The National tribune., 1890-07-03
For family medicine, Ayers Sugar Coated
Pills arc uurivaled. They eradicate disease.
PITTsBURG LANDING.
An Illinois Soldiers Experience at the Bloody
Battle.

An Illinois Soldiers Experience at the Bloody
Battle.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As many of
the boys are fighting their battles over again
on paper, Of p and 80 years ago. curing the
dark days of rebeIdom aud rebellion, con
cluded 70 describe as well rs / can after so many
years, my recollection and experience on those
dreadful days OF the battle of Pittsburg Land
ing, Tenn. / do not wish 10 have any dis
cussiOn with the boys as to who were the
bravest and best soldiers in the fight, for
nearly all i noticed were no towards, for i did
most OF the running 10 save my neck from the
rebels, asiege in some one of the many hells Of
rebel prisons j can tell but little as TO divis-
ions, corps or commanders, only things / saw
during the fight.
] belonged to Co ], 57th ILL.,, and had been
in camp about week before the fight On tho
morning Of the 9th of April, 1862, at an early
hour, we were preparing for inspection, when
we heard heavy mnsketry firing. We were or
dered 20 double-quek TO near the center Of the
army. Gen. HuTlbut's Division was ahead Of
Us, and on the Corinth road. Our troops were
rapidly falling back, and there seemed to be but
small force Of them ahead Of us, say two or
three regiments. They deployed 20 the right
and left Of US, and fell back 70 the rear. Here
j had a good view Of the rebel army, and by
their actions / thought they wanted 10 be
killed, for they were very brave. They ran
out their guns in front Of US, aud but a short
distance ahead. Our artillery was in the rear,
but well posted on the rolls of land near the
Tavines. For a short time / thought the earth
and sky were falling 10 pieces as the timber was
cut 10 pieces all around us. Our artillery here
was too strong for the rebels, and we held them
in check. They charged our lines three or four
different times before we left and formed a new
line. Prentiss and HuTlbut held our line
nearly all day. We had formed on the left OF
q 1s.rf-f n.
and by fierce charge Of the rebels were being
cut to pieces and we were sent TO reinforce
them. We charged and drove the rebels up on
the hill and held them at that point There
was large tree lying In front Of us about 100
feet, and Charles Rattray. John Reagan aud my
self Immediately used it for breastwOrk, aud
here we used up most Of our 40 rounds of am
munition. Reagan, by my side, was killed, and
here our regiment lost seven color-bearers in
side OF 20 minutes.
After short time the rebels moved to the
left near the river. In the meantime our rcgi-
nent fell back, but we Of the big-tree defend
ers did not get the order Soon Rattray saws 10
me, Tell Reagan We must get away from here" /"
/ called him, but found that he had answered
the last roll-call. lie was shot in the head and
| throat. ! started 10 run, and found myself
among the rebels. j continued to run down
| the hill until came 10 the creek. Tie water
in il looked bloody. The gunboats were now
| sbelling the timber, and limbs OF trees were
! falling around me in every direction. j then
obliqned off up the hollow and came 10 a fallen
| tree across 1t. Supposing ! would be shot any
way, here gave the rebels my remaining car
| fridge. Z fell over the log as n limb or some-
| thing had struck me, and IL knocked me halt
/ crazy. j fell in the water, and soon came 10
myself. j then went up 10 the head of the
| hollow, where fell in with the I'D Ohio and
went to the rear Of the regiment. As passed
/ the officers i heard them say, "Steady, boys "
| In short time they rose aud gave the rebels a
/ terrible yOlley in their faces, but they were
| forced TO get out Of that place in hurry or be
run over by the rebel infantry and artillery.
| We now moved down toward the landing and
tried 20 form line with other troops but could
| not hold it, About this time heard an officer
! say that Prentiss's line was all right yet and
| had good position. We then moved on down
and took position behind Col Webster's artil.
| lcTy. The rebs seemed to be very cautious foI
awhile aud did not face our line. They then
turned and captured Prentsss Division, foI
| shortly after quite q number Of his men came
70 our line aud said the division was captured
| The rebels then turned loose On us and charged
for the Landing but we cut them up by the
thousands, and 1t was 80 hot that they could
not stand the racket. and retreated. The gun.
boats were pouring the shot and shell into
| them in perfect stream all the time.
Next day Bnell took the lead and we were
placed In the reserve. The rebels made good
fight in the morning for considerable time, but
we soon had them on the run. In a short time
we recaptnred our camps Our regiments camT
they did not capture, because IL was on Owl
Creek. The rebels were driven all day, and wa
captured good many prisoners. In the com
mencement Of the fight the day before, we were
on the left Of the celebrated "HOrnets' Nest.
Ny COlonefs name was Baldwin and the Can
tain's name Chadbourn. maintain that VIZ
were taken by surprise, and did not know th,
rebels were near. / could write much NOR,
about this battle, bnt perhaps i have writer
enough for the present. ] want all old com
rades Of the 57th III. aud others reading thii
10 write TO me and say how they prosper. Com
Tades, let us cheer each other and be friendl,
until we reach the last roll-call.-A. Is. Lynch
Co. ], 57th Ill, EllinwOod, Kan.