, 1862-03-24
FROM GEN. sIGEL's DIVISION.
-
TIE FIRST DAT,

,do -, 49,, ~ s oou w
~ ~ e, > n0ts7'aen ~. ea'uo LIZ ulelr steeas
reehlpg with toau1- Officers mounted their
horses, and were observed In close consulta-
s" ~ .1us -" s"m1' A1u "non
lne order came shrll and loud to "fal in," I
was ready to take my place.
We marched n short distance ia the conn.
and formed IN 1ina ~ hatt1a o~.r,no1~;a..a
~ ~ nso @ - tns VI ua''ie osef1oohlns
timber to facilitate our movements, We
stood hero nrar 1,71f an bor- e+-.;r;ao. .,,r
se 10y 80 ~, ,-' - no"' st'ns out
e,es tnlousn tne iong .oresI a1sies' and oyer
the snmmits OF the distant Ridges to discover
the enemy-but none appeared. We then
marched nort tbcastey1v IN fte sI,r3nt,t;a1a raaa
Do -, ,41s7e.' ~ '10 eP1u ne'o toso,
"nlen "as bhfopged with o moving mass Of
horses, wagons. mu1es and men in almost ill.,
extrfcable confusion. cavalry ropinant
sa,ssa F.as, .1aN.N,1 Ae.ea' a
e@tne en 'ioA LUG noltn '.lu n'eo OH 10 Inc 1elt,
Then came one or tHo Indiana regiments, and
the 36th was ordered to fall In Except Co. E,}
and follow after the others And now to the
north is heard the distant roar Of cannon an
nouncjng that the work Of death has begun.
A battery Of artillery followed our regiment,
seemed We We're marching directly away rom
where the cannonading was going on-but
trdstipg to our officers, We felt that we would
be lead to the right place, Entering small
clearing, we discovered yellow fass floating
f1om each house, and surgeons standing around
ready for the sad task assigned them.
We entered the woods again, and had gone
but short distance when word was passed
along the line *tlook out for cavalry and sure
enough squadron Of horses without riders
came tearing through the bush on each side
of the road. Following them was aaother
body with their riders, and It was difficult to
tell which was most frightened, horses or
men. All in the utmost confusion disappear
ed in the brush. !. One fellow cried out IS he
passed, "turn back; they'll give you hell.''
We learned that the Sd Iowa Cavalry crossed
field to support cannon, which was ad-
posed to be, and entering the woods on the
north was received by close and destructive
fire from all sides, and from concealed foe
saddles were emptied, horses killed, and the
artillery horses all shot down. 4 rapid re.
treat only saved them from destruction, The
cannon was left in the woods in the enemy's
possession.
When we gained the field with our hatferv
the regiments preceding MS were in tbe
utmost disorder, and appeared on the
point Of flying But Tic gallant 36th
marched to the front in as good
order Us If On parade. This fearless stand
restored confidence to the others, and WAS
just In time to prevent another Bu}l RIM
stampede. Battery, infantry, and all slowly
retired in order to draw the enemy from Their
hiding places. They, thinking we were retreat
perfect tornado Of shot and shell into tleir
ranks, which caused them quickly to disap-
pear into the woods. 4 detachment of cayal-
r. and infantry vas sent out as skirmishets,
and succeeded in retaking the gun that was
lost in the morning, and hauled it out Of the
woods, but o fresh charge Of the enemy COM
peiled them to relinquish it.
About this time a battery opened upon us,
throwing ehot at fearful rate, killing and
~ound1Dg number Of our men and compel.
Ing the 36th to give ground into the timber.
our battery remained in the open field with
company to support it, and being the only
infantry in sight drew their whole fire. For :
time the WhizEing Of balls, the bursting d
FhelIs all around us, was appalling, but ne
stood our ground, never giT1ng an inch.
smell plunged into the centre Of our company,
| tearing = limb, and maDgling the body
q O. one OF the men. His shrieks, and the fear.
ful storm Of balls, appalled, the stoutest hearts
| Our batteries were not idle, and the enemy's
frg 81 sensl6ly slackened.
| The 10Th Illinois were sent into the woods
to our right, and advanced nearly to the posi-
tion Of their artillery, and encountered body
For Of an hour an n1m9e1 ro =
muskctry was heard in the woods, and the
enemy were repeatedly scattered. bnt Tnttine
around to our right, the 25th were Obliged e
give ground Our regiment advanced 10 thf
front, after their batteries were eilenced, K
clear the woods, aud had arrived within gar
| shot. when eight regiments Of the enemy WeEf
discovered In the timber, drawn up to receive
u5. Knowing the conflict would be blood1
and uncertain, it was ordered to the left out .
range Of the Cannon, which opened upo1
them. Such q stampede Of secesh as ensued
was amusing to behold,
| Large numbers Of the enemy now appearet
| in the field on our ripht. forcinr the 3Tth r
| retire, and capturing two nf oHr s,uns Rn
the 18th Missouri and our battery 6urIed sho
into their ranks, and soon put them to fiight
leaving the ground covered with their dead ani
! wounded. 1 more was also made anon On
rear, but the 18th Misgouri and SSth Tii;nn;
soon cleared them ont. and none Were ieff eT
| cept in front. and their nosttion was nntnnwn
| Company B ind 6 were sent ont as sisirn1ish
crs, and when nearlv to tbe Woods. 1ns T,, ~
ceired 1rith storm ~ ,neir1 %e -. AZ
dcath and MA aastrn"t;an ~ anannas KY "n1cn @ sen
Of Comnanv ssW ~ " nfina, lrI pi5a 9 ~ s4th' ~
fence md 9hnt tn, do,J F-e1, M rs ~ ~ ~ ~
secured bis gold ateb' Int Mas o ton o.rn1, aI'
! pressed to eet his nisto3s We I hara - e1ar nl
His dress and fhe Tine .1d ~ nsaa Dsn =
fel as descTihed hv nr3sonae 9 pace khefe 's.l3 q
room for donbt. AffeTfhis M 1;tt1a ttxhtt1 49,
wss done. Occasionally as souadron % wnSid N s' az
near on the srmrn1t of = distant iii hnt = fa9
rounds from our guns would disperse them en-
euns which had heen captn2e;i sfo,t @ tina ~ a
fore. This closed fhe hattia ~ % tIa 1if iaff y Z
| uh;cb Cen S;ro1,s 3;r;s;a,, 49, 1.i aiar -Iae'
gnned A. ms f;nos Ne ,.a-a m"s a.o1e 81. ~
eo5nded and evaW +rae sna meie ,Sa Sns'eay a sul
sTa1ing With secea nt 1un hnnn;1E Ss4 thsE sems as
cearea out spd onF 9ah 5heE %ef
eoG1SPf5a'e G;l t'a t M1.a IN me othsfs. re ;.
armies Mcrs e1,e.@pd M the % honnnro of a o. nos
|: and the rattle Of small arms could he heard Il