Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1862-04-30
xk4h BATTLE nR sUNDAY.
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a TaA aATTxR On Sunday,
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Almost At dawn Shesmsn's pieksts we're
driven in,. very little later Prsntiss'
were; and the enemy were into the eampa
aimoat a. soon - were the pickets thean-
selves. II s Bib H. rAe.s .'5as.sat5 Nv
| Here began scenes which, let Us hope,
will hare no parallel in our remaining
annals OF The var. Many, particularly
among our officers, were moi. yos out Of
bed. 0thers we're dressing, others wash
ing, Others cooking, a few eating shsiE
breakfasts. May guns we're unloadsd,
aecoaterments lying pell-mell, ammuni-
ton was ill-suppIied- short, the camps
we're completely surprised -disgraeefally, I,
might be added, unless some one eau
hereafter give some yet undiscovered
reason 10 The contrary and we're taken
At almost every possible disadvantage.
The first Wild cries from the pickets
rushing In, and the few scattering shots
that preceded their arrival, aroused the
regiments u sense of their peril; an
instant afterward, rafting voileys Of
musketry poured through the tents, while,
before there was time for thought Of prep
aration, there came rushing through the
woods, with liu-s Of battle sweeping the
whole fronts Of the division camps and
bending down on either flank, the fine,
dashing compact columns of the enemy.
Into the juss-aroused camps thronged
the rebel regiments, firing sharp voileys
rs they came, and springing forward upon
our laggards With the bayonsI, for while
their artillery, already in position, was
tossing smells 10 The further side u the
sneampmeats, scores were shot down as
they were running, without weapons,
hat!ess, c0acless, coward the river. The
searching bullets iouad other po-r unf3r-
tunates in their t9ot@, AID th3re, 2H cc-
hce hing now, they s,lt. slumbetcd, whli-
the unseen f-e rushed 3g. Othr-s fell as
they were disentangLlg themselves from
the daps thai formed tbs doors tD Lh=ir
tents; others Us they were tuck!ing on
their aceuterments; others ~ they were
vRiniy trying 10 impress on the cruelty
exuitsnt ene1ny their rediness to sur
render.
0kcers were bayoneted in their beds,
and left for dead, who, through the whole
Two days. fearful struggle, lay there gasp
ing III their agony, and on Monday even
ing were found in their gore, Inside their
tents, and still able 10 tell the tale.
Such were the fearful disasters that
opened the rebel onset on the lines of
Bucklaud's Brigade, in ShsrmAn's Divis-
ion. Similar, though perhaps less ter-
rible in some of the details, were the fAtes
of Prentiss' entire front.
Meantime, what they could our scatter
ed regiments did. Failing rapidly back
through the heavy woods till they gained
a protecting ridge, firing as they ran, and
making what resistance men thus situated
might, Sherman's men succeeded in pRrtl-
ally checking the rush Of the enemy, long
enough % forTa their nasty liue Of battle,
Meantime the two other brigades Of the
Division Ito the right sprang hastily to
their arms, and had barrel done so when
the enemy's lines came sweeping up
against their fronts, and the battle thus
opened fercely along Sherm&n's whols
line on the right.
Buekland's Brigade had been compelled
to abandon their camp Withouk a struggle.
Some Of the regiments, il is even said,
ran without firing gun. Col. Appler's
SD Ohio is loudly complainesi of on this
score, and others is m Cntioned. Itis GER
tain that parts of Fegimentss both here
and Ia other divisions, ran digraeefully.
Yet they were not wholly without excuse.
They were raw troops, just from the usual
idleness Of our "eamps of Instruction" )"
hundreds of them had never heard gun
fred in anger; their officers, for the most
part, were equally inexperienced; they
bad been rep0sing in fancied security, and
were awakened, perhaps from sweet
dreams OF home, and wives aad children,
by the stunning roar Of cannon IN their
very midst, and the bursting Of bomb
shells among their tents-to see oaly the
serried columns Of the magnificent rebel
advance. alad through the Binding, stia-
ing smoke, the hasty retreat of comrades
and supports, right and left. Certainly,
it is said enough, but hardly surprising,
that, under such circumstances, some
should run. Half as much caused the
wild panic at Bull Run, for which the ma
ton, ss one man, beoAme loud mouthed
apologist. .....
But they ran--here as ID Prentiss'
Division, OF which last more 10 a moment
and the enemy diu not fail TO profit by
The wild disorder. As Buckland's Bri-
gade fell back, McClernand threw for
ward his left 70 support it. Meanwhile
Sherman was doing his best TO rally his
truops-dashing along the lines, sneoar-
aging them every wA@r by hiz presence
and exposing bis owE life with tho SAM
freedom with wb. h b. dema1ts1 their
offer IF theirs, hc dli muGb 10 sac she
division froa utter destruction. HildaF-
brand anti Acl}nsgell wore Gnmpelled 10
retire their brigades frgm Eh IN camps
across sho little rayIne behina bus hero,
for a time, they made gallant defense,
while what w&g ieft of buckiaud's was
falling ia such order as it might, and
leave McCIernand's left to take their
place, and aheck the wave Of rebel ad-
vance.
CAPTURE OF GENERAL FRxgTIss.
Prentiss was faring scarcely SO we'll
Most Of bis troops stood their ground, TO
be formed into line, but, strangely enough,
the line was dawn up In an open spaee,
leaving 10 the enemy the cover of the
desss serub.oak In front, from which they
could pour in their volleys in comparative
safety.
The men held their position with an
obstinacy that adds new laurels 70 the
character Of the American soldiers but
it was too late. Down On either flank
came the overwhelming enemy. Eircely
pushed 10 front, with wall 81 bayouets
closing IN On either side, like the contract
ing iron ahamper Of the Inqaisilioaa whss
could they do bat What they did? speealIg
their resistance became less Obstinate,
mere and more rapidly they feii back, less
and less frequent became theiE rstswaiug
volleys. ass: 20. ga su 81. -ss q
The enemy pashed THAR advantage, -
They were already within our lines they
had driven one Division from All It's camps,
/ and neariy ap9ued. a. they szuuosed. the