
: lsra Rxas IewA Issas. VoI.
laa9a FIELD. PETTasuRa, TxsS.,S
go AssFsI l8. 1884.

winged telegraph enTea&h tAe papers "
saiyed by vou and your numerous readefs
have doubtless long ago informed you Of
The battle Of pistsbarg. ore Of the noss
bloody and desperate which has ever been
fought on this eontinens--shs history Of
cur country affording no parallel of saeh ?
desperate and bloody struggle the forces
engaged being the flower Of the Southern
shivalsYw- tAe vissorioas ssesps vaoaro*e
our forces from tie 6sid with Disgrace at
BaIla Run and Balls Bluffs, and under the
command OF their renowned chieftians and
scientific military leaders, Generals Beau"
. rsguasd and AlbeEs Sidssy Johnston,
who assured them thai upon the fate Of
this battle depended the recognition Of
ths Independents Of the Southern Con-
fsdsracy, and promised them victory, and,
said in sxultation, that upon Sunday the
9Th INST, Easter saaday, they would de-
feas cur forces aad water their horses il
tbs Tennessee River At Pittshurg. Yon
have bad bat rneagrs reports, and few ID
them authentie-~oF the paE. which Iowa
troops when upon every bsttle held since
the commencement Of this rebellion, and
have in every instance covered themselves
with glory, and done honor to the young
prairie State from which they hails dying
like true soldiers With their backs to the
field and their fees to the foe-till the
name Of the "Iowa boys" in the army
hiss become 40 familiar in the East as
household words.
Without casting any rejection upon the
gallant troops Of other States, let me say
to you, on the hotly contested two days
fght Of Sunday and Monday, all Iowa
ssesps did theiE duty. We left Bentos
Rarsaeks on the first Of April, the l6tA
left on the same day, and we both arrived
90 Sunday moEning at Pistsburg, on the
Tennessee River, having just been suppli-
ed with arms before leaving, none Of
ssthSy Regiment sUsr loaded or FRED
sun, as there was no time for drill, and
cartridges had not been distributed; ]
mention this fact to show goa the condi-
ton we went into the field. We got to
the Landing at day light, and shortly af-
tsrwArds, about O'Clock a. NJ, heavy
firing Of masketEy and artillery was heard
some three miles Oh, but many supposed
that it waa OHly eur piekets and those OF
the snemy engaged In 8 skirmish. So
con6dsa& were our forces that no aght
would take place at all, short of CoEinth,
so sure were We that no danger was ap-
pretended l will mention one little incl
dent to illustrate our fancied security an
Iowa Col, well known to you, same g.
board our boat, and was in conversation
with several officers of our Regiment, one
of whom he told thai cor tru8ps had given
up all hopes of fight, that hey would
never attack Us, and we ware not ready to
stack them bat be had not finished,
when an orderly same hastely aboard,
summoning him . join his regiment,
which was already eRgaged With the enc.
my.
Col. Reid Immediately reported to Gen.
Preutiss' head quarters Of The Division,
which hs brought back an order for Us 10
join. We were marched Of the boat,
40 rounds of cartridges per man dlstriba-
ted, marched up on the high blud ana
formed into line Of battle, being ordered
TO remain there to intercept stFaglers,
whS by this time came rushing from the
battle field, the roads being filled with
ambulaness, army Wagons, and wounded
men on foot covered With mud and blood,
and in nearly every instance, from three
TO dozen men, who were perfectly sound
and we'll, some of them armed and others
snarmsd, haVing thsswa away their arms
in sheir hasty retreat from the 6eld-sa-
king care Of the woundsd~we turned
many back from getting to the river, but
prevailed upon bat few, very few to follow
as to the Geld, some three miles out; to
which We were in abort time ordered, be-
ing followed by Col. Chambers Regiment,
the 10Th Iowa, one Of Gen. Grants Aids,
who brought the order 10 Us to fell In On
the right of Gen. Netherlands forces,
setting az our guide. All Of our officers
were ignorant Of the 6eld-the ground
over which we passed being altogether
nsw 30 them. Passing over wFstchedly
muddy roads, and through deep ravines,
through the shiak woods and bush, part Of
the time On the double quick We met Oh
ne sag thousands Of ssEaglers, some of
whSm said "you will each bel, J" and
aeArly every enc said his regiment had
been cat 70 pieces, Col. Peabody was kill
ed, Col. Moore had his leg shot of, Gen.
Prentiss was killed CT prisoner, and .
Thousand other stories calculated TO dis
hsaxten and discourage even veteran
troops. But still the 18th Iowa, raw
troops ~ they wers we're not in the least
disconnected, pressed boldly forward
just before arriving At q little field,
several artillery wagons and caissons |
passed rs, saying shsg wege returning % |
the river for ammunition and would soon /
come back to support as, bat they never |
resumed and were not seen fer more tbaa
two hours afterwards, and than not bali |
say sas 20 the battle ground. The little |
aeld which have mentioned separated ~
from the enemy, who wers concealed be-
hind their breast works 81 logs which they
lad captured from our troops in The naorns
Ing. dense weed and lot Of hnts form.