The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-03-27
NUMBER 40.

Firmer and firmer were the rebels
closing round the five or. six hundred
braves, who were evidently going to
the wall. - -
The sun of Hope seemed sinking,
though that of Nature was shining
clear from the quiet sky. ~s ,;.s.
Sigel saw the smile of Heaven, only,
and would not despond. His eye
flashed, and his form expanded, as the
shouts OF the enemy rose above the
left:
Follow me-" thundered Sigel. and
his proud 'steed trampled an approach
ing rebel under his naughty feet
A deep, strong, earnest cry from the
Unionists, and they met the foe with
the rush of determination and the en-
ergy of despair. rS0 ti.iiu1
The secession line could not endure
the shock. 1t recoiled, was thrown
into confusion, and retired from DO
sition that was as immovable as an AL
pine rock. 7D s.'faa an9 9f9df
The train was saved. The first day
was won. sso - fifb gsh
The prestige of success was estab--
lished, and the future looked blue With
hope as the violets of the early year.
THE SECOND DAYS BATTLE.
The enemy during the night and
early in the morning poured in from
the Bentonville road, and gathered in
heavy force to our rear, sweeping
round to the right, and occupying both
sides of the Keetsville road, a position
from which it was absolutely necessary
to dislodge them, or surrender all hope
of success.
Truly, before the second days en-,
gagement began, the prospect was very
dark
Defeat seemed to stare us in the face.
and the sole thing possible appeared
a struggle TO prevent too disastrous
discontinue.
The way to Missouri was defended
by thirty thousand of the enemy; and
we had little more than one.third the ,
number to dispute the perilous passage,
On the South were the Boston Noun
tains.. To the east or west we could
not go. Were we not hemmed in By
Nature and the enemy? ao,t =
Could we longer resist?a Could we
say we were contending only for vic-
tory when the shadows were lengthen-
ing and deepening on our hearts, bnsss
Gen. Carr's division was sent by
Gen. Curtis to force the enemy from
their position, and about ten o'clock in
the morning the battle was renewed
with increasing ardor, and soon the
batteries from both sides was replying
to each other with death dealing voices,
| The main action in the morning was
to the right of our encampment, and
for seven hours the field was hotly con,
tested. .1 .f.ro~s s..if ~. sf,..a,,
Gen. Carr made spirited and heavy
charge upon the enemy under McCul-
loch and Price. The musket and rifle
firing was very sharp, and every few
seconds the boom OF the batteries burst
across the, country, and the iron hail
swept down the stream of life, and
filled the surging and noisy waves with
spectral corpse. rsy.,q .IsrcR a}a3.a-
The rebels reeled as we went against
them, but their column did not break,
The charge was repeated. Still the
foe stood firm, opening a CALLING fire
from two batteries; whose presence had
not before been known Our troops
were thrown into confusion, and three
companies of infantry and. Col. Ellish
cavalry were ordered to silence the de.
structive guns. fa eLaFie sGnoilsmh
Like lightning our men leaped forth
prompt to the word, and ragged about
the rebel batteries as ravenous wolves
| around sheep fold. stli gsso So ea.y,
Everywhere the strife roared; every
where, the smoke crept; everywhere
the ground shook. 19 rei ss7w .Tsg5
The sunbeams glanced off from the
swords and bayonets; but they ceased
to shine for many eyes on that blood
stained day. ai.a SOFT zo' 1.sd! 10
/ TiCarr's column advanced and fel!
back and advanced again, and beyond
them, up the hill, the cavalry and in.
fantry were struggling to capture the
detested guns. F'he regiment which
protected the batteries met them fairly
and freely, and, for half an hour, the
two combatants were SO commingled
that they almost failed t6recognize one
another. s '--s
"Our men have the batteries" was
announced, and the Federals rent the
welkin with their huzzas e"ii 70, -i
Yes, it was So! '''-e' 'iY .. ~
Through the blue curiing vapors our
men could be seen dragging the guns
after them. Ere they had gone a hund-
red yards, the rebels were behind them
struggling like Hercules for the repos.
session of their pieces. '..'
Blood streamed anew, and shouts,
and groans, and prayers and curses
went up with the gigantic forms of
smoke into the upper air. ~
Appropriate incense to wait the ele-
ments OF battle to the skies. ~
| No noise now.
All as silent as when men are hold.
ing their breath for deadly purpose.
The suspense is awful. 1t cannot last.
Do you not hear thousand hearts
beat, across the plain ? Anxiety has
made the roar of the battle almost in.
audabIe, SO keenly is the sense upon