Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: October 6, 1864

The morning of the sixth dawns beautifully, but upon a field of death-a field of blood; but thanks be to God, it dawns with the old flag triumphant. We will again walk among the dead and wounded. The loss of the Seventh has been fearful. At Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth our loss was heavy, but our loss in this battle exceeds our whole loss in those three great battles. The following list of the Seventh's casualties in this battle will speak for itself; will alone tell how fierce was the storm of battle that raged on these hills.

STAFF. Wounded: Colonel R. Rowett, in the head, severely; Adjutant J. S. Robinson, severely.

COMPANY A.—Killed: Corporal Henry C. Hasson. Wounded: Sergeant James O'Donnell.

COMPANY B.—Killed: Privates Philip Saules, Jonathan Bishop; Wounded: private John Hunter.

COMPANY C—Killed: Privates Andrew Hellgoth, John McAlpine; Corporal John B. Hubreht.

COMPANY D.—Company D was left at Rome on guard duty, therefore was not with the regiment at the Allatoona Pass.

COMPANY E.—Killed: Privates James F. Burk, George W. Eversole, Michael F. Galbraith, Marion R. Kampf, Francis Love, David Roberts, Lewis C. Stroud, Calvin A. Summers, John W. Watt, W. H. Burwell, Lewis J. Allman, Levi Allen, Ezra M. Miller, Elias Hainline, Leonidas Burkholder, Corporal William Smith. Wounded: Sergeant and Color Bearer Joseph Bordwell; Privates L. D. Barnes, George G. Brooks, Lewis A. Burk, Abner W. Burwell, Samuel H. Ewing, Angelo V. Faucett, Albert Gardner, Phillip J. Gossard, John F. Hainline, James A. Hedges, George Sullivan, Edwin R. Jones, Thomas Gardner, A. N. Roelofson, James M. Allman, John L. Forbes, Joseph Lancaster, Eli Mushrush, Samuel M. Watt. Corporal Henry C. Montjoy; Taken Prisoner: N. A. Bovee, Samuel H. Jones, William E. Verry, William H. Miller.

COMPANY F. —Killed: Privates Philip Hale, John Phillips, Henry M. Robbins, Eldridge Walton, Nathan D. Atchison. Wounded: Privates James Kelley, Robert B. Kelley, George Brenton; Sergeant John McTurk.

COMPANY G.—No separate record given—consolidated with Company I.

COMPAMY H.—Killed: Corporal Samuel Walker; Privates Henry Bigler, John Etterlain, William T. Taylor, John White, Timothy Hoblitt, James L. Parish. Wounded: Sergeant William P. Hackney, severely; Edward C. Nicholas, severely; Privates Oscar J. Hackney, slightly; John E. J. Wood, severely; Richard P. Graham, severely; James M. Halbert, slightly; Aaron Watkins, slightly; Ferdinand Capps, severely. Taken Prisoner: Thomas Caylor, William R. Skiver, George W. Ballard.

COMPANY I.—Killed: First Lieutenant John E. Sullivan, Sergeant Charles Myres, Corporal William Ecker, Privates John W. Johnson, Ira Carey. Wounded: Privates Daniel O'Keefe, Alfred Scott, James Andrews, George Harris, William Massey.

COMPANY K.—Killed: Privates E. Thompson, Martin V. Kelton, Jesse C. Botkins. Wounded: Corporals John W. Bowman, Walter Smith; Privates Grundy McClure, Thesbold Steinberg, Lewis P. Moore, Albert H. Duff, John P. Van Dyke, Julius Wolf. Total killed, 42, total wounded, 53.

Though the Union loss is heavy, though Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, offered a fearful sacrifice; we behold in looking around us a great many more of the traitors weltering in their gore. Six hundred rebels poured out their life blood—poured it out upon these hills for naught-six hundred lie still in death, and as many more are wounded. Ah! what an ill-fated field Allatoona has been to them. "They came for bread; Corse gave them war and lead." Their wounded tell us they never fought such men. Says a rebel officer, "I believe those Illinois and Iowa boys who were in yonder fort (pointing to the fort General Corse, Colonel Rowett and his Third Brigade occupied,) would have all died before they would have surrendered." All day the 6th we are engaged caring for the wounded and burying the dead. On the hill the Seventh bury their fellow-heroes. The regiment is now small, the survivors look sorrowful; now and then we see tears steal down the bronzed cheeks to fall and perish upon the lonely graves. Praises for Colonel Rowett are on every tongue. Allatoona tells us that no braver warrior ever drew a sword in battle. In the thickest of the conflict he was ever found, cheering his men when disaster threatened, leading amid dire confusion. In Allatoona's great battle he stood by the flag, and around him and it his men rallied; rallied to fall and die; rallied to see it victorious. But how sad were his men when they saw him fall; when they saw him bleeding; when they saw him fainting from loss of blood. But remembering his words of cheer; remembering his command to die rather than let the flag be lowered; his men struggled on and proved themselves true to their Colonel and their flag, and the sun went down with the fifteen-hundred triumphant, and that evening the Union's proud banner looked more beautiful than it had ever before looked—more beautiful because it stood upon another victorious field.

Lieutenant John E. Sullivan, of Company I, fell fighting like a Spartan. Heroically he braved the frightful tempest and went down crowned all over with laurels of glory. He fell mortally wounded in the early part of the day, and died .about ten o'clock the next morning. We were called to his side as his last moments of life were drawing nigh. Says he, "Give my sword to the gallant William Hackney of Company H," (which company he commanded until he fell.) "Brave men, I will soon leave you,—will soon pass the river of death." We stood by his side again, but his spirit had departed, and the noble warrior was free from the angry strife of men.

