The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-30

Although we were OF the reserve and
General Wallace had received no or
dere, he knew that mon were needed
on the battle line. He took the re-
sponsibtlty TO order the Iowa brigade
to take the lead for the scene or ac- !
tion, two miles away. Scarcely had
(. f.asments from Prentiss' and Sher
mans brigades rushing for the protec-
ton Of the river bank. This Is a sim
pie statement. but oh, II contains an
experience that lifetime is too brief
to efface, Tho painter that could pic
turo 1t or the writer who could des
cribe It has never bee4 produced. That
stream OF demoraliZed, discouraged
and terrified soldiers, whom the first
whistle Of bullets and crack of shell.
had unnamed. fled for their lives, re-
aardless OF honor or duty Many OF
them were wounded but the bulk OF
them were utterly scared. No en-
treaty, no command or force could
stay them. much less return them TO
the front All agreed that their regI-
ments had been cut To pieces and t at
the rebel hordes were at their heels.
Was not our brigade fresh from
the battlehelds of Fort Donaldson
Did not the words Of Grants general
order read after the surrender Of the
fort, commencing the Iowa brigade
for their gallant and successful as
sault upon the robel works, still ring
in our ears? 1t would seem impos-
sible that we could have kept on our
LIN
Grants order praising our action
had been dearly earned. February
18th our brigade charged the works or
Fort Donaldson and were repulsed
with heavy loss. Five of the color
guards. of which | was a member.
went down almost in heap and all
wounded. On the 18th, after two
days of constant desultory fighting,
we again stormed the works and sue
ceeded In taking and holding por-
tion, until the surrender the next day.
In this last charge, the End Iowa led
With bayonet and empty muskets and
lost Al killed and 167 wounded SO
you soc we had been tried by fire. We
had discovered that war Is he'll be-
fore Sherman published It II was a
wonderful relief. when after half an
hour of providing through this mass OF
frenzied men. yes, boys mostly, we
had passed them. :. ...
Colonel Shaw, from behind large
tree at the center OF the regiment,
commanded the situation. The rebels.
without a musket being fired, came
up and formed behind the brush and
trees ON the old fence line, prepara-
tory TO a charge on the battery IN our
rear. Orders given by the rebel ON
GERS In lining up their men. were
plainly heard by us all Perhaps you
can imagine the feelings OF the boys
that lay in the old road. with death
dealing foe six rods IN their front, all
were we'll and sound then, but realiz-
ing fully thnt In the next few mo-
ments some must die and many be
wounded l cannot describe It,
Just as the rebel order, Forward
was given, Colonel Shaw's Up boys
and give them hell, Charge sent
leaden hail among them that fairly
moved them down, and In a moment
we were upon them with bayonet-
Never was rout more complete. With
out firing scarce q gun. they broke to
the rear. Many OF lie followed them
nearly to the creek and here we lost
many men, az under cover OF the
brush, the robels reformed and We
wore under q heavy fire while return
Ing TO our position. We had scarcely
reformed. when they were upon US
again. this time to stay longer. The
firing was fierce for some time ana
they made desperate effort to dis
lodge us. They followed our example
and took advantage OF every cover,
trees, stumps and stones, but all In
vain. The bullets from our muskets
and canister from the cannon was
more than thoy could long stand. They
finally gave way. badly demoralized-
Simultaneous with the second charge
upon us, q strong body of rebel In
fantry deployed across the field IN
front of the 2nd and 7th Iowa They
formed In two lines and advanced In
fine form under storm OF musketry
and canister from the battery. which
thinned their ranks at every step.
Brave men were they, TO stand that
deadly hail of lead and iron and Sill
go forward 80 gallantly. Although
hotly engaged.
MANY more must die that day and
many more De manned before the taps
I'VE still held our position In the
old road. Heretofore the boys had
dismounted the disabled howitzers
and laid them on the edge OF the road.
firing them with good results NOW
they were brought m<all directions
where cannon had been disabled ana
abandoned. We laid them along the
edge OF the road and loaded them
with anythitg we could find; nxea
ammunition n to be had; II not.
sleeve from the coat OF q dead sol
dier made good powder bag and the
coat was a wad, then, sticks, stones
and bost OF all. harness stripped from
dead artillery horses, and they were
plenty. The names and tugs OF mar
ness. folded and stuffed in cannon
made All ideal and deadly chain-sno'
al ten or twenty rods.
"One OF the most affecting events
OF my war experience happened a. tnis