The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1862-05-03
LETTER r1IeM JOEL TUTTLE.

= LITTER rAsM JOEL TUTTLE
The following description of the battle
Il Pistsbnrg is from private letter received
by Mi. N. P. DoDoss from Adjutans JoEL
TUTIs, Of the "a lows Infantry. TurrLs's
many friends 10 this.place viii be pleased
to learn that be escaped with the loss Of
his horse himself uninjured:
| ,s PlrrsRueo, Tenn, April 10, '62.
Mp. DoDcR Dear Sr: IS
The first notice we had Of the approach
Of the enemy was, on Friday evening, the
4th inst. Our pickets were drovein on the
extreme right Of our lines, and slight
skirmish ensned, in which We took ten pris-1
oners and lost ahoskthe same number
This should have been sufficient warning.
Of the attnck, but, strange TO say, no prep
arat,ou was made for it whatever. The
enemy spent all day Saturday drawing up
his forces, and arranging the plan Of attack,
YET We slept quietly in our tents, and lounged
around our camps as though nothing had
happened. Al daylight Sunday morning
the attack was made simultaneously on both
extremities OF our line. which was, 10 re
atty. 20 line of defense. at all, but merely
as suppose, the exposed side of our pro-.
miscoous cnmp--ths right Of which rested
on slough running out from the river, and
the left on the river. We we're completely
surprised; and our Division, which was
under command of Brig. Gen. Wallace, was
encamped near the junction of the river
and slough, had no orders except to 60 out
until we found the enemy, asd then pitch
in. We marched out, not by Division, but
BY Brigade, not knowing what was on the
right or left of us. Our Brigade, consist
ing Of the I'd, 7th, 18th and l4th Iowa, and
one Illinois battery, under command OF my
brother. The Col. drew up behind an old
field winch was partially grown over by M
derbrush, and we were Immediately saluted
| by fire from the thick woods heyond.-
This was between 8 and 9 O'clock in the
morning. .Ysn'es tlsi sll3 5*+l a@ 9
The enemy made three or four desperate
assaults upon us, ut were promptly re-
pulsed e. ch time. But it was evident to US
that they were gaining ground, both on our M
right and left. We still hoped, however,
that as the compass, of our line became
smaller we would be better able to defend
the position, and would finally beat them
back. But the firing, which was one con-
tinuous roar Of artillery and muske'ry, ap--
preached nenrer until about in the rear OF
Us on both sides, when Gen. Wallace gave
the order for our brigade to fall back
| But it was too late; in Tetiring we passed
through cross FIRE from the enemy on both
sides. and the 18th and l4th, which had
been completely fanked, were compelled to
surrender. 1t was in this cross-6re that
YGen. Wallace was killed. / was but short
distance behind him when he fell. My
horse received two shots, which disabled
| him 80 that had to abandon him on the
field. At this time it seemed that all was
lost. Our troops, encouraged BY tho an ~
nounccment that Gen. Buell. had arrived
with. a part of his force, and would save
the day for Us if We could hold ous little
longer, rallied for final desperate stand,
and maintained their ground until darkness
and the storm put an end to the conflict Tor
thut day. 80 IL eaasfH ee u s#shs
Fortune smiled upon us through the i'm
penetrable darkness and rain, butt did not
see her face once in all the gloomy night
During the night our reinforcements cross.
ed the river, and the next morning early,
our side began the attack, Gen. Bueli's
forces taking the lead, We went forward
with confidence, for all could see at the mo-
ment that we were led by a General who
understood what he was doing. Our lines
steadily advanced, but they did not gain
foot of ground without fighting for it,,
Both sides exhibited that day and the pre-
ceding one, nll the courage and tenacity
that there is 10 the American character. j
can not say that one side exhibited more
courage than the other. They were more
sullen-,they seldom cheered when they
gained an advantage, while eur men did.
/ was surprised to see the calm and even
joyful expression which usually rested on
the features OF the dead, but were more
surprised to see,the wounded suffer withons
murmuring, and the dying expire without
groan. aqt ls2 s3 sa6
About four O'Clock Of the 7th the firing
gradually ceased. and it soon became cvi-
dent that the enemy was retreating, but it
was too late to pursue them in force. =
Thus ended the most terrible battle ever
fought in North America. 1t was undoubt-
edly a victory for our, side, but one pur-
chased at nm immense sacrifice. The ene-
my's loss in killed and wounded was greater
than ours, but they took the, largest num-
ber Of prisoners. The battlefield was very
extensive, comprising an area Of perhaps
ten or twelve square miles, and is all over
strewn with the dead. l presume the dead
Of both sides number between three and
four Thousand; although this is much under
the usual estimates. aJ .s ,,.''.ss., :
s94b-6s 4r x Ever truly yours, sqs 3gf
Eqftp saa a stsiaeaI .sJoRL FUTILE.
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4ps.s FROM ST. LOUIS. E4a
sE h. Il