Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-06-24
OfIieial Account or the hattie OF Old Riv.
er Lake.

you the enclosed copy Of the official re-
port of the battle of Old River Lake,
Arkansas, for publication. The sad eff.
fects of this short but very severe en-
gagement will be especially remember
ed by the regiment, and by their friends
at home, on account of the loss of our
Major and friend, A. John. Theregiment
in my opinion could not have met with
a greater loss in any one man. l was
near the Major when he fell, at about II
o'clock. He remained sensible to all
thot was going on around him, but suf-
fered much. He lived until the next
day, when on the march he died in the
ambulance. 1t was a hard sight to see
the brave men of our regiment cut down
on that and several former occasions.
In haste, yours,
HENRY HOOVER,
Lieut.. and A. A. n. G., Sd Brig.
HEADQUARTERS, 3D. BRIG, lsT DIV, 10TH A. C.(
Steamer IDAHO, Miss River, June eth, 1861. !
To Lieut.. Charles Christensen, \. 4. 4. G. ::
SIR:-I have the honor to make the
following report of the part taken by
the Sd brigade, LIST division, 10th army
corps, in the battle of Old River Lake,
Arkansas, on the sixth day of June,
1864
"This brigade, consisting of the S3d
Missouri, Both Iowa, infantry, and de-
tachments of the 1lth Missouri, and Sth
and 18th Iowa, infantry regiments,
moved from the place where they had
bivouacked during the night, on the
river bank near Sunny Side Landing,
Arkansas, at 6 O'Clock A. NJ, on the 9th
inst, by order of Brig. Gen. Joseph A.
Mower. Lieut.. Col. VIM. B. Keller, on
account of illness, remained on the boat
and | being the senior officer present as
sumed command of the brigade. After
marching about two miles, and when
near the west bank of Old River Lake,
the enemy sl'irmishing with the troops
in our advance they used artillery and
musketry, but were steadily driven back
by our skirmishers and occasional shots
from our artillery, about two miles
along the bank of the lake. AT about
ii o'clock a. NJ. they made determined
stand in the edge of woods, with their
artillery advantageously posted, and
their left flank protected by the lake.
This brigade, by order of Brig. Gen
| Mower, formed into line on the left of
the I'd brigade of his division, and pro-
ceeded at once to move on the enemy's
position, and if possible to capture his
artillery. We soon found ourselves
much exposed to n severe fire of shell
and schrapnell, as we were moving for
ward through field grown with weeds
and briers. One shot at this time struck
in company E, color company of the
Both Iowa regiment, tearing the bodies
of five men in a frightful manner, kill
ing two and wounding three. From the
incessant and heavy rain that had been
falling for several hours the ground be-
come wet and soft; making it difficult
for the troops to move with rapidity.-
We pressed forward under the firing
without hating moment. When we
were within one hundred and fifty
PAGES of the enemy they opened ter
rifle musketry, added to their artillery,
| fire upon our advancing line. At the
word, shout was raised along our en-
tire line, as they rushed forward towards
the enemy on double quick, firing as
| they ran. When within seventy-five
PAGES of the enemy we encountered a
fence, the troops Were ordered over at
once, and rushed upon the enemy, but
about six PAGES on the other side Of the
| fence we came to an impenetrable bayou
about forty rods wide, and deep water.
| The men were ordered to protect them
selves by lying down, and as best they
could from the severe fire from the en-
envy posted on the opposite side of the
bayou, and continued to fire upon them.
At this time Major Abram John, com
handing the 35th Iowa regiment, fell
from his horse MORALLY wounded by a
rife ball passing through his body. He
fell while gallantly encouraging his men
to deeds of valor, by his words and ac-
tons. Thus fell one of our best and
bravest men-a good officer and true
patriot.
awe continued an incessant fire of
muslletry for about one hour, when the
firing, except an occasional shot, from
the enemy ceased, and they had appa-
rently left their position. Our supply
of ammunition being nearly exhausted,
we were relieved by the I'd brigade of
the Sd division. We fell back about one
hundred yards, gathered our killed for
burial and had our wounded cared for,
| replenished our cartridge boxes, and were
again ordered to pursue the enemy. At
8 o'clock p. NJ. we moved forward, and
at 6 O'Clock p. NJ. went into camp at
Lake City Village. Our loss was as fol-
| lows:
| $50 MISSOURI.
Mliea
w
| 35TH Iowa.
killsd
Wounded
Totalloss in the brigade 81
| The following is the names of the kill
ed and wounded in the 35th Iowa regi-
ment:
| KILLED.
/
| Corp. Patrick Slattery, Co. L, head by ball.
John McDonough, Co f, breast by she'll
Patrick Redmond, Co E, lower part OF body by a
Darwin 2 Dubois, Go G, lower part of body by
! n ball
Corp William Brandt, Col,
| Wilton A Lee, Co I, 50 I"
| WOUNDED.
| Capt William Dill, Co D, in left leg
Joseph Haner, Coz slightly in ear
Sergt Peter Leyson, ID, severely in hip by q ball
Corp CRAWFORD Barclay, Co D, slightly grazed
Horace E Dimick, Co D, slightly in chin
William Tanning, Co E, right hip fractured by
John McElroy, Coz,
John sullivan, Co E. left forefinger by piece of
Loammi Laufer. Co H, slightly in calf of leg.
[ have the honor to be, sir, very re-
your obedient servant, Aid.
| GEO. w. VAN BECK,
Major SD Missouri, com'dg brigade.
Official copy, HENRY HOOVER,
go Lieut.. and A. A. A. G.
..... .----s~u,e%-- ----------rf. .l.t 4, y
Fremont. as Sc EN- from "a Peac Stand Point
The following letter to that rampant
rebel sheet, the New York Ncaes, we
commend to the attention of Union
men:
a.. NEW York, June 10, 1864.
$40 the Editor of N. Y. NeWs
"You have designated Gen. Fremont