The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-09-01

HEAD Gas. 18th Iowa JEF'rr,
Tv,roN a.. A.. 1o.l ,DA

TrLroN, Ga, Aug. 18th. '64.
While reports are almost daily reaching
you from one after another of the Iowo
regiments who are 6shting bravely and
suffering severely 10 the great battles of
Georgia, you have doubtless been some.
what surprised at the long silence of the
18th Iowa, and wondered whether it too
Was not playing some part in the great
work OF the present campaign.
Although until lately we have been
unusually fortunate. for us, so tar ne the
loss of men is concerned, yet We have not
altogether escaped, and have had our
share of dangers TO risk and our portion
Of the work of war to accomplish.
About two months since we arrived at
Kingston, Georgia. and expected to move
on to the front, bat instead OF thai, we're
assigned TO the duty Of guarding railroad,
the most tedious. monotonous and dan
gerous task tina, can DO given soldier to
perform. We we're posted between Dali
ton and Resacs aud required to garri.
son the town OF Triton and guard nine
miles of railroad with 275 men, which at
tie present time makes up the effective
force of the regiment.
Companies II and / we're Stationed at
water tank, two miles south Of Dalton;
ID and + at point about Eve miles south
of there, and the remaining six conpa-
nies at Tilton. each detachment commu.
nicasing with each other day and night
by patrola.
Day after day We pursued here the
nonotoaous round Of railroad guard duty,
nothing occurring to seriously alarm us
until on the evening of the l4th inst,
when force of rebel cavalry, estimated
at about ten thousand. we're discovered
IN our vicinity marching in the direction
ofDalson. We Immediately went to work
the regiment. They report that the enc.
my, fifteen hundred strong, surrounded
them at about dark and fought them
with nusketry until the following morn
ing. when artillery was planted il short
range OF the stocksde and Gag Of truce
sent 10 demanding their surrender. Deem.
ing it useless to attempt to hold out
against SO large force. they accepted the
demand on condition that they be parol.
ed and all private property restored.
But to return to the regiment. All
about 10 clock p. IN. two men we're sent
out mounted on mules on each road lead. |
ing to town to discover the movements of
the enemy aud notify VI in time to be
prepared for their coming. But a short
time had elapsed before seven or eight |
shots were fred on the pickle, LISA ahou, |
three hundred yards distant fem US across
the conasauga river. Expecting an in |
mediate attack the long roll was beat and |
the men FASTENED into line to be ready |
Tor the enemy. All night they lowered |
sround the town but for some unknov.
reason failed to attack us. No fghtipp
ocenrred except on the picket lines which |
resulted IN rebel Captain and Sergeant |
being MORALLY wounded. One of our
scouts, Corporal Stafford Of coppa.v G
sent ont seross the riyss rode unsxpec,. |
eddy on to rebel picket pos. and was can. |
sured. A about ) o'clock p. m. 500 |
crossed the river short distance belov |
"a aud tore up the track about milo from
town. Colorel Archer thought Of march. |
Ing out and giving them GgAi, (Col.
Viewer was absent at Huntsvilis With h;s
brosher who was lying al The point Of
death }, bu, knowing that the main bod |
were just across the river, declined dc;s4 |
20, fearing that in the abse nee Of the rep; |
ment our bridge. wafer. tank and bioct |
house would b. destroyed. we le.r.:d !
afterward from the prisouers thai s..l
was their inteasions and that their f.,... /
vas one division, commanded By General |
Martin.
C. W. W., i7rH lows