Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-10-27
From the Wisconsin State Journal
From the Army of the James.

We have been handed two private letters
from our forces North of James River with
regard to the recent repulse of KAUTz's Cav
airy, and the action in which the 4th Wis
consin Battery lost it's guns.
One .-is from Maj. D. S. CURTIS, formerly
OF this city, who has been transferred, with
most of his battalion, to the First Maine Cav
airy, in GREGG's Division. Speaking of the
fight of Friday, Oct 7th, he says:
81 know the cavalry and batteries did all
they could with such great odds against
them. 1t required a stout effort by Birney's
heavy force to check and drive the enemy
back. The rebels were strong and deter
mined. The 18th Wisconsin Battery-which
lost four of its guns-fought stoutly and
bravely, as long as it had any possible chance.
1t was commanded by Lieut.. Noggle, son of
Judge Noggle, of GAINESVILLE, and was well
and bravely managed. A son Of D. j. Pow
ers, is lieutenant in this battery, but he was
sick in hospital at the time.
"The army work is going on pretty well.
We are closing i'll slowly and firmly on the
Rebel strongholds. The ground from which
our cavalry was driven was regained by Biz
ney. My wounds are nearly healed, and
expect soon to be able to return to field
duty"
In regard to politics Major CURTIss writes
"The army is largely in favor Of the cleo
ton of Lincoln over Mcclellan. They want
no peace party or arrangement, except what
sound punishment of traitors and uncOndi-
tional surrender and submission Of the rebels
will bring. Cannon and muskets well han
died will secure this, notwithstanding Cop
perhead tickets and groans. Union, Liber-
ty and the Constitution is all the platform
that we want. We want sound, durable
peace, and we will fight for it to the end.
Let the voting be right and of the same
spirit"
From a letter of a member of the 4th bat
terry, to his son in this city, we take the fol-
lowing extracts:
~ think the action of the 7th, in which we
were engaged was one of the hardest battles
of the war for the number engaged We
were in Kautzs cavalry division on the ex-
IRENE right, four miles northeast of Rich
mond, and on one reconnaissance had been so
near that we could see into the streets of the
city, but had fallen back to the position in
which the rebels attacked US. About a. M
as we were taking our coffee, we heard firing
IN our front, and the men instantly sprang to
their guns. The rebels came on and formed
in an open field in our front, three lines deep.
IHe cavalry ulSHounLeu, ana were placed De-
hind some slight breastworks.
AS the rebels advanced we opened on
them with our guns, but they did not stop.
A battery opened On US from the woods on
our left and large force came up on our
right to cut off our retreat. The rebels drove
every thing before them. We moved back
four times, constantly working our guns, our
men falling in every direction and no check
to the rebels who were within Is or 20 rods
of US when we were ordered to retreat. We
took to the woods and got along well enough
till we came to a creek and swamp, where
the cavalry and artillery got jammed up to-
gether. The rebels came or, shooting men
and horses, and shouting to us to surrender,
but we could not see it," and put through
the woods till we reached the 10th and 18th
corps. thought at one time | was a candi-
date for Libby Prison.
owe lost guns and 45 horses We had
one man killed by the name of Isaaeson, and
had wounded S. Wells, J. Flanders, w. War
rem md - Brooks"
That was a mean Dutchman, that Hans
Karg. He had one beautiful Madonna-look-
ing daughter, who no more resembled him
than a flower the root. Hans, how on
earth do you manage to keep your potatoes
from freezing?" asked a neighbor, one morn
ing. "Fy, makes Caroline shleep on de
potatoes" answered Hans dat keeps them
from freezin' % s7a'
The twilight steals over the earth like
mournful thought over the soul. And y our
sorrowfuI moods, as amid the shadows OF the
evening, we see stars in the heavens that were
before invisible.