The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-01-15


earthquake rent the air above me, I could
not have moved from the spot until knew
from the testimony of my own eve sight,
whether or No the troops upon which rested
the last hope Of the Union were, like the
rest, to be beaten aud overthrown.
1t was na in consequences of superior
physical courage that remained here, but
OF the mental i,npoSsibiltv Of doing othsr.
wise. The flower Of our troops were ranged
in order here, and had no fears for the re-
suit, unless one Of those unaccountable PAN
les which sometimes ruin even an army of
veterans should seize upon our yet unbroken
battalions. ..E
Yet these were men not liable {, panic,
men whose lofty courage and devotion to
their country's cause overcame and extin.
guished fear. ..a..a .sa
Col. Loomis was there with his immortal
lst Michigan battery, and there was Stokes
with the noble battery furnished by the Chi
cage Board of Trade, and Mendenhall and
Quinther with their re .ular artillery, and
the troops led by General Smith. comprising
some Of the finest in the service, and the
three famous brigades belonging to the old
third division.
The 9th and 18th regulars which the dar.
ing valor of Rousseau. assisted by the un
Anching coui age of Col Scribner, of the
3Sth Indiana, Commanding the 9th brigade.
and by the splendid abilities Of COL John
Beatty, Of the 3l Ohio, commanding the 9TH
brigade, had exlricated from the woods into
which they had been sent to check the pro-
gress Of the enemy, in comparatively un-
broken and nnde'noraized Conditions re-
suit which, to one who knows something of
the nature of that fearful comb,t in the
woods, seems little short of miraculous.
Other illustrious corps were there also,
whose patriotism and Courage | should be
glad, even at this early day, to celebrate, if
one individual could have known an oh
served them all Their soul-Sacrifces will
yet be known and appreciated bv a grateful
nation. With calm courage Gen. Critten-
den awaited the coming storm. and con>pic-
uous among all the rest, was the well bull,
form of the commanding general. his conn
tenance unmoved by the tumult around him.
and his thoughtful and animated features ex-
pressing high and patriotic hope. which
acted like an inspiration upon every one that
beheld him. a.' f.. .
AS he cast his eye over the grand array
which he had mustered to rcpeI the foe, he
already felt himself master Of the situation
At last the long lines Of the enemy emerged
from the woods. rank behind rank, and with
a demoniac yell. intended to strike terror IN
10 the snnls Of the Yankees who stood be-
fore them, charged with fearful energy al
most to the very muzz'e Of the cannon.
whose dark months yawned upon them
A dazzling sheet Of fame bnrst from the
ranks Of the Union frees An awful roar
book the earth. a crash rem. the atmosohcr..
and the foremost lin. of the rebel host were
literally swent from the field. and seemed to
sret away like snow fakes before flame,
and then both armies were enveoped in
couf of smoke which hid everything from
the eve In the still visible ground between
the pike rni the railroad, the tumnlt re-
doubled.
Not ly,, II L.. Al
the strife which vas raging under the great
canopy Of the smoke that conc ,aed the com
batants. the flight Of those in charge of wag-
ons and ambulances became still more rapid
and dsor'lered. Thousands of fng,
from the broken right wing mingled with
the teams, AMI frequently ma IS OF men,
horses and wagons would be crashed and
ground together.
Every considerable form Of deadly missile
whizzsd and whirled and burst amid the
crowd-terror and dismay reisned uncon,
troab.e. The whole ,lisordcred mass ru shed
down as fast as possible towards the river,
into which j plunged, pushing aud strus.
Cling to the other side. .-..r.......
The cnmlat under that great cloud of
smoke was somewhat similar TO that in the
woods. No one knows exactly what occur
red. There was shout. a charge, a rush of
fire, recoil. and then for times disappear
ed. #4 I'm .......
For ten minutes the thua Ter of battle
burst forth from the cloud. When our bat
talions advanced, they found no rebels be-
tween the woods and the turnpike. except
the dead / ling and disabled There were
Of these. and their blood soaked
andred,lened the ground. 4 r,
Since the annihilstion of the Old Guard /
in their charge at Waterloo. there has PROB
,bly not been an instance of 80 great slaugh- |
Ter in so short time as during this rep,l>e
If the re,el left at Murrree.boro' and it
viii hereafter he celebrated in history. as
mich as IS tn. fiery combat which crushed
forever Tho power and prospects of Napo-
,on. a
The rebel left was now thoroughly repuls
I'd, and onr troops enbol Tened by their sue
Tess, pushed after them into the wo IDS, driv-
ny them back in tnrn over considerable
portion of the groaa wli,h We at first oe-
.uped. 3 GG
The roarcof ous artillery sounded fnrthe
tnh further of as tn, diff rent batteries
novel on slowly after the retreating foe, and
hostile cannon balls no longer ploughed up
he earth arouai me.