Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-07-03
FROM TIaR THIRD IOWA.
.--... MAGNOLIA Hall, xsAa vickssUas, I
A. n. June 17th 49,

- june As", 49,. J
Since Hast wrote have kept few dates
l know that now it has passed the middle oil
June. That In the mean time We have gone
up to the enemy's works until we lay al.
most under their guns. Our labor has been
almost terrible. We were out five days and
nights out Of six, either supporting batteries
or laying in rife pits. The latter work taxes
all the strength and endurance man has.
He is in little hole with generally no shade,
and there he must stay from daylight until
dark. If he gets up he has the assurance
that at least half dozen minie.ba!ls will
come singing by his head. We have driven
the enemy from their ride-pits in front Of
their works. It took two nights. The first
night there was some Misunderstanding about
the signal and the Dutch Battery didn't go
of right. Our squad composed of part Of
K and I, got the word and of we went,
over the fence, the bullets whistling by our
heads, down into the ravine and up the hill
to the top and within rods Of the woods.
This was to be the proposed line, where we
werc:to throw up rife pits before morning.
We had been deployed as skirmishers and
had gone through in fine style. We conclu-
ded to count noses and see that all were there
After doing which we found that we num-
bered just ten, and that on the right and left
Of US we had no support. This a dilemma.
The moon would soon be up and reveal us to
the rebs whom we could bear talking in the
woods. We held our ground however for
about halt an hour, when we received word
to fall back to the original line, which we
did as quickly and quietly as possible. The
day following the rebs smelt something and
put up new battery for our particular ben.
eft should we attempt another raid on their
lines. All dsy long under q broiling sun we
pickets bhzed away at each other until about
four r y. by which time our ammunition was
getting low, SO We conclu ded to go TO talking
with each other. The upshot Of the affair
was, that about 80 on side Of us, conclu-
ded to hold party; 30 we went out and met
each other half way between the lines, and
had general good time. never saw stran.
gers come together with more cordislity and
general good feeling. The regiment we met
was the 59th Tennessee. We carried over
coffee to them and they supplied our boys
with tobacco. We concluded the seth were
"bully good boys" and they do" Of the
Sd Iowa. We made truce to fire at each
other no more that evening, snd in fact At no
time when We were on picket. Finally bid
ding each other good bye boys we each
went to our own lines; but not picket
shot was heard after that though each party
kept exposed. just, at dark the word came
that We were to advance the lines again.
The Sad Wisconsin were, to take our places
and we to support them. We begged of,
pleading the truce We had made, but 60 we
must just then Capt Smith, who has
charge of the lines, came up and upon learn
ing the circumstances under which we were
situated, with q true chivalrous spirit allowed
one Of us to go out and signal to those whom
we had met to look out for we were coming
over. We learned after that they in turn
took particular pains when they fred at US to
aim well over our heads. The 33a Wiscon-
sin took the lead and the Sd Iowa close after
them, SO close that we all came up to the
enemy's rife pits together. The shells from
two forts and one field battery came whistl-
ing over our heads, bursting in the air just
behind us. The roar of artillery and the
whining Of the shells for time was perfect.
" terrific, Capt. Smith, was all along the
line as cool and collected As any man could
be. We carried the ensmy's lines in fine
style md in hall an hour the firing ceased.
At twelve at night we returned to- camp, af
ter an absence Of, SO hours. Since this our
our friends Of the 59th, have deserted to
the number of about so, and still more are
wanting to, get away, bat sharp look out is
kept over them. sadleis bias iseT M
4 Ssnce We came here we have had oner rainy
day. The rain came down in torrent al.
most, and in ~ moment tho little lawn in
which We were encamped was under wster.
Very suddenly boxes of crackers, barrels of
meat, blankets, canteens, haversacks, &C.,
took swim down stream. The suffers
shop, goods and tent, joined in the stampede.
The surgeons tent Of an adjoining regiment
and his medicines, moved with the rush.
The boys were foundering about waist deep
after trsps, the rain still poured and the
thunder Of Heaven for time more than ri.
vailed all o. Grants artillery. The boys in
the riAe-pits were in sorry plight, up to
their waisti in mud and water, and there they
must stay for any attempt to change their
position would expose them to the keen.
sighted sharp-shooters of the rebels. ti 81 u
@"weare now getting up siege guns, put.
ting them in POSITION, and are going like the
old man in the fable, totry what virtue there
may be in pounding. = f''51''.' .
Magnolia Hall. This is the name applied
to . fine mansion, the yard to which togeth-
er with portion Of the building is now used
as . hospital for the 4th Division. The
80 4.