Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-04-18

dated April 9th:
Just before hearing the pleasant news from
home, was suddenly caIled upon to go through
the hardest fought and bloOdiest battle and
one Of the greatest consequence that has ever
taken place on this co0tinent-It has been
what the papers said it would be the Waterloo
OF America, and the victory as signal From
the time our Regiment moved on Monday
morning the 7th, till the battle was over Mon
day evening, we were constantly iA position OF
extreme danger and under heavy fire from the
batteries Of the enemy, accomplished every
thing that was intended, yet with little loss
owing to what is said by all in our Brigade
and by Gen. Wallace, the cool and most skill
fuI manoeuvering of Col. WHIFTLEsEY, who con-
manded the Brigade. We were on the ex-
treme right, turned the flank of the enemy
and gave the finishing blow. Col WHTrTLEsEY
avs the last move our Regiment made when
we came up to take the Battery of the enemy
and repulsed a charge they were about to
make, concluded the battle and put the enemy
to a general retreat which afterwards became
a Tout.
Aner our severe march on Sunday we that
night lay on our arms in our position across
a ravine. The men were very tired and we
had terrific storm drenching US all, but in
the morning it was clear and the men ready to
move A Battery of ours on the left fired
about every half hour toward high position
in front of US, [ suppose to keep the enemy
nom occupying it through the night. We
were about - miles from the river. Our
forces had been driven back the day before
three miles or more and the enemy began that
morning with prestige of victory, and their
prisoners said perfectly confident Of defeating
u.s. In the morning the enemyis pickets were
in plain sight and battery of the enemy was
in range notwithstanding our shelling the night
before. Our regiment as / have said was a
cross a ravine, the center on the ravine. On
our right on top OF bill was planted battery
between some log houses. Comp. D. was or
dered up there to support the battery. Our
forces had been Obliged to retire from this
poin. the day before was ordered to post
men In those houses, knock out the chinks,
and post the men who could not get into the
houses behind fences to command the valley in
front. was surprised when getting there to
find the cannon planted between the houses,
thinking they should have been one side or the
other, for If the fire Of the enemy had been di-
rected on that point, they could have soon
knocked into pie" and could not have done
much good. However / was ordered there
and stationed my men, taking care neverlhe-
less to place them behind and not in one of
the huts in front which was very frail fabric
The battery of the enemy which had not open
ed, very soon discovered Us or the battery and
opend up at US, sending some well directed
shots directly over US and low striking the
ground short distance behind US. Soon an
order came to move The battery to the right
and leave the houses for as and for US to retire
TO the ravine if the Rebel battery directed its
fire no the houses. After few shots our lines
advanced and upon their approach the enemy
retired. Orders came along that our whole
line was advancing aud our left was under way.
We had heard heavy firing on our left. Our
Brigade commenced moving forward. but no
orders for me. l sent to Col. FORCE to know
If couldn't take my place and move forward,
but as l might have expected received word to
remain at my post until ordered to join Them
The lines moved on and after our regiment had
gone about half a mile, an order came for me
to juin them Immediately, SO of we posted in
haste, overlook the line, and moved on to
a ridge and halted on lis top. Between
US and the next ridge was narrow deep valley.
On the ridge was planted a battery of ours
aud to our right u rebel battery. A terrific
artillery duel was going on between the two.
soon shot and shell began to fly over US and we
retired below the crest Of the hill. The 10th
Ohio Col. WooD's, was Immediately on our
right. The cannOnadiug was kept up an hour,
the rebel battery occasionally throwing shell
at US. Soon we moved down the bill into the
ravine and passed through miserable Jungle
mud almost two feet deep aud growth thick.
Just before getting through we halted and sat
down there. We moved very quietly and or
ders were given in low tone. The enemy
didn't suspect that any troops would go thro'
such a place aid their batteries paid DO at
tention to US. After we had been there for
half an hour another regiment came down the
hills behind us and made such noise that the
enemy's attention was attracted and shot and
shell opened and showered over us directed
low so that shell burst directly and about six
feet over our heads and canister shot struck
the bayonets of the men. We had fixed bay
onets little while before to resist charge
the enemy seemed to be preparing to make
Just as we were emerging from the slough the
fire from the cnemy's battery ceased and we
learned that some sharp shooters had got in
reach of the cannoniers and that with the ad-
vance Of our lines frightened them and they
ran leaving their pieces. Having accomplished
the object Of our movement there we moved
on changing direction to the right by about a
half wheel of the Battalion then advanced
up hill and halted just under the crest of il.
There We came just behind and in sight
of a tremendous conflict There was no
comparison between the roar of musketrv
there and at anytime at Fort Donelson.-
The rebels made hard 6ght, contestinq
every inch, but fiually had 10 fall back
We moved by right flank little ways and halt
ed again on top of hill, but soon moved un
der the crest 10 get out of The reach of the
shot which fell thick around US We moved on
to take the position we last held on the ex-
treme right. The contest wastremendous. the
enemy making desperate Efforts to turn our
right as last hope, we were then moving up-
on a battery, the rebels had on their left. Long
before we came very near they opened upon
us with a perfect shower OF shot falling as
thick as hail and aimed low. The men of ours
would fall at the boom and rise again aud move.
We moved up a hill near the opening where
the battery was, faced to the right, and here
we received tremendous fire, the men escap-
ing from being cut to pieces by falling. AL
most every tree was cut, and Onlg about three
feet from hegrOund. Many shelIburst over us,
but, strange to say, no one was hurt by them.
We moved on under this tremendous fire with
out breaking our lines. The battery seeing