The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-05-02
Dissertations on the Battlefield.
BY ONE WHO WITNESSED 1T.
NUMBER ONE.
BATTLE Field or SHLoH,l
April 18th, '62,

As participated in the great battle
here on the 9Th, am disposed to narrate
o my friends, through your columns,
few things that occurred, and to write
few thoughts as to the terrible events Of
this field.
| reached the battle ground at II
o'clock Monday, with the 9th Brigade,
consisting Of the 18th and 49th Ohio aud
the 32d and 30th Indiana. Gen. Nc
Cook occupied tho post Of honor in the
line of bnttlc. lie fought in the centre.
The LEFT was held by Nelson aud Crittcn.
den, and the right by McClernond and
Wallace. Tho fighting ragged along a
line Of five miles. Tho atmosphere was
imprcgnated with powder, ten miles dis
tant, and the deep roar Of cannon ming
led with tho sharp rattle Of musketry,
told Of deaths dread harvest. On our
approach TO the battle line, we cncoun-
tered the first panic-strickcn cowords,
who disgrnccd themselves on Sunday;
then came hundreds Of wounded, bleed
ing heroes, who uobly struggle on that
disastrous doy, aud scores who had fallen
with gastly wounds on Monday morning
Dead men. loyal and rebel, lay on every
rod for a distance Of milo and a half.-
The field was not dorkcntd with smoke
us a strong wind from the South, lifted it
up, 50 that Il u distance, the cloud Of
smoke hanging over the ground and above
the tree tops, looked like a vast burning
forest.
The 9th Brigade consisted Of the 4oth
Ohio, Col Blackman, the 18th Ohio, Mai.
WIN. Wallace, the 39th Indiana, Col.
Harmon aud the 32i Indiana CGcrmans)
Col. Willich, all under command Of Col.
Gibson.
The S2d fought hy itself and opened
fire about IL o'clock. II did heroic scry-
ice, making two bayonet charges.
The other regiments were dcploycd in
line Of battle, in the rear Of Rosscau's
and Kinks Brigadcs.
For near two hours, we lay on the
ground, whilst the terrible struggle ragged
before rs, and grape shot, she'll and solid
cannon balls, whistlcd over our heads
moving or tree tops and cutting down
eaplings. The other two brigades, had
been engaged one after the other and had
driven the rebels neur two miles though
often borne back by the foe.
AT about half past ono the gallant 9th
was ordered to advance. Without a
shout but with steady step, aud dctcrmn.
ed look the noble boys moved on, obcying
every order as ir on drill
At last the drama opened, and the rebel
fire was answered by such fire as uttrac.
ted attention on the whole field. 1t was
n fire Ivy file delivered by three well drill
cd, well armed and full Regiments.
The noise shook the earth, and was so
deadly that the rebel lines wOvercd.-
With fixed beyoncts, the boys pressed on,
firing as they moved. One battery rakcd
the Ipth, and and another in front, har-
rnsscd the 10Th and S9th.
Our bows loaded whilst laying on their
backs and crawed along on the ground,
o casionally lcapiug forward like tigers.
BY the aid ofartillcry the rebel batter
les silenoel and after fighting an hour
aud holf VIC drove the rebels three
fourths Of mile, and they rouoaicd. We
captured several prisoners, and two hos
pitals full Of rebel wounded. As we ar-
preached the hospitals awhile flag met
Us, to notify us that they were IIospit-
ais.
A very gcntlomnnly rebel surgeon was
in attendance, Col. G. told him we would
respect the Hospital unless fired ON from
them, in which case we would fire upon
and burn them 20 ashes. In our front
Beaurcgard commanded in person, and
John C. Breckenridge, late vico President,
was also on the field. saw but two
rebel officers on horse back while we
fought, and prisoners said the one mount
cd on splendid black stallion was Beau
regard. When they rotreated a squad Of
horse rode up aud covered the retreat.
Our line Of battle, (the 9th Brigade)
was two men deep and reached three.
fths Of mile. The rebels used rifles
and 1nt-lock muskets, with fine nmmu-
milton.
They don't shoot we'll and MoCook's
Division, with its dill and discipline, can
Ship twice It's number in field light
Tho dead rebels we've generally shot
through the head or breast Our wount-
ed are mostly hurt in the legs. Our arms
are much superior to theirs, and our men
are better marks,aen. The rebels fought
in Os good order as we did, and moved
with perfect regularity.
IOTU JUDICIAL DISTRICT.