The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-11-12

line to our left, which occunied tho bonl
OF the bayou, The Confederates were
ordered to charge, advancing in the mean.
time, battery down the road, which did
good execution for few minutes; but as
the charged ordered was UNSUCCESSFUL
and the ground very soft, our battery
could not fall back with the infantry
which was moving back, slowly and stub
bornly, across the open space in the old
field. We saw eighteen Of our battery
horses shot down in group. Our brave
and noble artillerists were completely run
over by the enemy. Our infantry was
not fairly retreating, they had only waver-
ed under the destructive fire, none more
destructive than which is recorded on the
bloody pages of the history of our coun-
try
The Phantom went
down upon the enemy, sword in hand,
like the eagles swoop to grapple with his
taions an easy prey. They were support
ed by the infantry, and the Federal lines
were swept back to their original position
IN the edge of the timber, (which has al
ready been described). The battery was
rescued and the brave men who manned
it. The Federals did not fall back nre.
cipitately. They contested every inch of
ground stubbornly, and when they reach.
ed their base line the Confederates still
bore them company The struggle hand
to hand was of Il tierceness indescribable
lhe Federal reserve was brought up. The
severity Of the conflict increased. as terri.
bly, as the food of burning lava belched
from red-mouthed crater, and sweeping
from the mountain top, with the rapidity
OF thought, all animal life to speedy
dissolution. The severity of the conflict
was too great for duration. Nothing but
the charge that was made could have ef-
fected anything. The relative position of
the two armies gave the Federals an ad-
vantage which, in few minutes would
hay: c@nSummated the destruction of the
Coz ate army, had the charge failed
OF :'la~cas. 1t succeeded, however. and
we will venture the assertion that the
Confederate infantry accorded to the
Phantom heartfelt thanks (mentally, if
not orally,) for the Importance and grand
success of that charge The combatants
soon disengaged themselves, as it were by
mutual consent, and before Gen. Smith
and his gallant officers could comprehend
the object of Gen. Steele, he had crossed
the river and taken up his bridge. They
had effected their escape. Further pur-
suit was impracticable, as the Confeder-
ates could not cross the river, having no
portable pontoon bridges.
Thus ended the battle of Jenkins Ferry
on the the Saline river, on the 3Oth day
of April, A. d. 1864.
We have never seen the official report
OF our loss, but it was very heavy. So
was that of the Federal army. General
Walker lost of his Texas division heavily.
He had three brigadier generals on the
field to whip; Generals Randol, Scurry
and Waud. Generals Scurry and Waud
were killed. General Waud had two
horses killed under him received two Sc
we're wounds. Thus of three brigadier
generals in one division, which were all
that were present, two were killed and
one wounded, which will afford the
reader criterion by which to Judge of
the severity of the unfortunate battle.