Year: 1862

i


2 JACKSON Tenn. Oa: l1th | G.
Dear Grenicle:-We have now been EN-


camped in this place upwards of foul
months-an unusual story in this Division
in which active operations have succeeded
each other with frequency almost un.


known in any other Department of the
whole field. As this is an important
point, it will be made military post for
long time, and, Judging from present
appearances. we may he continued here
all winter. ....---


But little occurs to mar the monotOny
of camp life. Each day sees the usual


routine of camp and drill duties perform


ed and so time rolls on. The visit of


our Captain early in September, was a
pleasant episode that diffused n genial


sun shine through the camp during his
brief stay. His wound still disabled him


from active service, but recent advices


assure us of his return the coming week.


He brought with him thirty-eight recruits,


all good men and true. They were re-


cruited in Lake and Ashtabula Counties
and are large muscular men, used to
labor and bid fair to do most efficient SER


vice. Several are men Of an unusual de-
1


portunity to reflect credit on themselves


and friends. Thus far, thank God, our


Battery has been uncursed by the pres


ence of fops and counter-hoppers. We


feared for time that the public spirited


offer of the young ladies Of Warren might


shame some of the emasculated gentry


aforesaid to seek admission into our ranks,


but that danger is happily past. Where
the above named apologies of manhood


will hide their diminished heads on the


return of their brethren from the war,


cannot even guess, but would suggest


Canada, as they are certainly unworthy


home in the country they are unwilling


to defend Let them go to her traducArs.


To the ladies | would tender the soldiers


heartfelt thanks. There were none, how
ever wearied of the service, who did not
feel thrill of pride that he had entered
the strife at an early day and giyeh his
unbought services to an imperilled coun-
try when its danger was greatest. They
could not prove recreant now.


Since my last writing four conflicts of |
a most desperate and sanguinary nature /
have taken place in this Division. The |
first was a demonstration on this place by |
Q force under the rebel Col, jackson |



sent form home six months, but should |
now make it his headquarters. His troops /
were met on their progress at Estanaula |
by the Doth and Both Illinois Regiments
who gallantly contended with force ten
fold greater than their own; when over
whelmed by superior numbers, they cut |
their way through, retiring in order to
Medan, Railway station eight miles be-
l., ~, 10 ha
the road and also defending the south
side of this place. This engagement is
known by the name of the Battle of
Brittons Lane" The rebels spent a week
in the vicinity making vain attempts to
entice us out of the place, hoping to take
it by a sudden dash in our absence. Du-
ring this time our Battery was ''up and
dressed" putting in several nights in the
streets with our pieces commanding the
approaches to the town, which were all
barricaded with cotton bales. Each night
from two to three barns were burned,
doubtless to signal the rebel hosts not to
venture on an attack. After making
slight breaks in the Railroad above and
below this place, they made their escape
southwark.


The second engagement took place at |



Col. NJ. D. Legget of the 18th Ohio fgur-
ed prominently in this affair, as also the
20th Ohio in which the Lordstown Com
rious part, as you haye already published
ther. A Cavalry charge took place then
which is said to have been terrible and
grand almost beyond description, requir-
. |, I'll 1f 60 IL TI,oI
CORY splendors of this whirlwind of war,
in which the combatants came clashing
together with horses at full speed, making
the earth echo with the thunder of their
hoof beats, and so filling the road with
steeds and their riders that
it was almost impossible for even a foot
man to make his way through the laby-
rinth in which Rider and horse, friend
and foe, lay in one red burial blent. p
Well and truly did Englands greatest
bard speak of such scene as Battles
stern array" Would that
it's Yo had ended there!


The third contest took place at Iuka
in Miss, in which the failure of some
officer (said to be Gen. Ord, to cooperate
by engaging the enemy in front, while
Gen. Rosecrans made an attack in the
rear, only prevented total rout and
capture of Gen. Prices whole force who
we're soundly thrashed as it was. Price
with his usual celebrity of movement
made junction on his retreat with the
forces of Van Dorm and moved en- masse
upon Corinth. In this battle most con-
generalship was displayed. The
rebels skirmished for three days before
making an onset when they were enticed
by the rapid retreat and apparent rout of
our forces to assail the place from the Boil
war road subjecting themselves to direct
GROSS, and enflading fire of Artillery, be-
fore which their columns melted away
ike mist before the sun. The rebels had
advanced in the shape of a wedge with
he point towards Corinth. When the
Artillery opened upon them their hanks t