Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-06-18

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One shell struck .on the side of TIN
ridge about two feet above my bead
and burst, covering me with brush
and dirt, and fragment passing ove1
me Into the opposite bank. The SOU
shell struck about twenty inches t
my right, between my foot and knee
covering me all over with dirt ant
rubbish, passing under both my legs
and stopping few feet to my left
did not care to look at my right leg
for a moment. l thought it was al
torn to pieces, and hanging below my
knee one mass of flesh, blood, bone
and muscle but was astonished to
see it there. and feeling of it conclu.
ded II must be mine. 1t was terribly
Jared however, owing | suppose in
part to its weakness on account of the
wound received in my ankle on the
10th. 1t was several hours before all
portions felt natural again. Rifle balls
were flying in myriads. The air was
full of every variety of them, with
grape, canister, solid shot, shells and
torpedoes all of these missiles of
death playing variety of tunes in
the air good music for the soldier
when the chances are even, but when
the enemy's soldiery is protected by
heavy works, having nothing to do
but protect themselves, while we are
contending against not only them and
their works but the almost impossible
gulies and ridges furnished them by
nature then it only makes the SOL
der vow terrible vengeance at some
future time, on fairer field. ...
1t was not sufficiently dark to ena-
bic me to leave my position from SO
near the enemy's works until past
eight enthusiastically worked
back to where l left my regiment.
The noble dead lying over the brow Of
that ridge was an appalling sight,
sufficient to make the hearts blood
stand still. Amongst them was Capt.
Cornwell who, at the request of the
General, got up asking the boys to
come ahead, took few steps and was
perfectly riddled with bullets. A brav.
er, better hearted man never lived.
The boys all thought me dead. 1t
had been a great dampcr on them, and
they were very sad about it. When
| came among them, they could hard
ly believe their eyes, and held me off
little to be sure they were not de.
ceived. / shall never forget those
hearty embraces, or the tears which
ran down their manly cheeks. They
showed the feelings of the heart.
Lieut.. Col. Nevius, commanding the
18th Illinois, was shot dead when he
first moved. He was one of the finest
Of men and brave officer.
The General had been iamenting his
death and mine which. was considered
certain. He had officially SO reported
US. and ha.1 ordered our collins. (The
next. day in my presence it was an
nounced to the General that my coffin
was ready,) and had detailed Captain
Andrus to take our bodies home. Col.
Nevius' remains were started today
at noon, but my boys said | must not
60 with coffin"
The letter is much longer telling Of
the burying under flag Of truce &c.
but omit to copy. 1t was written to
his wife, and not for publication, but
| think this may be interesting to ma.
ny Of your readers. 1t shows as ]
said before the utter hopelessness OF
what my brother calls the attempted
assault, and that Gen. Grants Judge
ment, lately expressed, that it could
not bc. taken by assault is probably q
correct one. X. w. II.