Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-10-20
WHOLE NO. 5S5.

had an end at length in most
full and disasterous manner. Nog
1889, was day Of dark and d,
horror, and the scenes then enaf
have never grown dim in my \
ory. Early in the morning Of
day the Union forces were stard
at receiving at headquarters the
lowing dispatch:
HEADQUARTERS SOUTHERN !
MILITARY PREcINcT,
Chicago, Nov. s, 1875. bs
To U. s. Grant. General:
For Gods sake send all available FOL;
at once! The enemy has effected an
trance, and Is sweeping everything!
am powerless to check the onslaught,
am doing the best can.
w. T. SHERMAN.
Major General Commanding
The enemy, unable to force an
trance to the city, owing to the v,
orous defence at the outworks, b
tunneled under the Notifications n,
the junction of State and Forty-s
ond streets, and surprised the Unl
forces in the dim gray of early mo
ing, pouring in upon them in ov
whelming numbers.
To say that the widest exciteme
prevailed would convey but a faI
impression of the scene. The int
igence sent perfect tornado Of f
ious passion surging over the ci
a dark and desperate expressi
dawned on every face; for all kn'
that the end was near. Delic:
women In this supreme hour, seiz
such weapons as they could, al
rushing to the scene Of trouble, p
formed acts of daring which exalt
them even above their womanhoe
STRIPPING boy-patriots fought side
side with white-haired sages, a
asked no quarter, granting none.
The fighting began at daybre:
Such vast numbers of the Imper.
troops effected an entrance throui
the subterranean passage that I
Union leaders were deceived il
the belief that the whole invadil
army had concentrated at that poi
With this belief, almost the ent
strength Of the Unionists was c.
centrated to oppose them, leavi
the defense at the northern and We
ern portion of the city greatly we
ened.
HEMMED IN AND SLAUGHTERED.
At 10 o'clock A. NJ. the battle
raging with unabated fury. w
such tremendous force had the I !
ionists hurried themselves upon ;
enemy, that the latter had begun,
waver. Suddenly there arose fra
the northward cry that thrilled
cry heart, and few moments la
the brave Unlonists received a del
ly volley in the rear and right fla3
The Imperialists, by a well devis
scheme, and taking advantage of /
concentration of the Union troops
southern precinct, had forced th
way over the Notifications and sw.
everything before them. A conc,
ed attack of iron-clads at the mo,
of the river also caused the block
to yield, and vast forces were ira
ported down the river and debark
Thus hemmed IN on all sides, q
exposed to a terrific cross-ire,
brave Unionists were moved do
like grain before the reaper, and
orally swept from the face of
earth, though offering desperate
sistance to the last.
At nightfall of that day of hor.
scarcely a Union soldier was
alive within the limits of Chica,
Drunk with success, the brutal C,
querers rioted in a carnival of but
cry, numbering many of the fl
women and children left, with at
cious cruelty. OF these revolt
crimes spare you the details. TT
are too horrible to be repeated
human lips.
My story Is ended. l have II
deavored to point ont to you so
of the agencies which were inst
mental in overthrowing the grand
government ever known to men. !
grets at this time are useless,
they cannot restore that which
lost, nor add laurel to our countr
departed glory.
In the old days of the Repub
the blessings of free governmt
were so profuse that they were
appreciated. 1t was common
many to find fault, and sigh for So
new tide in the events of public
fairs; but in the light of after eve,
these childish complainings took I,
appearance of most pitiable irol
Could some gray prophet, in ths
days, have revealed to the peo
this dreadful sequel, with what G
talnty might they have avoided d
fatal step which led them to ruin!
THEo. CARPENTER