Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-22

HEADousRrERs Co |, 26rH INp Vols !
battle-ground Oh Rose Prairie.
Decemher 9th le6o

December Jth. lcb2
DEAN FATHER AND MorHER:-You have no
doubt heard OF our battle on Sunday ere this. bui
knowing YOU could not hear from your boys di
rect, and would feel somewhat ANXIOUS about US,
| hasten To write. though am pressed almost to
death With business.
We were ordered 10 march from the camp on
Spring creek on the ith To reinforce Gen Blunt
who reported to be threatened by the rebels
in force at Cane Hill. Arkansas. Well, We
marched ali day OF the 4tlI and all day and until
late at night OF the 5,h, and arrived at Cross
Hollows. eat supper and layed down TO sleep. but
were not allowed tn sleep long, tor the drum
sounded az IL o'clock 10 fall IN and 90 in quick
time TO Fayetteville and wait for further orders
but our orders were there before We were; our
cavalry had all been ordered up double quick
the night before, and about seven eight miles
tins side of Cane Hill three regiments had been
surprised by a cavalry force OF the rebels and
their train captured. Then wewent at double
quick from Fayetteville west about eight miles.
Co Rose Prairie, where We found the enemy, about
lc,oo0 strong, IN strong position As soon "a
we arrived our artillery Was posted on the right.
(that j. the ? division,) and the 81 division on
the left: our position was on the creek, aud theirs
on the opposite side OF little prairie. OH hill
side covered by timber. La this position the fight
ragged with artillery tor near an hour when the
third division ordered To charge the woods
anu we we're brought up to support them Their
skirmishers were thrown out and moved across
the prair with little difficulty until they began
to penetrate the woods, when they were met by
tremendous fire from the enemy which continued
for some time. when their ranks gave way ana
the 81 division retired in confusion. This was
about o'clock. Then came greatest task.
The III division now ordered Ia try the same
point from which the 81 had just recoei with
great slaughter. The Goth placed the
iett the 31th Illinois iu the ENTER and the 2Oth
Iowa ON the right. Company ID W 5 thrown out
skirmi>herS. and thus we went charging up the
hiH When we had gone about 100 yards into
the woods our skirnlshers commenced firing and
dropping back slowly. We then moved mp in
double quick, vheu We found ourselves within
sixty yards of four or FIVE thousand ebels in
very strong position formed about -four deep. We
opened the hre with great effect, but it was re-
turned with double volley, which We returned,
and 80 il continued Tor some time, men falling
on every side Finely the 31th Illinois gave way;
then the fire from the center concentrated or
our right This drove our right company back
and lett company | to bear the whole volley,
/ giving them "A cru>s hire on us. Oh then II was
\ when IL took nerve, but. alas tor Us, We soon
/ found We could not stay there under such mur
derous fire and live Indeed | did not expect to
/ &c, out alive myself for men were falling all
around me. YOU viii see when | tell you that
\ out OF fifty seven OF u who went into the light,
YOU a list OF NV killed and wounded. You will
see that il j. very large. Besides that. Sergeant
Dawson struck bs piece OF she'll. but was
not much hurt had a stroke on INV head from
a spent bill. but il did no damage more than TO
raise bump and cause me 20 lose my cap, which
il knocked II Il double quick time, aud stunned
me a littie. Our Adjutant. De LtHunt, WAS shot
three times but il still alive Lieut.. Dane l.
severely and Capt. Wallace slightly wounded,
also Leuts Manning. Murphy aud Banister. Ny
company suffered than any other in tue
whole army. from the peculiar position they held,
aud when ! came Of the fight had but nine
teen uen left. We fell back some 400 yards and
rallied what few men we had lett 10 save our bat
teries, which in great danger. a the 81 III
vision had not yet rallied from their shock.
found % INV SORROW that had but few men lett
and thst John gone remembered that
had last seen him in the thicke>t OF the night; then
thought of mother Al lensth saw him; he
had carried the Adjutsnt from the held in another
direction from which We retired. / don't think
much excited in the engagement but Ia think
l had eft thirty six of the best of men on tho
held, with strong prospect OF having to take th'
few that was left and retreat and leave then
there, was much as could bear. AZ this juno