Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-06-12

L
turing horses, mules, or anything that a man
can ride,-so that when night comes one
fourth of the troops are mounted. We
reached Perkins Plantation all right, and
were ordered to draw three days rations and
proceed forthwith. The second day out We
reached Haskinson's Ferry, where we biv,
ouacked for the night. We rested the next
day, and started the following morning for
Hard Times Landing, Opposite Grand Gulf
which we reached on the second day. We
crossed the Mississippi in the blockade run
ners, (the boats are all more or less injured)
when we halted one day, and again. started
forward the next On the morning of the
10Th we heard firing in our front -FOUR Di.
vision was in front, and our Brigade and our
Regiment in the advance.) In few mo.
ments the train was stopped, and we learned
that the rebels had attacked us just as We
were crossing bridge over small creek.
Co. B va, thrown out as skirmishers. We
were out about half an hour, when We were
recalled. Our regiment was then ordered to
support the LIST Mo. battery, and we moved for.
ward probably a quarter of amile, into corn
field, where we could, see the rebel cavalry
ahead of us. The guns WEI placed, and W.
stood within supporting distance Of them
with loaded rifles and fixed bayonets, ready
to receive our erring brothers, should they
attempt an, advance However, they did nc
such thing--thinking perhaps that "discre
ton was the better part of valor,'' and !al'.
He that fights and away may live to fight anoth
| er day"
Soon after, the whole column was ordered
forward. I staid with the company all day,
but saw no more rebels. Our loss here was
one man slightly wounded in the arm. A
number Of Co. A were also out as, skirmish
ers. Our whole loss in this fight was six
killed and sixteen wounded. The rebel loss
we do not know, further than that they left
four Of their dead for. us to bury. -"
-, From this day on We heard continuous
firing on our right and left. The army was
moving in three columns; Gen. McCler-
nand's corps on the right, Gen. MCPHERSON
on the left, and Gen. Sherman's (our corps)
in the centre. On the 18th we entered
jackson, the capitol of the State. Gen. Tut
tie took the town just as our Division came
up on the double quick. The loss here was
small, compared to the Importance of the
point gained o We all felt fine that night
Some Of the boys soon found the whisky,
and jollier set than company you never
saw. The next day our Brigade was order
ed out to destroy the railroad track, and I
don't think there were over three hundred
men in all that went out Of five regiments.
The boys were too busy in town. / went to
the Provost Marshal and got an order for all
the clothing and provisions | might need for
our regiment All Of the secesh that would
not open their stores, had them broken into
by the provost guard. got lot Of boots,
shoes, coats, pants, hats and vests, and dis
tributed them among our company. l also
laid in supply for myself, sufficient, l
think, to last me while remain in the SER
vice.. Tobacco you could not sell that day
for ten cents pound, as every one had more
than he could use in year. have got
enough of the weed to last me few days, il
not more. ..........-. ~,
~ The next day we left for the Black River,
which we reached on the second day. We
crossed six miles above the railroad bridge,
on pontoon, and reached the Notifications
in the rear of Vicksburg on the 18th. These
works we repeatedly tried to take by storm,
until the fatal Oath Of May day never to
be forgotten by the Army Of the Mississippi.
On this day the order was given to charge
the whole line, excepting the right. The or
der was obeyed, and the consequence was
that we lost more men during that charge
than we had during all the time previous
since leaving Millikin's Bend, and gained
nothing. The object was to drive the rebels,
and allow them to break through our right
wing, which, had they done it, would have
IutOWu tuSAu INV out hdiiuo, oo ShSy "ouiu
have had to pass through piece of low bot.
tom land, and our gunboats were to fire as
soon as they broke tents But the rebels
took the hint, and instead Of moving on our
right, conferred all their forces where we
charged, and slaughtered our men like sheep.
! Our regiment lost six killed and ten wound.
ed. Co. B lost none killed, and but one
wounded. Lyman Tondro was hit by shot
that first struck the earth, and then glanced
up striking him in the thigh, and entering
the bladder. His chances to live are small
but understand that he may recover, Ger.
tainly hope he will, for he is q good and brave
soldier, and a pleasant companion.
~ remarked that the rebels slaughtered our
men like sheep. It is a wonder that so many
escaped; the rebels ought to have killed
three,fourths of our army. But the men are
in good spirits, and again eager for the fray,
let it come when it will. Gen. Grant has is
sued an order stating that no more charges
will be made, as it is useless to sacrifice any
more lives for the sake Of taking Vicksburg
by storm. We have got the city in front By