The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-05-14

stampede attrightcd StrlGlcrS, tcans1rS aud mules
no Cnngrcs>mvu a fortunate thiugN was It thatthI
river held them in check. In the river lay about
a doscu transports, with the gun boats Tyler aud
Conestoga, which WAS now the chief obstacle to
the advance Of the enemy, now within 5000 yards
Of the river and had captured ten batteries, and
three Regiments together with Cen. lNntisS, aud
occupying about two thirds ot our camp - indeed
so confident were the r,bcl commanders ot success
that they ordered none or the Federal property to
I've dc>tirySd. Su h WAS the critical condition. d
affairs when Gen. Nelson's advance guarl appear
cd ON the opposite side or the Tennessee river.
Bluehcr's arrival at Waterloo could not have bccn
more Timely. We were now drawn up in line in
the open field. The sun was now nearly setting,
a long linz OF low broken fiery rcd clouds, set in
lake of deep azure blue, friugcd the western hori.
zon, while ON the east the suns long bright hilos
werc rejecting on the dense forest trees whose sill
very buds wcr, nov fast putting forth, assuming
bright scarlet uniform OF grand aud imposing ap-
pcarancC.
But in less time than am writing, Gen. Nelson
pushed his column across the river the lqth Griu.
adc charging bayoucts upon the enemy. driving
thom back from their advanced position We
formed in line of battle where we lay all night.
with loaded guns, amid drluchiug showers of
rain At day break in the morning two parties Of
skirmishcrs were thrown out and the whole ct
Cen Nelson's division which formed the left wing
advanced in line. The skrmishcrs tell in with the
cneniy's pickctS in the outskirts Of the Federal
Camp, where they had been in the shelter of our
tents during the night hut left now upon the short
est notice and Joined the main line. shall now
contnc myself mostly to my own Regiment, whose
position lay near the extreme left. A sharp firing
now commenced ON our right but the line still ad-
vanccd, when quite unexpectedly satcry opened
directly in our front, and close by. which annoyed
us very much. The LIST and 2Oth Kentucky were
now engaged hrisklv - the battery throwing grape
and she'll in all directions. Our skirmishcrs now
made a charge ON the guns, and captured them, but
another now opened on the right with calling fire
which was only answered 10y scmc sharpshooicrs
sheltered in clump of trees. Tcrrl's battery was
now ordered up and sharp artillery fight began,
which lasted till about O'clock ON account Of their
battery being strongly protected by infantry, which
was ambushcd behind logs, trees and bushes, and
kept mp CALLING fire on the lSt and 9th Kentucky.
But they found evidently different class of men
from those they met on the previous day, the Ken
tuckans not giving an inch. OurEruf old General,
who was galloping over the field the whole time,
and upon whose shoulders more than any other
mans rested the fortunes of that day, now rode up
and said, "Col. Stigwick, that battery must he
taken. Charge on it Immediately! Unsiing knap-
sacks! Forward, quick time :" and at them we
went. They were ready for US, and when within
one hundred yards of the battery, we got their full
fire of grape shot and she'll, Mimic balls rebel coats,
combined with Thunder and lightning seemed 10
have risen cut ot the ground. Tins seemed To- be
the signal for a general attack. The thunder Of
artillery would h, heard along the who'd" line from
rigli to lett. Th. whole woods and brush secured
a glare with on, continual hltlz' Within thirty
wards, where at first nothing could hcS,1u, nov ai-
pc,rtI almost solid r'ulany Of hul;cnui ihcNerS.
The KrntucEilnS wcrr NJ first staggered, but put
in tn, il tire with telling effect; AMI rs We poured
in vollcy after yol,y, AM the rebels saw no signs
of our falling back, they hastily hrtook themselves
10 the tail brush and rallied their battery furth-
cr 10 the left, when they made desperate charge
on the Pad, anl but iur the brave Wisconsin ll'll
and 9th Kentucky we must have hccu ovcrpowtred
and cut to pieces. They now fell back, leaving the
ground s'rcwn with their dead and wounded, hut
before we had got hardly reformed into line and
otiVr troops brought TO our assistance, they Had
rallied and bruught in a heavy force farther To our
left no doubt with the intention of breaking through
our lines. and flauking three or four Regiments
stationed on the left. This was about o'clock =,
NJ, the turning point of the day, and perhaps the
most terrific and obstinate onslaught during the bat
lie. The brunt of the charge fell wholly on Mel
] l.. Il. ,,,.f
way, the Wisconsin boys fighting like tigers.
saw CAPTAINS and Licutcnants of the li.h with hat
in one hand, sword waving over their heads swear
ing and toaming and calling their men after them t'
death or victory, while balls were cutting oif nj
most every shrub or bush on the ground. The en-
cmy's fore seemed TO be strengthening and gain
ing ground ON us, in defiance Of the bold stand NJ
made. At this crisis, loud cheering was heard
to the rear, and looking across cotton field, We
saw the gallant NcCook, who had just arrived, iil'
ing oGcr the fields to the left. In few moments
the battle ragged with rcduubled fury, the rebeS fired
to madness with whisky which had been furnished
them for the occasion, contested every inch o
| ground, and when forced to fall back, would rally
again and renew the charge with double fury. tn,
roar Of artillery now terrific - no thunder thai
I ever heard could equal il. Large trees were Gu
entirely oft. The birds and smaller animals wcr,
stunned so that YOU could take them in your hand'
without their making any effort to get away. NJ
one can form an idea OF the effects Of such firing
/ until actually in it my ears were dcatcned and
have not got over the effect yet.
/ Between 3 and O'Clock the enemy gave way
ana commenced reLreating - our cavalry pursuing
them until dark, and taking Il number Of prisoners
Thus closed one of the bloodest battles of the war
and one which reflects credit upon Northern arms
| while it casts some hlghting slurs on Souther
chiyalry Had I time and space | would relate
several interesting personal incidents. At the tim'
/ / am writing We are camped on the battle field
some parts of which it was sickcnng 10 behold
/ The cnemy's loss is much greater than ours. O.
my own company Is men fell the first fire, we he
ing one of the cpor companies, partly accounts io
the heavy loss. sprang to a small tree after II,
/ first yollcy and was joined by two of my comrades
both of which fell, the blood of one Of them spat
tering my face when the ball struck lin. Sucl
are a few Of the confus d details made while OIL
picket, and with the clC Of day, must close th!.
poorly wrtton communication. Truly,
/ c. W, EVERs.
GENERAL FRENoNr reports from the Noun
tain Department, some severe sknmishiuG
with gucrrilas AT Grass Lick, in which the
Rebels were made 20 suffer severely.
We have later news Of interest from New
/ Mexico by the way Of -. Louis. The hSh