Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-06-18
Letter from 10th REGIMENT.
HURRICANE BRIDGE, ALA.


HURRICANE BRIDGE, ALA.
May 81 1852.
Mr., EDITOR On the 2lstof April my
self and fifteen others from our regiment
were detailed to 60 and guard Point Rock
bridge. We went to Huntsville and took
the train to Belfont, arriving at the bridge
about noon, and established our headquar-
tiers in a log cabin close by. The bridge
is about $50 long, sided up and covered
with a tin or zinc roof. Trains passed ey-
cry day and all things went off well until
the 28th Of April, when a negro informed
MS that we were to be attacked that night
Immediately after receiving the news Ser
oeant Nelson, Of our little band, sent to
Wood,i!le for reinforcements; but the
Lieut.. in command Of twenty men at that
place discrediting the report sent only ten
of his number, who arrived soon after dark;
they were under the charge Of Sergeant
McKimpson Of company II, who showed
himself worthy Of a higher office.
Between 10 and IL O'Clock at night the
enemy made an attack upon us. Soloman
Harkelroad and myself we're on guard at
the time, myself about 10 rods from the
bridge, and Harkelroad close By the bridge.
The first warning was something coming
up clo.e to the bridge on his hands and feet
pulling grass like COW. saw him bnt
was too far off to see that it was secesh.
Harkelroad saw it and fired; Immediately
we heard firing at the other end Of the
Bird &c. made my way to the bridge and
stopped close to its entrance to get orders,
but before / could think yolley of over
100 guns was fired into our end Of the
bridge and | must say that HarkelIoad
and myself stood narrow chance, for we
we were out side of the bridge. The balls
and buckshot coming in and about the
bridge sounded very like hailstorm. We
got down between the railroad ties until
the firing had nearly ceased then we went
to the opposite side of the railroad embank-
ment where we load in safety and rise up
and fire as we saw fit. They fought US
about two hours and halt, most Of the
time keeping up steady fire from both
sides. About half an hour before they
left their commander told us to come out
and surrender, and not one of us should
lie burt, but if we did not do that, death
would be our doom. One Of our men told
him to 60 to hi, and that we would not
surrender SO long as one man was left.
Secesh told his men to inake charge, but
when they would get formed for that pur-
pose our firing would soon defeat their in
tentions. When they found such plans
would not work they sounded the bugle to
retreat; they did leave for certain and in
great haste and confusion too. They left
behind many double barreled shot guns
and reyolyers on the field We learned
from one of their wounded, who was bad
y wounded and left at house neal by
the bridge, that their number was 240
soldiers, besides many citizens. They took
six dead with them, and as many wound
ed as could be carried in two wagons and
some OH horseback; we found one dead
man in the morning. We visited the
wounded man every day until his death
which was about two weeks after the
fight, after suffering the agonies Of 20
deaths. We had seven men wounded but
not dangerously-some Of them are on
duty now. John Singer and Timothy
Latham Of Co. f. were among the wound
ID. The wounded rebel asked us how
MANY we had at the engagement; we told
him we had 20, which astonished him very
much. lie caid they supposed we had at
least 100 men, and that if we had but 26
men there was no use of fighting longer
Our whole company is detailed to guard
Hurricane bridge; we have built some
Notifications, as an attack IS expected some
where on the road. We are ten miles
from our regiment am fifteen miles from
Huntsville. Nearly all Of Gen. MitchelIs
Division is at that place watching the
movements at Corinth.
Yours, Respectfully,
Fl. III. Bowen.