The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-10-16
CAMP NEAR JAClNTo,
Miss. Sept, 29th 1862.


Miss. Sept. goth 1862.
Editor Transcript.
The Monotony of camp life, was
broken by the cons,an, changes OF our
Brigade, winch continued to progress
until our men were wrought up to the
believe that it was necessary, and ~ to
appliug night scouts, marches and tent
striking to our course CT instruction,
was on all hands condemned.
But 1t seems that the purpose and
intent Of those Of wider views and more
extensive kno~ledge, was different from
what We Supposed, & the real design was
saads manifest. BY the hasty preparation
Of s.lt defense, the Srst law OF nature,
and the sapyc1ne law Of rho soldier.
By information conveyed to us by
onr spies and sconts 1t was definitely
asoertained that Price had concentrated
heavy force in and around Iuka, some
90 mal.a distant. and no doubt would
give Us call when fully prepared for
the emergency. Rosencranz & Grant
were aware Of his supposed movements
and il become evident that II we should
not be the attacking party, we would 81
least meet them halt WY; our camp
equippage. tents & everything else, cx-
Dept such only az could be used on for.
cei march were sent with tho GONZALES.
cent to Cosinth under tho protection Of
our troops stationed there.
On the morning Of the 18th We fell in
line and hra'rd our column towards
Iuka. A heavy rain on the previous
night rendered the marching quite fl
vorab,e TO the men, VIC marched but a
few miles h viewer when We .aadc =
halt and lay over for The NIGHT, evidently
waiting for reinforcements. About dusk
Gen. Rosencrans rode through the lines
snais the cheers Of our men, and mad.
his headquarters fnr the night III little
cottage surrounded by trees and acces.
sible I" an excellent spring. He was
Joined BY tsenls. Hamilton, Sullivan
Stanley and others, who all made con
nection ready kor the next morning
adventure. While our forces were "a
| make the attack or the south of ,he
enemy's position, Gran; was TO have
his men in force on The opposite aid.
aud make the attack simultaneous
Thus cutting off all retreat and making
sure Of our victory. This he failed /,
do, as the sequel will show.
We resumed our march on the morn
i;Eg Of: the 10th. and about u o'c'ock
p. NJ. came III contact viii, the enen,v,
| pickets, stationed some I miies.iron
town, and continued 10 drive them be
| f.re ~. With continual s+i-nlss,ing. aud
considerable ,nss. T'w;cr pa.ting our
cannon ii position to tliSpefee the small
bodies clustered on either eide Of tis
road in orpasi,ion TO our progress
/ At ten minutes past 3 o',,ock il be
came evident that sc were in close
proximity to the body Of tie Rebels
from the VAIN reception which the,
gave us from all parts Of The woods
and the flying ai'ls brought the intel
ligence that they we're formed in line
about miles from town awaiting on,
approach.
/ THE BATTLE
Accordingly We were formed in line
u battle, and "like a wounded snake
dragged sar slow length along" owe,
hills through ,avines maie cun,hroI,
by cluntcring vines and rndergroYth
mil re took or position il al .qper
tield skiried with woods on either .e;ds
and in front Of the enemy's line.
.Gnr, force in action and reserve con
sisted Of Hamil,ons & Stanleys Divi
sions. The l" Iowa composed the left
flank and the 26lh Mo. the right. while
tho center was supported by the 4tf
MINI. 4sth Ind. 9th Iowa. 18th Iowa
respectfully. The soth Ohio, l4th Mo
18th Iowa held the reserve. The.l ott
Iowa supported the 18th Wis. Battery
while the rest supported 18th OHIO
D"dges and ,Honghtings which were
stationed OH prominent positions in the
field.
The 18th Wis. was under charge oi
our gallant Col. Perczel in connection
with his regiment, and but a few mo.
ments elapsed after our halt until the;
dragon m Duths spit ere in the face q,
thu enemy, who received the salute will
| cheers, as the first few shots papsed owe,