Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-02-05
adsstbarS tbt Course Of empire takes its daap.

ing their souls. As far as soldering
is concerned, IL is not the easy life
some Northern, well fed, well sheltered
people imagine. Exposed to all kinds
Of weather, TO hunger and thirst, it
shows the truly loyal, and a devoted
ness to country heretofore unequaled
in history. ..s g. .........,' @.
| Another great incentive to wrong
doing, is the utter want Of suitable
reading matter in camp; waiting,
longing for letters from home and
friends, they spend their time in any
manner that wears out the long hours
OF the day, ere they dream by the
swift passing night. Write often, dear
parents, for, As cold water is to a
thirsty soul, so is good news from
far off land" can see standing be.
tween myself and the angel of Iniqui-
| ty, the form Of you. mother, telling
me OF my dead brother, who sleeps
the dreamless sleep, far from home !;
OF the broken home circle, of your
hopes and l call in my heart. "Cur
Father I deliver me from evil, and
lead me not into temptation ,r
Your affectionate son,
| FRANK CLARENDON.
Shortly after this letter was writ.
ten, news came that the rebel army,
under Price, was moving on Corinth. :.
Franks Division was ordered to ad-
vance and intercept the rebels as they
retreatcd. It was calm, beautiful,
Sabbath morning, as Maj. Gen. S. A.
Hurlbut, formed his we'll tried Divis-
ion to test strength, valor, and gener-
alship with the rebel Generals, Van
Dorm, Price and villipigne.
The guns Of the pickets soon began
to break the stiffness of that Sabbath
morning. Then single cannon ad-
ded its notes to the terrible music of
Death, and the battle opened I The
Cd Brigade, under the gallant Veatch,
moved forward amid cloud Of smoke
and dust, and charged full upon the
rebel lines. The conflict was most
sanguine. Sharp rang the rifles.
Hoarse sounded the cannon. Steel
changed on steel. Bayonet clashed
against bayonet. Men shouted, ours
ed and the dying moaned as that
fierce fight was waged for the posses.
sion Of the rebel battery. At length
the rebels suddenly retreated across
the Hatchie river. and formed new
line of battle on the hill overlooking
the bridge and ford. y "
In their retreat, so closely were they
followed, they bad not time to destroy
the bridge, and now brought the FIRE
Of their heavy batteries to sweep full
across it. From this hight they pour
ed in such q murderons fire that the
Fcderals were compelled to recoil.
At this crisis, when all depended up
on crushing stroke, Hurlbut order
ed his reserve into action. 1t was the
lst Brigade, under Brig. Gen. Lauman,
as gallanta man as ever wore a star.
With loud cheer the reserve NOV
ed into action at a double quick. As
they nearcd the bridge the enemy
made aware Of their coming by the
cloud of dust--sent shell and solid
shot tearing through their ranks yet
they flinched not, but moved steadily
on in solid columns. When they
came to the bridge they hesitated one
little moment, as the iron storm swept
against their breasts. But the brave
old General spurred to the front. and
shouted !: Boys come on, and sweep
the hill with the bayouet |" Giving a
yell, loud and long. the column rush
ed forward with fixed bayouets. Near
ly one half their ranks went down, yet
the survivors kept on and hand to
hand fight, fiercer than before, took
place. The rebels, unwilling to give
up their lost guns. and urged and
cheered by their leaders. fought like
tigers. There was terrible charge
on the guns fearful volley of artiI-
lery and musketry then a fight with
bayonet, knife, and clubbed rifle. But
the rebels could not withstand that
terrific onset and, despite the endeav-
ors of their leaders, they turned and
fed. The day was won the bands
struck up our National Air the old
flag was waved towards the heavens );
and three cheers went up from the
brave troops, telling that victory was
on the side Of Right ''h. ..h
Where. all this time. was the New
Recruit ~ just as you crossed the
bridge you would have seen him, dy-
ing for the flag he came to defend
He had been stricken down as the
troops stormed the hill. .s
When the burial squad went forth
to perform the last sad rites for the
fallen, they found him dead. his hand
grasping a locket, in which was the
picture ofa dark eyed girl, and a lock
Of neatly woven hair. Gu a paper
opposite the picture was pencilled:
i9 "she's a the world to mo-"
aaa ~. A. & +. c."
They buried it with him, there be-
side that dirge-moaning river. and
placing . board at the head Of the
grave, left it forever L On the board
was carved, rudely: w
FRANK CLARENDON