The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-26

ton on the right flank of the army made
| vacant by the capture of the 9Th, 18th
and 14th Iowa and the 5Sth Ill.
As We went forward at double-quick in
the direction of the firing, Capt. G. Z.
Lanstrum began singing John Browns
Body" the entire regiment joining in the
chorus.
Soon we began to meet men coming
from the battlefield bearing wounded COM
| rades to the rear. One of the wounded,
| who had lost n leg. called as he passed:
Give 'em - boys! They've. got one of
my legs, and my knapsack, too"
IN TIE BATTLE.
Moving to the position assigned us, we
closed the gap and instantly realized that
we were in a warm place. We held our
ground for two hours and half, losing
215 men killed and wounded.
The Confederate army. by reason of SUI
perior numbers, was able to extend its
lines increasingly beyond our army's right
flank. For this reason we were compelled
to fall back repeatedly until We reached a
new position some distance in the rear
perhaps half mile.
Conrade Wenzel had been the first man
to enlist in Co. B, and he was the first man
killed.
| When night came we were massed on
the crest of the hills near the landing
morning. In double line Of battle we
stood on the defensive.
| The enemy charged us repeatedly that
evening, but we held our position, the two
old wooden gunboats, Tyler and Licking
ton assisting us by throwing shells over
our heads and among the rebels.
| Under cover of darkness the enemy
Withdrew his lines about a half mile, and
we then lay down on our arms. During
the night there was a heavy downpour of
rain, Notwithstanding which there were
incessant preparations for resuming the
battle on the morrow.
| Gen. Buell., having made forced march
on Sunday, arrived with 1900 troops in
time to reinforce Gen. Grant in the next
days battle. BY means of boats Gen.
Buell. crossed the river in the night and
marched his army out in front of our line,
forming n new line of battle.
| Sometime before daylight ! heard Capt.
Lanstrum say: Boys, get up and clean
your guns" The rain had ceased: we
wiped our guns, and were ready for action,
but we had been fasting "a hours.
MONDAYS BATTLE.
As soon as there was light enough to
see man 100 yards, the battle was on
again in earnest. 1t was noon, perhaps,
before there We're signs of wavering on
either side, but about or 3 o'clock p. IN.
the rebel army was in full retreat.
| Our regiment had no tents, and we had
| left our knapsacks on the boat. However,
we took possession of the tents which the
10Th Iowa had used before that regiment
was captured by the rebels. In about a
week we got our knapsacks and four Sib-
ley tents for each company.
We were now brigaded with the 18th,
18Th and 10th Iowa. and were known as
..The Iowa Brigade" commanded by Gen.
NJ. N. Croker.
| Walking over the field alone, after the
b3ttle. l saw a man 40 or so PAGES from
me, sitting up against tree. with q
Eanteen in his hand. but when got closer
ITO him / saw that he was dead and that
one of his legs was gone. Apparently he
had drawn himself up to the tree and bled
to death. IL the reader will multiply this
incident by 10000 he will have some idea
of the horrors that characterized ShilOh's
bloody field. Deaths harvest was great
l never saw a bloodier field, and in addi
ton to our losses in battle many of oul
men died from sickness.
CAUTIOUS GEN.>HALLEcK.
Gen. Hnlleck, who took command of til.
army, was very cautious in making move
ments. 1t seemed To me that he was try
ing TO carry his Notifications along witt
him, as he was 30 days moving the army
30 miles to Corinth. He would move
day or two, throw up earthwOrks and Their
move again, losing thousands of men, who
: died of diarrhea, or, as the boys called it
the Tennessee quickstep." l think the
siege of Corinth cost us more lives, in pro
, portion to the number of men engaged
than Nicksburg or Atlanta. Gen. Sherman
would have started st midnight ant
marched the army to the rear of thu
enemy, compelling them to evacuate tho
place, and while they were getting out ht
would have captured prisoners, arms and
ammunition. Halleck's movement was
, tiresome and monotonous. 1t was move
move; dig, dig. However, we finalls
got there-got TO Corinth. Our regiment
was selected to do prov0st-guard duty
Maj. Belknap being the Provost Marshal
Our duty was similar to that of the police
in cities.