The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-05-01

DutcCt AmSWCrs
The CoURiER will soon be fourteen years
old. The Mercury is something more than
rs many weeks. Units youth and innocence,
It asks the COURIER question, or perhaps,
being Graded amid the storms ofcivil discord.
its nervous system may have been shocked
BY the "noise and confusion" 40 that /. is
aomewhat bewildered as to its powers OF
memory. AT any rate It shall have direct
answer from whatever cause II may need it.
The CouHrrs is in favor Of the Union on
its original basis with the same relation n
slavery and to abolition, that Il has sustained
under the Constitution. up to the presen,
hour. tasks no amendments to the con.
stitution, neither in favor Of slavery or abb
'ition, and would yield none to threats from
either source. It ia in favor Of the Union
first, the Union last, and the Union all tho
time, and has ever been 10 since its frst is.
sue snd under the administration Of al its
editors.
The relation Of slavery to freedom, or
freedom to slavery. It believes can be ad.
justed with more justice to all the great in.
terests Of the country and the world, wheth.
er moral, political or financial. under the
provisions Of the Constitution, than in any
other way.
The Xsrcury says its own position is well
known. We think so. II introduced itself
10 the world BY declaring that. .'Rather than
aee this Union disrupted, Il would prefer that
slavery ah"n'd be established in all the free
States" Will It now add the other alterna.
tive and say. "Rather than see the Union
disrupted, we would prefer that freedom
should be established in all the slave States p
We have answered its question, will It
answer ours We shall see.
Bravery Of Gen. Lauwan.
The correspondent Of the World gives the
following account of the heroic conduct oil
Gen. Lanman and his Brigade on the event.
ful 9Th Of April:
e7f ATTACK on OUR LEFT FLANK
On the right the enemy were repulsed
three several time. by Sherman and McC,er.
nand. WHO in turn were forced back also.-
About noon the enemy abandoned our cen.
tre-Gen. Hurlhurt never having hudged an
inch before him-and flung himself in force
upon our left. in command Of Col. David
Stuart. acting Brigadier General of the Doug.
hs Brigade. They were ousnumbsred and
everpowered. and fell back.
Gen. Hurlburt then advanced Humans
Brigade to the left, also battery Of artillery.
and the enemy pressed ON to the attack
Gn. humans brigade, composed at the
time ofonly seventeen hundred men, brave.
~ and firmly received and withstood the
shock. and returned the enemy's fire with
slanghterous effect Gen. Hurlburt in.
formed Gen. Grant that ne must have rein.
forccments, and was informed that none
could be spared for him.
q aALLAxr CHANGE OF THE Arm INDIANA.
Having but ten rounds discrimination left
Gen. Lauman advised the Forty fourth Reg.
iment ofIndiana Volunteers, which was by
this time reduced to less than three hundred
men. to advance upon the envy. This or.
der il deserving Of italics and Immortality.
1t WAS the most daring and adroit piece Of
strstegy Of the battle. To hold the position
was impossible. to retreat was to be des.
troyed and, in addition, to lose the batteries
at the landing about mile in tho rear
This critical situation Gen. Launan saw and
comprehended. II was situation to un.
nerve even cool man. As I stood upon
the spot, the thrilling sccne passing before
M inauguration. shuddered from head
I1Qfoet. And Gen. Hurlburt is said to have
imed at the spectacle ofthis three hun.
~ marching coolIy N the face of fifteen
egiments, "a gallant but rash movement r.
leg to zee the little band literally
be poor fellows saw the peril Of the step
Aey wore about to take. and for an instant
esitatcd. II was but for an instant. Mai.
1lbert Heath, one Of the staff officers, seized
reg'mcntal colors and advanced TO within
nadred yards Of the enemy crying.
ember Buena Vista r. and with a
~ huszas, the gallant fellows obeyed,
We at their flag, and charged upon
y, who fled in dismay. Ten thou.
in dismny before Mres hundred.
my imagined powerful force be-
d1hem. After expending the tenth and
ut cartridge. Gen. Lauman quietly and
orderly Withdrew bis troops one mile. when
no formed again, and, after two hours
6ght again repulsed the enemy, who out
;nnnnhrvsd him At .least three to one. By