, 1862-04-14

mere an incident In the hospital tent near al
hand lay poor fellow in the low stage Of
typhus. As the liquid strains Of the band
Heated out upon the night, there was hush.
lness.among the camps as the air became
Home, Sweet Home," and the sick man
with groaR turned his face to the canraa
wall, and died with the last notes Of the music,
which in that far off camp hospital brought
back too forcibly upon his mind the joys aud
comforts OF home, never sweeter than where
they minister at the sick couch
On Friday night the long roll was sounded,
an orderly dashed up to the headquarters ol
the Lead Mine regiment, and gave Col Smith
orders from Gen. McClernand for the 45th to
fall in. In four inmates time the regiment had
left on double quick. There was firing on our
left. Rumors seemed to grow in the air. At
the hospital a,nbu1ances were made ready and
everything prepared for stern work ahead. At
IL r. n. the regiment returned, leaving two
companies Us skirmishers. The cause was
found to be the enemy making reconnois-
sanee In force, with two regiments OF infantry,
two sections Of artillery and 500 cavalry (these
figures subsequently obtained from rebel
eources) who came suddenly upon Gen. sher-
mans pickets in the woods just before night
fall, and surprised the squad at euchre, the
first warning being a vo1ley Of musket-
~, which killed one Of the un1ucky card
players Instantly and took three fin
gers from the hand Of another, who will never
bold ia full hand" again as the result Of
this misadycnture. a Lieutenant and four
soldiers were captured. Then followed the
long roll and the alarm and skirmish which
continued for four hours. The entire Federal
camp was under arms that night, the boats at
the landing steamed up. The experience Of
that night did not, it would seem, greatly
change the aspects Of the camp, General
Grant had issued his orders to Gen. Sherman
not to f'bring on an attack" and that officer
added to his eccentricities by strict obedience,
most pacidcally calling in his pickets and 60
ing early to bed with that sweet conscious
nees Of fidelity which is the best reward Of
obedience, and this, though it was known
that heavy body of rebel cavalry was
In the vicinity, and as has since been
stated by rebel prisoners, the rebel camp un-
der Bcauregard being less than half mile
from General she1man's lines, so near that in
the night sir the ring Of ramrod might al
most have been heard the entire distance.
General Sherman is the officer who profe5sed
to need 100000 men to reduce Kentucky.
The proofs are thickeRing that TINT number is
far too many men to intrust to General sher-
man. At this time General McClcrnand's
piekets were thrown ont IL miles. This was
the eyentful night Of Saturday, April 5sh, an
eve which closed in on many brave fellow
destined never see another. At daybreak
firing Was heard in General sherman's diyi5-
ion. The reader will remember that our
point Of observation in this narrative IA in
General McClernand's division, and the map
win show the location. The firm; at first
attracted no particular attention It
was possibly guard firing. Opinions
were exchanged upon the point none very
strenuons1y suggesting that anything import
ant was tranepiring. So breakfast was eaten,
hut little later Or about half past seven A.
NJ, Struggling party Of hmping and invalid
soldiers came hastily in from the direction of
Gen. sherman'e camp. On being interrogated,
they raid they came from Sherran's hospi-
tsls, and were retiring to the rear, an attack
having been made, Now came the long roll,
sound full Of portent to soldiers esr, and
now an orderly spurs his foaming steed to
headquarters, and the brigade fell into linc
and led by Gen McC1ernand, marched to sup
port Gen. Sherman. This was the beginning
OF the memorable Sunday Of April 9Th, The
air was clear and brilliant; day more beautiful
never dawnedL The men marched out of
m HY, fhn dnyrf3a IL Co.
and under arms who had been invalided for
weeks; men whose limbs were gaunt with
disease, worn with camp fever, felt the glow
Of martini ardor supply the flush Of health,
and Ill vent forward to FORM in the ranks of
wa1.
The ambulances were made ready. the sick
who could walk were sent off to make their
way to the landing. The hospitals we're to be
cleared for the wounded. There was no time
to spare; the air rang with the volleys Of
musketFy. and so near had the tide of war
rolled, that in il 5teen nsiasstes after the 18th
went out Of camp their wounded bepan tn
come in, frat those who could walk unaide5.
then those more gzievously stricken borne
on stretchers by their comrades.
By half past o'clock, the Federal line had
been driven back, and the balls began to fall
thickly about the camp. We are writing. Of
the 18th Illinois. The din was terrific. The
wounded were hastily ordered down into the
ravine described earlier IN this account, and
there under the trees the surgeons fell again
ut work. In this removal there werc no an
bulsnees, and DR.: Reilly had great officially
In removing his pstients. The 77ta Ohio,
which had broken and run In Gen. Ehezman's
line. game streaming by. and sone Of ttsso
we're persuaded to i'd IN Carrying the Gotta.
:; One Of these mnn DE..Re{lly had difficulty IN
pefsusding to render this service. Not ten
minutes after himself following tho wounded,
fhepE, ssx tho s.nae ohiosa strntshed 90 thz
ground, bleedinE to death from \ wound inxhe
neck which! covered the carotid s*te1y. .sAh,rr
<eea <t4e poor fellow. recognizing ths,sazgsoa.
- be beat 4Ter him, ;.t:K &yn hadn't stopped