Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-05
THE CHARGE

THE CHARGE
The bugles sound the charge precisely at ten
o'clock. and as II by the touch OF magic. the
hitherto concealed forms Of tens OF thousands 81
brave, determined men appear before the aston
ished gaze Of the entrenched foe. and rush for
ward with impetuous speed-a terribly splendid
sight
A Gordon Of fire biazed from countless musk
cts around the Rebel liues. forest of bristling
bayone,s swayed and flashed in the sunshine. and
hedged in the foe like an memorable fate. Shout
after shout went up as our columns pressed on
with such apparent success: but alas our JOS was
brief The enemy. well calculating his strength
and .kllful IN his use OF IL. awaited the first vol
lev before he replied Then. ior the first time.
we tecame fully aware of
THE TERRIBLE RESISTANCE or THE REBELS.
They srose from their pits and intrenchments
ia thousands. and poured steady and deliberate
fire into the breasts Of our advancing columns.
They hurled hand grenades 10y the score into our
ranks. and poured grape, canister and shrapnei
upon us from batteries hitherto concealed from
sight bv the treacherous brush and underground.
which eutangled the feet Of our brave lads and
caused many of them to fall easy prey to the
deadly sharpshooters. In many instances regi-
ments were within fifty yards ofthe Rebel works.
but the ground so steep that u required
longer to climb up than TO double quick ten
times the distance Such regiments as, Tor IN
stance. the 9Th and 30th Iowa, on the right Of
our center that bad but n short distince to
charge we're cut 10 pieces. The former
ports sixty men and four n0n-commissloned Off
Gers for duty now. but this is a very extreme case
and the regiment only numbered a little over 300
men.
Col c II Abbott of the Goth. fell almost as
soon "a the charge was made, and his death is
mourned "a ih 4 of father by aifectioDate and
duiiful children He tender hearted. brave
and true and his virtues as citizen and sol
der will live in the memory OF all who kne"
him
Major Milliken. OF the same regiment. fell at
the same time and left the regiment. or what re-
mained of il, to be conducted by the senior
Captain.
ouR loss.
Tears not figures should express our loss.
: Alas that sorrow and woe must be carried To so
/ many hearths and hearts by this days deeds
! Alas, that there Is no balm TO heal tue wounded
and bercaved How can the vacant places be
| filled AT homes made desolateg Who will wipe
the widows and orphans tears. and whisper con-
ISOLATION for their frepirable loss? Heaven alone!
/ for the world is not merciful
! The int erior OF our lines presented a dreadful
spectacle few hours after the carnage OF the as
sault The ambulance and blood stained stretch
or were in constant requsition, and the mangled
/ form of many a brave fellow was borne along
still quivering with the last thrill OF life. Head
l less trunks and limbess bodies lay thick in range
of the enflading Rebel fire, and the heart grew
sick and the brain dizzy to witness the thousand
eccentric mutilaiIons of Z" the human form di
vine on that bloody and fearfully contested
ground But why should ! dwell on such q
| themeI Is il not the nvariable monotone of war
and its very essencel Alas
In killed and wounded | think two thousand .
fair estimate: though TO give ear to the thousand
reports YOU hear one would be led to suppose thai
ten thousand would hardly cover the number
McPherson's corps suffered most. his loss he ring
proportion Of nearly one half to the whole
Sherman's loss next heavy
During the progress of the struggle. which
lasted the greater part of the day, heavy raiI
fell like blessing. upon the evil and the good
Its sweet GOODNESS soothed, perhaps. the parting
moments of the dying soldier. and the soft breez
| accompanying it. famed his pallid cheek, an'
waited his inarticuate prayer to Heaven.
length. for the day seemed ten times prolonged
darkness and night closed upon the scene, th
dreadful thunder of cannon ceased, the rattle o
musketry rolled away, for
| "-thousands had sunk the ground overpowered,
The weary to sleep and the wounded to die