The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-02-12
heavy guns casemated in
iinanding the river. These

VA 100 Founders, respectively,
So;nted out Of embrasures. The
enating was three feet thick, ofsquare
timbers, close and crossing. The roofing
Fv.s the same but covered with railroad
Iron. In the Lunettes (the diamond
shaped angles thrown up and pointed to
The corners ofthe otherwise square eartE
/ vorks, )were mounted heavy columblads
sn aarbette. These as we'll as the heavy
eun, casemated we're shattered by the
veIl directed shots Of our gunboats, that
kwers run up to within twenty. FIVE rods
Of the fort; the carriages were eat to
| pieces and two Of the heaviest guns were
broken by being struck on the sides and
muz1le, one-third of each piece was car.
ried away. The FASCINATING was all shat
tered and looked ragged. 1t was shot
through and through and the railroad
iron thrown in all directions from the
roof. From the northeast corner Of the
fort there was constructed line of breast
works which extended in semicircular
form for nearly mile until it reached
bayou or narrow lake. The timber had
long since been cut down on the strip of
table land extending back in a north.
westerly direction for mile and three
fourths. This cleared upland was COW
cred over with the exception of strip
for parade and drill running along tho
entEe length on the northeast side) with
we'll built cabins neatly arranged 10 rows
with nea and clean streets and officers
quarter well arranged. The most am
pie aa comfortable arrangements for
quarering large body of troops that l
hav seen since leaving Benton Barracks.
Tie buildings had been very hastily
evacmted as the immense amount of
material left in and about them plainly
attesed; here was any amount Of corn
mes, beef, pork, cooking implements,
and an occasional chicken, that broke
upn the stiffness of the approaching
morning as we stealthily came upon this
opening, after struggling all night thro'
the mud and water, and cutting roads
through muddy, heavy timbered flats,
extending to the landing three or four
miles below the fort. We begun the
work of cutting the road and corduroy
ing the muddy places shortly after dark,
after vainly attempting to cross the low
Ian ! further to the east during the en-.
tire day Of the 10th inst. Gen. Hovey's |
brigade preceded ours in the night and
reached the opening FIRST. We, however,
became detached and lost, and wandered
most Of the night without knowing
where We were Or TO what particular poirt
y, were to 90. We we're met at about 3
h. by one who guided US through
; morning Of the 18th was clear, and
M sun arose genial heat was diffus-
- fslt = oil, and rest was now |,
y eaioyo4 though but for short
lsir = hsigade, which had re-
~ u cods following u, now
- Tore the spot where
- ~ direction Of the
- ed and Immediately
ing the avenue form.
between the officers
Of the companies
thirds Of the distance
x till among the cabins a
1T 81 small arms was heard,
- led and momentarily in
ease1. Then the enemy directed the
pening Dire by them upon US by bring
hg TO bear two II ID. PARROT guns that
II once got our exact range, and the
Elongated shot went whizzing by our
beads and tearing through the buildings
With tremendous racket, but very fortu-
nately for us doing but little damage
We were at this time halted and required
TO lie down to prevent exposure. The
firing ofinfantry. apparently skirmishing,
was kept up to the right in the timber
land in advance of where We were. The
infantry in the two brigades commanded
by Brig. Gen Hovey and Gen. Blair
just preceding us, had moved into the
timber to the right and advanced, there
by extending our right wing SO as te
completely hem the enemy in from escape
and advancing their skirmishers toward.
the euemy's earthworks kept up the firing
of small arms. We had been here but =;
moment when the batteries which had
been leisurely coming into position or
the open grounds Immediately to our left
and farther on until the river or low
ground was reached, together with 3
couple Of guns forty rods to our front and
the gunboats opened, and then such 8
laundering of artillery l had not heard
since the 9Th Of last March, at Pea Ridge.
1t was truly sublime. l here stepped
out on the open grounds close to the
guns and had one of the finest views of
the rebel field, and could SEQ the effect
Of the shot and shell. This cannonad-
ing continued for more than an hour,
when the infantry became engaged to
such an extent that it appeared as though
ten thousand small arms were hoipo dc