The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-01-27

their signal lights OF various colors,
mirgling their different hues with the
reflection of the beautiful bright stars in
the water, while fiery shell would pass
like meteor through the air, also re
fleeing III the water, making one of the
grandest sights the eye ever beheld.
The night is spent in marching and
countermarching through the swamps,
getting in position in the rear Of the enc
my's forts. | never have seen our men
so completely tired out. At every halt
they would drop down on the cold, wet
ground, and be sleep in two minutes.
hope we may not pass through many
such scenes.
a o'CL'K A. NJ, JAN. 18th. We march
into and take possession of the enemy's
log barracks, they having left few
hours before, leaving their tents, cooking
utensils, provisions, consisting Of corn
meal, fresh pork and beef, and, in fact,
everything. In one building was left
some three hundred sabers, in others
large Texan knives and shot guns Quite
a number of their sick were also lef; be
hind, showing complete stampede. We
captured about 80 prisoners. The rest
are safe inside their Notifications. Prep
arations are being made to storm them.
While we are getting in position again
the big guns of the enemy are throwing
shot and shell amongst u.s. The first
shell passed over our heads, striking in
the ground few rods in our rear. show
ing that the enemy had got our range
pretty accurate We were then ordered
in the rear of the log barracks, and here
we are fiat on the ground while the shell
are passing over our heads continually
Our heavy batteries are just coming up.
1t has taken them all night, and up to
the present, 10 o'clock A. NJ, which is
delaying the bombardment, and giving
the enemy all the fun to themselves
The enemy are deserving in squads, and
giving themselves up. Six Of them have
just passed to the rear. As soon as our
batteries are ready, the ball will open IN
earnest. $4,000 men, with bayonets fix
ed, are ready for the charge.
12 O'CLOCK, M-We are ordered for
ward in support Of the lst Iowa Battery
The 18th and 9th take the right, and the
3Oth and 25Ih the left. The battery soon
takes position, then such roar of can
nonading and musketry commenced as
was enough TO strike terror to the hearts
OF the bravest. As the firing began at
all points, cheer after cheer passed from
one brigade to the other. amid the ter
rible fire of the rebel batteries our col
umns still pressed forward, while our
men were falling on all sides. Just as
we formed our line Of battle she'll came
! whizzing over our heads, making our
men dodge like lot of young ducks.
AT This moment we were forming by the
right flank to get out of the range of the
enemy's big guns, when another came
close TO our heads, and killed Gen. Thav-
er's horse. The General had just dis
mounted to lead us through the fallen
timber. The same shell killed a man
who was standing at the head of the
wheel horse of one Of the caissons, and
wounded several others. This was with
IN five PAGES of Company c., which pass
ed that point moment after the shell
burst. But needless of the death and
carnage around us we pressed forward
A little further on we began to meet our
cor wounded conn AIDES, who had prece
ded u.s. and although many OF them were
severed y wounded, they would exultipo
ly exclaim-" Go in boys and give them
HI"
o'cIpcK.-A slight cessation for a
short time, but the firing is so resum
ed again. The conflict is terrible. Min
lie balls and shells are flying all around
us. A shell passed through Iiule sap.
ling just over my head, while | stood
with my hand hold Of it-rather close
call. then stepped few PAGES to
where the company were lying under
low bank, in the rear of our battery.
when Mimic ball passed. like bee hum
ming, close TO my ear, which caused me
to dodge and get down on my knees. In
the midst of the conflict Gen. Thayer
rode up TO Col. Coyl and said we were
TO keep out of sight and await orders.
One OF his aids compimented the 9th
and The Iowa troops very highly. AT
this time Gen. Steele, the commander of
our division, came dashing up and said
The decisive hour had come that The
iorI on the river bank had been sil-nced.
lie now wanted charge to be made on
the ripht with orr hriUade IN con,pl,,a ~,