The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-07-31

camp, formed in line, and marched to
Fort Curtiss, and ordered TO stack arms;
we broke ranks, lay down on the side
walk, and quietly awaited the appear
ance Of the enemy. About daylight the
news came that the enemy was making
their appearance in large force, with a
full d&oElnination TO take their dinner in
Hef Presently we heard firing all
along our picket limo, and the alarm gun
was fired, to make pcparations TO give the
rascols q warm reception. Our regiment,
the s3d Iowa, was assigned the most
dangerous post, to assist TO protect two
forts, which the enemy would first un-
dertake to capture. Before sun rise, a
heavy fog prevented us from seeing not
more than lOc yards, which was greatly
in favor Of the rebels. Our large guns
were Of no use TO us at distance, ns we
Gould not see them or ascertain their posi-
ton. After the sun rose, the rebels ap-
peared in sight within few hundred
yards from us. Now the ball opened
the music com mmcnccd in earnest out OF
thousands of large and small guns, and
many buttcrnuts were made TO site the
rhsst. They came on in large numbers
to Fort d. aud our five companies had to
fall back, and the enemy took battery
of two guns. They yelled terribly over
their small victory-but it was Of very
short duration, for Fort Curtiss could
just begin to play on them, while they
were getting ready TO turn one Of the
guns Oh our mon, ~ shell was landed
right under the gun, which was disabled
and Killed and wounded at least 90 of the
IT bells. After this eifectual shot, Fort
Curtiss opened up with seven large guns
in earnest. The rebels now began q
look like a lot of frightened sheep wher
the dogs are after them. They did no
know which way to movc-to 70 forward
il was death and destruction from Tho
Forts and our uherring Enfield rifles, AMI
to 90 back was not any better. Nearl,
the whole Of that attacking party was
either killed, wounded or taken prisoners
The prisoners said that we let them tax,
that battery for the purpose Of trapping
them. Another attempt was mode tC
capture battery C. and with u terribl,
yell, they made the effort. They were
right before us, and now come the tuaeoi
war for us-fre and load, fire and load
zip, zip, zip, went the balls by the hun
dreds past our heads, and finally we wer,
compelled by superior numbers to fal
H& out OF til, pits to the battery. Now
. = were determined they should not take
lt battery, and for one-fong hour they
done their utmost, hst it wos-of no avail t
them. We killed and wounded them as
fast as they came up. One Of our Cap
tains with his company went over th'
breastworks with yell right in amoni
them, aud captured 400 prisoners unde
the battery. One of the prisoners aske
our boys, what troops they had bcel
fighting. They told them they wor
Iowa boys. Well, says he, we never ye
fought those Iowa fellows, but what W
got a hell OF thrashing. Suffice il t
say, our forces did not exceed $500 me
all told, fighting along n line at lcas
three miles long, and against a fore
from $4,000 to ls 900 rebels, reduced t
almost desperation, fully determined t
take their dinner in Helena or die in th
rttcmpt. We killed from 200 to 60C
wounded at last 500, and captured ! 80
prisoners, This was glory enough fc
one days work. The dinner the rebel
took in Helena was not very easily diges
fed, as there was too much lead an
Iron about it. All that could possibl
get Off were the most willing set of fe
lows 10 leave Hclana that ever left it be
fore or since.
They are still threateni ng to try thi
scsnc over again. We suy let thei
CONCEIVE will treat them to the best W
have on hand. When they succeed j
taking Helena from the little band c
soldiers that still hold il, it will be whe
most of them are either killed or disabled
We are simple enough to believe tina
Holmes, Price, Murmaduke or Fagar
cannot succeed in leading rebels success
fully into Helena while we are in posses
sion Of il. Yours Truly,
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