The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-03-06

fired, some Of our men had to help run
the cannon up TO its place. They kept
up firing until dark when We threw out
our pickets and the Brigade lay behind
the breastworks with guns in hand all
night expecting an attack from them,
but they did not attack us We lay
IN silence all night with dead men all
around US, among which was our Ser
geant Major who was shot in the head.
| There were none Of eur men killed in
the charge. J. Fox Of Toledo, was
slightly shot through the shoulder, but
not hurt bad he and lst Lieutenant are
both with the Co. at present. The long
looked for dawn of Sabbath morning
approached, and the rebel bugle sound
ed. We then expected them to open
fire on US so We waited and looked with
patience, but presently they run mp the
/, white flag and came to meet our officers.
They met in the hollow and Smith gave
them one hour to surrender rncondi-
tionally. We waited the hour and the
white flag was run up which made glad
hearts on both sides, we marched then
into the Fort. The.Iowa 2nd first, In
diana 25th next, the Iowa l4th next,
and the rest following by thousands,
with music in abundance and never
did music sound sweeteY. The morning
Of the 18th General FLOYD broke out
through the line Of McClernands Bri-
gade and escaped with several thousand
men. / took r..de ont through the
battle ground to day, and the dead men
lay very thick they had buried qnite a
number Of them. Our men had thirty
seven i'll one pit. The secesh were
hurving their dead. The woods WIS
full Of graves: The ground was covered
with blankets, knapsacks, arms and
cooking utensils Of all kinds. There
was not bush as large as my arm that
was not struck with four or FIVE musket
balls. counted the balls in several
small trees and there were from Is to
20 balls in each tree shot in from both
sides There were trees cut off as thick
~ my body by canon balls: Every
house within reach is used for hospital
1t is hard to tel. the number killed and
wounded. | have some reports whicl,
will give. sth Illinois. 81 killed, $50
wounded 18th ILL.,, so killed.; 11th
Ill. 70 killed 3l.h I'll. 40 killed; 25,h
Indiana. % killed.; The Iowa 2nd, 7th.
18th and l4th 81 killed, 237 wounded.
besides these there were several other
regiments which have not heard FROM.
but | suppose four hundred will cover
the killed on our side, Of the wounded /
can not give any idea Of the numbers.
Their loss is not known, but | think it
was as great as ours, although they had
the breast works to protect them. We
took fifteen thousand prisoners, but I
think several ofthem made their escape.
| think they will ship about ten thou
sand; Floyd aud Pillow made their
escape. We took Is pieces, that com.
mandcd the Fort. Amongst these was
the old peace maker pointing down the
river, q l20 FOUNDER; besides these We
got several batteries ofar;ilery, and all
their mn>kets with which the ground
is covered: The main Fort encloses
about seven acres well fortified with
earth breast works on three sides and
the river on the other; The outside
breast works, as near as I can Judge, is
eight miles around, bounded by the
river on one side. It is one of the
strongest places in Tennessee. There
was large number of horses, but no
wagons taken, also a large amount Of
provision and ammunition. 1t is the report
here that Tenn. is in tho Union now.
We have very comfortable quarters
here now in log cabins. The secesh
built them for winter quarters.
Our 'rama county boys are all in
good spirits since the fight.
S. f. ECCLES.