The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1863-06-06

as they approached. sending terrlb''
devastation among their ranks. The
loss of Stevenson brigade will reacl
near 300. The left Of Losan's and ths
center Of Gen. Quimby's divisions join
ed in the assault like brave comrades
under Stevenson and Smith. Their
courage and valor were great but coulc
not accomplish the work assigned them
but were driven back with heavy loss
on the left. McClernand commenced
the assault earlier than any other com
mander. The frs, advance WAS made
! by Netherlands center and Smith
divisions of the two brigades under
Col. Landrum aud Gen. Burbridge
Early as II o'clock Landrum's men
took the fort and were in actual posses
sion of it, when Gen. Oslerhaus on
their left made breach on the south
side of their works with his artillery
| There we're two companies of rebe
soldiers in it at the time. one ran away
and the other surTendered Landrum.
on assuming possession Of the tort put
piupeer forces to work TO throw az
rar.hworks in the rear 50 AS 10 bring
The guns OF the fort TO bear upon the
rebels. In constructing forlitica,ions
The rebels left ihe rear oi all their ior,s
open TO give them an opportunity to
assail out men in the event of our sue
cess in driving ,hem out. The flags o!
the 4Sth Ohio. 77th Illinois aud 18th
Kentucky f,a,ed from he inner slope
of the parapet from half past | | A. NJ
liii4P.M. At the latter hour the rebels
were seen preparing Tor charge to re
take the fort Our men did not receive
The support which had been promised
han. and were compelled To- tall back.
leaving the enem, ..ain in possession
of the fort. De,~.~.. Twelve ana one
the 10th Indiana made despera,-
charge, succeeding in capturing the lori
TO The righ, of that held by Col. Land
rum. and held j; galanIly against II
determined assault, ,uniiI relieved by the
47th Indiana, from whom it was taken
by surprise.
The lighting on the LEFT was done By
The divisions OF Gems. Carr, Osterhaus
and Smiih and was Of severer charac
Ter aud Of longer duration than that of
The right or oil the center. McClern
and and las men performed their parI
with energy aud determination, but
we're unable TO disiojge the enemy
from their works, save temporarily.
The assault on the right commenced
soon after ten o'clock, by Gen. TIiay
er's brigade of S'eeIe's division, CON
sis,ing oil the 81 h. .lelh AMI goth Iowa
regiments, Gen. Blair on the lett OF the
right wing. moved met forward for
bloody work
Soon after The commencement by
Steele a volunteer s;ofmlng party oi
$50 men went up TO the enemy 3 works.
crossed the ditch aud climbed over the
parapets The rebels were afraid to
to show tieir heads above the rifle pits
long enough TO fire n; this little band
The s'orming party looked IN vain for
the support which had been pr missed
it. bul the brigade which bad been or
dered TO follow it. finally all but one oil
the $50 got discouraged AMI sought
shelter in deep raviu.; VIM o Bog len.
a private of Co b. 9th No.. refused 10
reirace single step. lie was color
bearer of tie -torming party; when III
comrades left him he dug a hole in the
ground with his bsyonel aud planted
tie flag staff in it. within 90 yards OF
the enemy S rifle pits. sat down beside
the banner where he rename all day.
Blair finally made "A charge. bur was re-
pulsed with lerrible loss. Gen Smiih's
division joined in the assault, on the
right, bu. shared the fate which bete
others. The whole affair was nothing
more than a single charge ON the enc
my's works. which WAS unsuccessful
and disastrous.
Whether from bad management or
disobedience OF orders on the part oi
those 10 whom high commands We're
entrusted or from the dreadful bad char
ac;er of the work TO be performed. W.
will not attempt TO decide. There ap
pears 10 have been want oi co opera
tion between subordinate and superior
officers. Connaanters o! s,o-ming par
ties went gallanly forward but were
left 10 perish for want of support. Reg
imen,s ana brisades advanced notify
but only to be disappointed in their
expectations of receiving success and
help. The result oi tie battle has been
disastrous TO Us in "A loss OF nearly 2,0OOl
brave men. We los, no ground and the
army is not demoraiz by the recent
failure 10 take the strongest fortified
place in the South. The rebels no
doubt feel encouraged in their success
IN keeping us from their works This
feeling may operate agains, us in dis
pslilng the gloom and despondenc,
which could uoi but prevail in an army
routed for The filth successive ume as
the rebels were al Big Black River A
correct estimate of our loss on the 22d
will place the figures at 2 500 killed.
OF the wounded it is impossible 10
get an accurate estimate SO soon after
the engagement The loss of the enc