Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-04-29

IlulOTu0u tuat tney were now IN the nAndS
Yankees, who were about this night play il
one Of their favorite tricks. t'..'
| Thus, or similarly, eight picket posts hi
been surprised and taken without shot, ar
thus no alarm Of our advance into their cam
was given. While these pickets were cal
tured some Of our conip4nies A and Ky wei
out in the neighborhood' Of the camp, su
prising several houses where rebel solde,
we're quartered Atone house the rebs. ha
an entertainment, where music and dancin
drove away dun time, in presence Of sever,
secesh bellies. A supper had also been pr,
pared, Of which some Of our men had th
pleasure Of partaking. I
Now We were but few yards from thei
camp. What hopes and anxiety comminale
in our breasts as we approached It in soleln
silence! Lights are seen in different localite
in their camp, and also in a few houses nes
it on Henderson's plantation. Our Z me-
reach the inclosure and seize two cannon an
caissons Our musicians and 4 few Of on
men mount the horses attached to the cais
sons. Some Of the rebels come rushin
along, aroused by the war cry Of woman ii
a small house to our right. She shouted, il
a clear voice, through the camp, 1"To arms
to arms!i The enemy-the enemy r. an,
told our men to s.ger Of those horses; they
belonged to that section" They soon saw
what was the matter, and surrendered. W.
rush ont the SS3d Missouri infantry partly
alongside of US, partly in our rear. Firns
commences at ! lxrge white house-the head
quarters Of the rebels where alt the officers
lodge A caisson and six horses came thun
dering through our ranks, injuring some o.
our men, but not seriously. Lieut.. Henry
Hoover, A. A. A. G. of our brigade, had his
horse run over by them. but be escaped nm.
injured. Six horses broke loose from anothel
caisson and came dashing along, but were
speedily checked by killing one OF them.
The action was now fully commenced
Some Of the rebels attempted to escape
through field, but volley of leaden ha,l
from our muskets, by which some Of them
got hurt, stopped them. Every moment
expected to hear the cannon roar in our front,
for the rebels still held two pieces of artillery,
but yell and double-quick placed them In
our power at the critical moment when the
stood ready, waiting for the COM
mand Of his officer, to send some Of our
brave men to "that better land, from who.e
borne no traveller returns" These I ieces
were double shotted with canister and grape,
and many of us would have soaked the earth
with our blood had they been discharged on
US, in the lane which was packed full Of our
men. The officer ia command of the section
know the consequences Of firing it, and fear
cd he would kill many of his own men who
were prisoners in our hands. Some of the
rebels, while resisting our men demanding
their surrender, were hurt, and one who fired
at Thomas Purcell, corporal of the color
guard, (shooting out one of his teeth, was
ba, onetted. A number Of horses
were taken by our men, who mounted them
selves.
The action was ended. We secured our
prisoners, cannon, horses and baggage, re-
paired bridge which the rebels had injured
and moved to our camp, which we reached
1t two o'clock the next morning, being by the
road we travelled Eve miles from the rebel
camp. Here We spread our blankets near large
fires and almost tired out sank to rest, well
satisfied with the laurels we had won, in this,
the first action in which our regiment had an
to distinguish itself. Nine
tenths Of the work done was performed by
the 35th Iowa, though the gallant 33d Mis-.
souri, stood nobly BY us. Even Gen. Jos A.
Mower who was foremost in the action said :,
well done 35th Iowa"
Very few engagements have resulted moro
zloriously with no loss to the attacking party.
The rebel loss was two killed and seven
We hold three hundred prisoners.
twenty commissioned officers, of
whom the ranking officer is 1t. COL Blair.
Col. Vincent, who was in command Of those
laken, escaped The rebels we have in our
possession belong to the I'd Louisiana cavaI.
y and Co A, 1st Texas light artillery. They
are the best confederate soldiers l ever saw
Are spirited and possessed of considerable
State pride, we'll clothed and healthy. They
seem to have been the pets Of Louisiana.
They feel little chagrined at their capture,
and threaten 10 repay US the first chance
they get.
We captured 500 horses, 100 stand Of arms,
with quite number of revolvers, sabres, and
. splendid battery of two IL ard two g.
Founders, (brass pieces,l Of which the artil
Ierists felt quite proud. They have rung the
death knelI Of many Union soldier, but now
they may avenge themselves by Sc ,ding the
Of death into the rebel ranks, and
thus preach liberty and union to deluded
people.
we marched our prisoners, guarded by our
bay onets, to the city of Alexandria. Our
mounted men followed in our rear, and some
of our boys brought up the rear with the
captured battery. The battle flag Of the I'd
Louis ana Cavalry was tied under one Of our
star spsngled girdons, cur colors unfurled,
our band played national air, and thus the
35th Iowa made its triumphal entry into the
city, where hundreds of rebel citizens, the
associates of our captives, thronged the
streets, aking long faces. Some rebel Ia.
dies .atood on the balcony of the ''Ice House, !"
the principal hotel Of the place. and threw
kisses and looks of lore at our prisoners
Finally they came to the Court House and
consoled them on their ill fortune.
While we we're wai.ing at the Court House
several regiments of black troops passed BY
the rebels, in their usual fine style, at the
sight of which the rebels manifested great
contempt, and said, sFor Gods sake do not
let those black rascals guard US. Do any
thing with us but this" isa /.
Q There are great many Irishmen among
the rebels. Nearly all the enlisted men in
the battery are Irishmsn, with some Of fwhom
conversed. asked them "Why are you
fighting for slavery aud oppression. which
you have sought to avoid by leaving your
country and coming to this ?'' They said
they are convinced they are not on the right
side, and intend to get out Of the confederate
service as fast as possible.
We are now ascending Red River, going
towards Shreveport, whence you will perhaps
hear som, more good news from the S5th
Iowa. ~ 81 .zs METEOR.
April 3, 1864.
EThe STATE Of New York, tits author
tatiyely stated, is now including city county
and town debts-ons thousand millions Q
dollars in debt-two-thirds the aggregate
-. - II A..- s.~n.~efs, nf iho manila m hinh