The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-10-27
BOLIVAR, Tenn, Oct. 8, 1862.

BOLIVAR, Tenn, Oct. 8. 1862.
DEAR MornER-I wrote you that we
we're to leave Bolivar, and the papers
probably tell you, by this time, that We
left and had battle. TO begin with
I am safe and all right. We left here the
next morning early, after ] wrote, and
marched fast all day, towards Corinth and
cncamped lale at night. Next morning
we moved on our battery in advance
Our gun shelIed house, putting in four
shell out of five shots. We then came
upon high hill and saw the rebels with
artillery, in the lane below, about 900
yards off We opened on them and the
fight became general, they sending shot
at us, thick and fast. We finally sileneed
their battery, four ls Founders. Our in
fantry charged and took the battery, the
rebels retreAting across the Big Hatchie
and taking position on a high hill were
prepared to rake us as we advanced. We
followed up, and had to take position on
the level ground, on the banks of the riv-
CIR, next to the enemy. Here the fight
was the hardest and most desperate on
both sides The enemy knew the posi-.
ton of the bridge which we had TO cross
and kept up perfect shower of shot,
she'll and canister, together with the mus
kerry and thunder of artillery scene
awful and sublime. All our forces here
were engaged except two batteries.-
Here our gun axle was cracked, disabling
the gun and q shot sent into our timber
chest that contains ammunition.) | was
standing by the side of it, that being my
position. The shot broke two shells IN
side, but luckily they did not explode.
otherwise l would not be here to write
this letter. Our gun was then taken
back over the creek. but / did not 90
with it, remaining with another gun until
the fight was over. We finally drove
them, and occupied their position on 1
high hill. They retreated back and OPEN
ed on us again from heights about quar-
ter or half mile distant. Here began
an artillery fight, all the batteries on both
sides being engaged, the infantry closing
down behind US. Here . brigade of rsb-
Ell infantry made charge on an Ohio bat
terry to our left. coming up the hill. The
Ohio battery could not see them, but they
came in range of our cross FIRE. We
gave them two rounds and they skedad-
died, leaving colors, arms, &C., retreating
in great confusion. We were highly COM
plimented by the Chief of Artillery and
by the General, for this cross fire. The
enemy finally ceased firing, and we did
the same. For reasons best known to
the General, he did not follow up, and so
the battle was ended, lasting from about
8 o'clock in the morning to about in
the afternoon. Our battery opened the
fight and kept in advance all day. The
Generals Adjutant told US we had done
nobly and won honor for ourselves and
canse. The General awards us the coiors
taken from the enemy. They will be
sent to Chicago.
1
The rebels were under Gen. Price. and
were about eighteen thousand strong
They..played three batteries, IL pouadera
and one battery Parrot guns on US. We
had about s 600 men and four batteries and
whipped them. They got badly whip.
ped ct Corinth and we took them by sur
prise. When Price first heard our can,
non he jumped up exclaiming, "Whc
have got to tight now" Our brigade
General. veetch, was wounded, but ID
around now. We had FIVE men wounded
one has since died; two of them were on
| ly bruised; the other Two will recover
Five q our men showed the white fsath-
or and left'us, alter the first attack, but
cams tAsk after il wA all over. would