Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-04-29
OUR ARMY C oRRE sspoN OENcE,
The Attack on lIenlerse n's l1lII.

The Attack On AAenlk0r0on'1 f4klI
Tho twenty-6rst day of March, 1864, wi
ever be remembered With pride, and ofte
will the events Of the day be recounted wit
satisfaction BY every soldier Of the 35th lows
who participated in to-day's campaign an
action with his regiment. ~aa
We were aroused from our beds thi
morning at4 o'clock by the shrill notes o
the bugle and the rolling sounds of the drum
which told us in pretty plain language tha
something which rcqxirsd our presence wa
on the tapi', nor were we kept long in sus
pense, an order "to have your command il
readiness to move at 81 O'Clock .. m. with
two days ra'ions in their havresacks," wa,
shown US. We made the necessary prepare
tions at once. Our usual breakfast, consist
ing of the inevitable ''hard tack" and good
Rio coffee, was speedily prepared and con,
sumod, our havresacks were supplied with
the requisite rations, and our woolen and
rubber blankets rolled, our accou.rements and
arms taken, the line was formed, and we
marched off to the martial notes of the fife
! and drum. leading the column.
The weather was quite inciement the rain
bad descended IN torrents during the night,
and it still rsined slightly this morning !;
heavy rain clouds threatened US continually
to discharge their contents upon us. Our
brigade, consisting Of the Sbth Iowa and the
SSd Missouri infantry, commanded by Col.
| 6 ~ <ho T., H., Al
by Lieut.. Col. VIM. B. Keeler, halted short
distance from the city Of Alexahdria to per.
NIT some cavalry and one battery of light ar
tillery to precede US. The entire expedit' on
consisted Of 1000 cavalry, 1000 infantry
and two 4.gun bsttcrie. Of light artillery, all
under command of Brigadier General john
A. Mower. We moved forward ~ soon -
the cavslry and one battery had passed us,
in quick time, and continued our march 1t
this rate for ten miles, when we rested few
minutes-just sufficient to chill US thoroughly
and to take good view of the burning heaps
Of cotton, sugar and forage recently fred by
the rebel cavalry to prevent the same from
falling into Yankee hands. F,res fed by this
fuel were seen for many miles in the neigh
boring country. We travelled Eve miles fur
ther, and some rebel cavalry made its appear.
ance. A few IRON messengers were dispatched
after them to invite them to come to-" but
their prudence got the better part Of their
valor and they skednddled" in good order.
Another march Of i've miles brought US to
place where bayou wound its crooked course
Immediately in our front. The country
around US was very level and cultivated. ex-
tending for miles along the bayou. On the
opposite side Of the bayou was long ridge
Of wood land. e78
A Colonel Of cavalry, chief of staff of Gen.
Lee, who commands Gen. N. P. Banks cav.
airy, was leading the advance, when he sud-
denly came upon the rebel pickets, who fred
on him. and he was carried bleeding to the
rear. Two brave companions In arms and
several horses were killed at the same time
The rebels opened with their battery on our
advancing forces, which checked them. Our
battery was instantly placed in position, sup
ported by part of the troops, and lively can
nonade took place between ours and the
rebels batteries. The rebels doubtless in:
tended TO offend their position to prevent
their sacred soil from being dishoacrsd by
the vasdai srsad' Of the " Yankee hoydes."
l used my field glass and saw the enemy
posted about tso miles from US on the ridge
on the opposite side of the bayou, apparently
in fortified position. Part of our cavslry,
one battery, the 35th Iowa and 33d Missouri
infantry, crossed the bayou two or three
miles this side of the rebels, and arrived in .
very marshy country, where we found it ex.
ceedingly difficult to move our artillery. We
had scarcely left the swamp when we found
ourselves in dense pine forest, which show
cd no signs Of human hsbitstion. Even the
road on which We were travelling was narrow
and but dimly visible. 1t was indeed
gloomy place, and it Is reported whet people
who are not eonversant with the forest desire
to pass through it, they must procure guide
to conduct them.
After advancing several miles, and while
our cavalry va. securing the country to find
the enemy, company O, of the 35th Iowa,
was taken from their regiment to the front on
double quick, to . ivance as skirmiehers.
The men were foot sore, wet and weary, but
as they saw there was work on han'i, their
bodily ills were forgotten for a moment, and
they went cheerfuly to the front, anxious to
find the rebels They advanced half mile
when they were ordered to hslt to awsis fur
ther orders short time afterwards our
cava'ry made i.s appearance and relieved
company y, BY this time darkness was rap
idly'enveloping us We were shivering with
cold and wet, the rain was descending on Us
in uncommoniy large drops, and in almost
streams of water, intermingled with hail.
We had been wandering about IN the pine
forest for hours, apparently lost. Here We
stood now with wet feet and bodies, hungry
and cold. We had had nothing to eat since
morning. Some Of the men attempted to
kindle fires, but many . match and consid
erable quantity of kindlng wood were used
before sufficiently large fame was secured
to Withstand the pouring rain. We dipped q
few pints of water from the nsighboring pools
formed by the rain, and placed them on the
fire, thinking what fine coffee we would have
in few minutes to warm and strengthen US
for further exertion. Hark! The bugle
sounds q. .torsca,d. Our coffee Is ready 20 be
drspk, but alas. we cannot march in do bic
quick time and carry it with ps. It is there.
fore poured into our cheerful h.ef, and
mournfully we follow the steps Of our COM
| rades through mud and wster, almost faint
/ ing, and discouraged by our i'll success. The
very pines, as they bent their lofty tops,
made . creaking noise as if to say to us, wo
ipity you" oa rs .9 ~ -
We had by this time marched nearly thirty
miles. Think of it, my friends; you who
I were cozily ensconsed in your drowsy beds at
that time Il was nearly midnight 1t was
severe on the poor soldiers, but why did we
do it! What patriotism, Whist heroic endur-
ance were manifested BY our men! Not .
murmur, not one word Of discontent was ut
ttered. The only sign Of suffering noticeable
was some audible sighs which involuntarily
escaped the lips Of some weary soldiers, but
still they struggled on. We marched several
1 miles in the direction whence We came, only
some distance to the right Of it, when the
column suddenly halted and oil were quiet.
4 What Is wrongs was asked. No one seemed
10 know. In short time We ascertsined