Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-12-30
An Eric.

The following was written by an Irish farme
boy from this county, who is now . private In
the 18th Iowa. Whatever may be said of its
poetic merits, oil will agree that it 10 wildly
descriptive, and we doubt not that those who
in the recent two-days battle before
Nashville will pronounce it truthful.
NASHVILLE, December Is, 1864
have the happiness to inform you Of the good
ness Of God In bringing me safely through a
hard fought battle, In whish We whipped the
Johnny rebs to their hearts content.
When wrote to you last we were in line of
battle and busily engaged in throwing up
breas NV Well we got everything in readi-
would not cOme-the weather grew severe.
1t showed and froze and blew like fury,
And we seemed not to be in much hurry,
The rebs. would come and take u glance,
Bu' seemed quite slow for to advance.
Some times they'd fire on our picket,
But to advance they thought was wicked.
At last the frost and snow had fed
And naught but mus was lett instead.
Gens. Thomas and smith grew quite uneasy:
To fight the rebels they were almost crazy
And now the weather was growing fine,
The army all fell into line!
Twas on the fifteenth of December.
The day and hour well remember
The men In spirits all were fine.
We marched out a gOOdly host
We pushed along through brake and briar.
And A. every step sank in the mire,
The Thsrty Fifth boys did not lag,
But followed up the starry flag.
Colonel Hill was in command
OF select, but little band,
Who passed through many a hard fought
where bullets fly and cannon rattle.
And now about to face the foe
"OnWard" with them Was all the 90:
Nors opped nor stayed until we stood
Facing the rebels commanded by Hood.
This we attacked, and thought it sport.
We sent them shell and kissing lead
TIL from the fort the rebels fed.
In this we captured four fine guns
Which made the rebels see two suns.
And then we wheeled of to the left
Where trees with shot and shell were cleft
The rebs., concealed beneath a wall of stone
Tho't they could drive US blue-coats home.
But little they knew what gallant stuff
They had to meet in the rebuff.
We made the charge-the rebels run
And that days work was nearly done.
But Colonel Hill, our commander brave,
Found In that charge an hero's grave.
That night We lay upon our arms,
In line, mid battles wild alarms.
Next morning, after taking food,
We started of to find old Hood.
The rebels thought themselves at home
They were posted behind high walls Of stone,
T nna hills ~ ~, were high on which they stood
~ eight O'Clock the fight began.
W stoou 10 our arms every man.
Ine artiiiary, placed on every hill,
1egan the work with right good will
Through fire and smoke, and SHOT and she'll.
We blue. coats pushed.-it was like hell
And under all that hellish fire
We kept our lines advancing higher
Az four o'clock we made a charge
Upon the rebel lines at large,
And then the lead did thickly fly
And many a man lay down to die.
2! 1t was very dreadful sight
To see the carnage of that fight!
But Hood and ali his troops gave way.
And we were cOnQuer0rs on that day.
The rebels all have fled apace,
And we are after to give chase
We took thirty guns and prisoners many.
MCBRIDE J1xxx.