The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-02-26

A. Wv LD1N LDDA IA i
| Oglesby to do the same as he separated from
the division, and the entire right wing o
the division accordingly swung back, slow
| ly at first Dresser's and Schwartz's batter
les were brought into position as soon as
possible, and for while there was very
heavy fire, accompanied by continued roll>
of musketry. Ifone were to judge by sound
alone, all battles would be terrific; but when
a fight is wagcl in forest, the trees hi.f
up the branches usually suffer the most
There was, however, considerable loss or
both sides, at this point
And now occurred one Of those blunder;
common in warfare. The enemy PRESSING
hard upon our forces, Gen. McClernand Sent
Major Brayman for reinforcoments Ht
rode rapidly to. the rear and came upon Col
Cruft's brigade, who moved forward, crossed
the road, and came up in the rear OF the 3otf
and 3lst. These regiments were lying
down and firing aver a crest Of ridge. A,
| Col. Cruft came in the rear saf them they
rose to their feet, rot knowing whether the
force in their rear was friend or foe The
25th KY, supposing them to be rebels, pour.
ed in a volley, which did terrible execution
tits not possible to ascertain how many fcl
under the fire, bat il was sufficient to throw
the entire division into disorder, and at once
there was almost a panic. Some of them
took to their heels, threw down their guns
and equipments, and fed to the rear, cry
ing, An is lost!p "We are all cut tc
pieces !" and similar expressions. Some oi
them even fed to Fort Henry, twelve miles
distant, and Immediately the woods were
dl!ed with stragglers.
The enemy improved the opportunity, and
advanced upon Dresser's and Schwartz's
batteries, capturing five guns, taking pos
session Of Gen. McClernands headquarters
and driving our forces nearly a mile and q
half. They had opened the gap; and moi
only that, but had in the route driven US
captured Ave guns and had reason to fee
that the day was theirs.
But now they committed fatal mistake
Instead Of adhering to the original plan, to
escape, they resolved to follow up their ad
vantage by pursuit, cut US up and capture
the entire army
The fight had lasted nearly four hours,
and McClerpand division was exhausted
besides they were out of ammunition.
At this juncture, Ger Wallace's division
was thrown in front. They took up posi-.
tion on ridge, with Captain Taylor's bat
terry in the centre at the road, commanding
it down the ridge to the bottom of ravine
cClernand's division was making up its
scattered ranks, ready to support Wallace
It was now just noon-ncarly / o'clock
The rebels formed upon the ridge which
Gen. McClernand had occupied through the
night. They were flushed with success and
descended the hill with the expectation o.
routing the Yankees. AS they came in
range, Taylor opened upon them with shell
grape and canister. They quailed before it
advanced at slow pace, came to halt, and
as the infantry opened, began to fall back
Wallace improved the moment, moved on
drove them before him, regained the los,
ground, recovered Netherlands tent and
occupied the old ground
This is only brief fnote-conveyin. gen
eraI idea. cannot speak of the prowcss o
the troops, ofinstances Of individual bravery
although it is generally admitted that Tay
llor's battery saved the day ea 4ilia
| The rebels might have escaped when Wal.
lace was driving them back, but by some
fatuity neglected the opportunity and were
again boxed up. This made two distinc,
fights, but the day was rot thus to close
There was to be a second display Of cool
ness, daring and determined bravery of Un.
ion troops, fighting under the stars and
stripes, resulting in single victory.
The Iowa and Indiana boys composing
Lauman's brigade of Smiths division, were
ready to do their part in crushing out rebel
lion, and Gen. Grant decided that they
should have an opportunity TO show their
valor. Directly west of Fort Donelson, and
beyond the breastworks there was a second
ridge Of land running parallel to that on
which the breastworks were erected. The
distance across from ridge to ridge. as near
as could judge by somewhat minute sur
vey, is about forty rods. On this outer
ridge were ten rife pits, made Of logs, with
q shallow ditch behind and the excavated
earth thrown up in front. The western
slope of the ridge was quite steep. The dis
tance to the base was thirty rods as Judge,
opening upon . meadow and cornReld. The
slope had besn forest but the rebels had
used their axes and cut down the trees,
forming an abattis not impossible because
the forest was not dead, but serious OBJ
struction to the advance of an army. 1t was
desirable that the rebels should be driven out
of their pits, for they in part commanded Ft
| Donelson, lying about sixty rods farther