Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-05-21
A large number Of rebel dead

A large number OF rebel dead, said to
number $50; were thrown into a pond,
and lay undiscovered nearly a week. In
numerous places the rebel dead lay so
thick that a wagon could,b be laden with
out shifting its position. Huge trenches
were made about seven feet wide and
three deep, in which they were piled in
four or five layers, like so much cord wood,
and the earth heaped in a mound above
them and thus they lie, to rot IN cold OBJ
security. The Union dead were usually
buried singly or in groups, and graves
marked in some manner by their own
companies. Many have been removed
and taken home.
An incident, marking the deadly hostii-
ity Of the rebels, may not here be out OF
place. A Sergeant, with a detail of men,
while burying the rebel dead, was fired
upon by a wounded rebel, lying near by,
who had barely strength enough to roll
over and use his Revolver. The ball passed
between theSe,,rgelnt's arm and body, cut
Il hole in his blouse. With a muttered
oath he clutched the rebel by the collar,
and dragging him to the trench, flung him
in by the side of the of the putrefying
dead, and instantly shoveled the earth
upon him. Tho rebel uttered no word of
cntreaty or complaint, but grated his
teeth with a bull dog ferocity. A similar
incident took place at Fort Donelson.-
Of wars, civil war engcnders the fercest
hatred.
Upon the authority OF Charles Austin,
of A~ustinburg, who met with a rebel
Mississippian attending the wounded
Captain Polka nephew of ex President
Polk we have reason to believe that our
Battery killed md wounded not less than
one hundred and fifty of the Mississippi
Tigers, that being the Regiment that cap
tured our Battery. He confirmed my
statement of their being cut up too badly
to make an advance on our front, and of
sujbecting us to a cross fire by an adj
vance upon our right, which was left I'M
defended by the falling back, on the first
fire, of a supporting Regiment from Iowa.
He stated that we made the best stand of
n force they met during the first day Of
the fight, and that it seemed as if We
would never leave our Guns and did not
till the rebels were out of their range, and
had orders to charge bayonet upon us.
Officers of the Infantry supporting US,
say that we should never have unlimber-
Ell our Pieces in a place where such GER
tain destruction was unavoidable. | now
regret it myself, since it is manifest that
two of our men were wounded by onr own
support, and, l greatly fear killed one
Military men must wonder, or being told
that u support took position directly in
our rear, thus placing US between the fire
of friends and foes and reversing the mil
itary rule of supporting Artillery at the
expense of Infantry, by using tn Artillery
as a shield for themselves. Yet
this blunder was actually committed.
Yesterday L VISITED the l9th reg t.
The Warren boys with them are we'll
there I heard ofCapt. F. E. Stoves
death. His body has been sent home in
charge of Sergeant Oviat. The Captain
was a true and faithful man, whose life af-
lords his best eulogy. His loss is deeply
regretted. Corporal Woodford of this
Battery died yesterday in the Hos
pital Camp in this place; lie also was
andtrue. Hewas.from Vienna, and
md is the first who has died while with
Is, in camp.
Lieut.. King. of your place, is now act
ng Adjutant to Col. Anika, commanding
he Artillery Battalion attached to Gen
McClernand's Division. Yours,
BERNUM.