Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-08
MY FIRST BATTLE
BY James Reasin Bloomfield, Iowa.


escape toward Nashville. but were
driven back with terrible slaughter on
both sides. Fighting continued on. the
right till noon, when it was decided to
storm the enemy's outworks on their
right flank, directly in front Of our
regiment. These consisted Of earth
works constructed with trenches In
side and out. On top OF this logs were
laid, elevated so as to take aim be-
tween the logs and top Of breastwork.
These works were on the summit Of n
ridge, and in front Of them was a
cleared space about six yards wide;
then for the distance Of about 100
yards an abatis was built with fallen
timber, with sharpened branches to
prevent an advance upon the fortifi-
cations. From the abatis to the bottom
OF the hill there was a skirt of open
woods, and at the bottom Of the ravine
stood a rail fence. The works were de-
Tended by the End Kentucky (rebeD
and Tennessee regiment. They being
on the enemy's extreme right, Of
course. were crack troops. We did
nothing during the forenoon. but be-
tween IL and o'clock we were order
ed to fall in Immediately. When our
regiment had formed Gen. Smith and
Acting Brig. Gen. Lauman rode along
our line, and told us it was their de-
sire that we should take the works
which have tried to describe. Gen.
Smith gave us a nice talk, telling us
our success depended on our not fir
ing shot until we got inside the
works, and to move steadily until we
reached the line Of abatis, then every
one of us to start double quick and
get inside, fire and use our bayonets.
we gave cheer which meant we
would. Six hundred were in line that
day. The color guard on duty that day
was composed of six soldiers, one SER
geant and five corpora1s. The charge
was made with the left wing OF the
regiment in front, commanded by Col.
Tuttle, the right wing being about $50
yards behind, commanded by Lieut..
Col. Baker. When thus formed in line
of battle we were addressed by Col.
futile as follows: "Now my bully
boys, give them cold steel. Do not fire
a gun till you have got on the inside,
then give them -! Forward, my
boys! march," And we started ar
quick time Determination beamed
from everv eye, was written upon
every face. On we pushed. and soon
reached. the fence at the bottom Of the
ravine which in a second fell and we
crossed over. Then came the skirt of
woods. Up the hill we go. STEADY,
boys!' shouted the colonel. Steady,
boys!" repeated the officers. We
emerged from the woods, and with-
out command started on double-auick.
Now came the toll, and over brush
and logs we went.
The Opening voIIey. .
We had scarcely emerged from the
woods when the devils opened on us.
The first volley sounded like crash
of thunder, and the balls flew round
us like hail. but on we went, ready to
die for the Union. Col. Tuttle, and the
brave G. F. Smith, the oldest general
in the field, waving his hat on his
fell wounded in the thigh. Capt Stay
maker fell mortally wounded, and as
his boys passed he waved his sword
and said, charge, boys, charge!
These were his last words. Capt.
Cloutman was shot dead. The color
sergeant, with three severe wounds.
drops the colors. Corporal Page grabs
Corporal Churcher snatches the colors,
and his arm is shot off. Corporal
Weaver next takes the flag, and is
wounded. Corporal Robinson
as he picks up the flag, is wounded
severely in the face, and Corporal
Twombly, the last of the guard, is
but hangs to the flag. Near
err still we drew, and thick and fast
came the bullets. A rifle ball pierced
fell. Andrew Patterson was shot
through the head and fell dead. We
were now on the open ground. right at
the breastworks. Right over, boys!"
said the colonel. The boys gave
YELL and they did go over. Not shot
was fired until we were inside, and
then, my heavens, how our muskets
ratified! We could see the devils tum-
ble Some Of them exchanged bayonet
I. ,,e.te al ,or SraH hni
backs for a mark, and many Of them
bit the dust, for our boys We're marks
men all right. Immediately after the
left wing had gained the intrench-
ments Lieut.-Col. Baker brought up
the right wing. and the two united
made second charge across the next
ravine, driving the enemy behind his
next line Of intrenchments. distant
about 500 yards. BY this time a bat.
terry had come to our support, and we,
stood and watched the gunners play
upon them. In all my soldier exper-
ience Of over four years ] don't re-
member ever seeing battery whose
were equal to this battery's
(Stones I think. Their horses were
trained to lie down in action. and, OH
my, how convincing the shots from
enemy. Night was drawing near. Gen.
Smith rode up and asked us if we
could hold our position Until morning.
Col. Lawman, commanding our brig
ade, replied that we could hold it till
1 should have mentioned
earlier, perhaps, that our regiment
was supported by the 7th and 18th
Iowa, SIND Indiana and 7th Illinois.
The 25th Iowa failed to obey orders,
and came up in confusion. Being out
Of ammunition, we were drawn back
under cover Of the earthworks. where
but short time before so many of+our
regiment had fallen, to live through
another night of intense suffering. It
was freezing cold, our blankets three
miles away, and we could have no
fires. 1t was dreadful night. The
heavens that bent above were decked
with twinkling stars, and the pale
moon cast her rays down through
tree tops into the glazing, sightless
eyes of our dead comrades. All around
is were the dead and dying. and the
oiteous cries Of the wounded were
"Help!" Come to met
'Water!" Give me some water!"
Near us was an old gray headed rebel
soldier. MORALLY wounded, endeavoring
With strip he had torn from his coat,
% check the life tide flowing from a
wound in the bosom Of his son, a dark
haired youth of twenty years. The