Lieutenant John S. Robinson, A. A. A. G. on Colonel Rowett's staff, was severely wounded during the last charge of the rebels, and no one performed his part more gallantly in this great battle than did this officer. Where the battle raged fiercest there he was ever found. He was standing by the side of Colonel Rowett, struggling against the wild tide of battle as but few men have ever struggled in this terrible war, until the scales began to show signs favorable to the fifteen-hundred, when he was stricken down, (which was but a short time before the battle closed.) He is dangerously wounded and we fear his days will soon be numbered. Courageous soldier! we can only say of him he was true; that he did his duty, and did it well.

Colonel Hanna, the dashing commander of the Fifteenth Illinois, was among the most conspicuous in this battle. With his impetuous and irresistible regiment he stood as firm as a gigantic rock, and against his front of bristling steel French's hungry rebels hurled themselves, but in vain did they attempt to crush the gallant "half-hundred," for when the fearless Hanna threw himself into the most dangerous ordeal, making his clarion voice heard above the loud din of battle, the eyes of his brave men grew brighter and each heart was kindled with the fire that ever warms the patriot's heart. We remember when the very air was red with flame, when the earth was strewn with the mangled dead, when the sun seemed to be hid behind an awful sheet of fire; how anxiously we watched Colonel Hanna moving with his regiment from beyond the railroad to the support of Colonel Rowett. Oh! that was a trying hour; the leaden hail flew thick and fast; it was a march of death, for ere they reached Colonel Rowett's fort many of their number had fallen. But how glad were the men of the Seventh Illinois when that grand old regiment rushed into the fort and waved over the ramparts their shattered battle flag. It was a glorious hour, glorious because we felt encouraged and strengthened. We will never forget that period in the battle; will never forget Colonel Hanna and his noble men who made that memorable charge across the railroad and cut their way through to Colonel Rowett's fort, a work which for fierceness has, we believe, never been surpassed in this war.

Captain Rattrey of the Fifty-seventh, aid to Col. Rowett, excited the admiration of every one for his bravery, accompanied with so much coolness and judgment. He was found constantly by Colonel Rowett's side, executing his orders with a promptness that was indeed remarkable. When the crushing tide of battle bore down Colonel Rowett, Captain Rattrey could not find a field officer in the brigade to report to; every one down to his rank having fallen as victims—either dead or wounded. The gallant defenders of the Pass who had been struggling through long weary hours, were now making their last desperate struggle, and signs were appearing that seemed to tell of a turning point in the battle, seemed to tell that the boys in blue were about to gain the mastery, were about to hurl back from the pass Hood's insane legions. There was no time to lose, and Captain Rattrey fearing that the men who had fought so long, and so well, who had seen so many of their comrades fall and die, would soon become exhausted, leaped like a giant from where lay the bleeding and seemingly lifeless Rowett, and with the robust courage of an angel in his soul assumed command of the gallant old Third Brigade and conducted the battle to its glorious consummation. There seemed to be no post of danger that Captain Rattrey did not wish to occupy.

In looking around us we miss many noble men who are now sleeping in death's cold embrace, Liberty in its great trial claimed them as sacrifices on its altar; but not for naught, as history will declare when this generation shall have long passed away. Private soldiers though they were, they performed their part, and hence are as worthy the country's gratitude as those in higher positions, who offered up their lives in this battle.

We cannot pass without alluding to the gallantry of Corporal Samuel Walker of Company H. He was standing with Colonel Rowett, and while fighting bravely in one of the desperate rebel charges the flag comes falling down over his head, and ere it reaches the blood stained earth, Corporal Walker is seen to grasp its shot-riven staff, and with its silken shreds falling around him, he mounted the works and there in one of the wildest battle storms that ever left blood in its wake, he waved it defiantly in the face of arch-treason,—waved it until a minie went crashing through his brain,—waved it until he fell, and there in blood under that grand old flag, the pride of his heart, the glory of his manhood, he died—died for the flag, died for his country, died for liberty. Glorious spirit! may his name ever shine bright in the book of perpetual remembrance as one of the boldest who helped to defend this second Thermopylae!

But all were brave, and like the legions of Bruce and the lovers of Sparta, they struggled against an adverse tide; for four fearful hours they held it in check; at last they turned it, and above streams of blood, the groans of the dying and the shouts of victors, light from the Union's proud banner seemed to flash against the sky. How proud were the Illinois and Iowa boys when the noble Corse, wounded and bleeding, said there was not a coward in the great battle of the Allatoona Pass; and prouder still were the men of the Seventh, when he said, "Colonel, your regiment sustained the heaviest loss; I will give it the post of honor." Before leaving the battle-field, Sergeant Major S. F. Flint writes:

Winds that sweep the southern mountain,

And the leafy river shore,

Bear ye not a prouder burden

Than ye ever learned before?

And the hot blood fills

The heart till it thrills,

At the story of the terror and the glory of the battle

Of the Allatoona hills.

Echo from the purple mountains,

To the dull surrounding shore;

'Tis as sad and proud a burden,

As ye ever learned before.

How they fell like grass

When the mowers pass,

And the dying, when the foe was flying, swelled the cheering

Of the heroes of the pass.

Sweep it o'er the hills of Georgia

To the mountains of the north;

Teach the coward and the doubter,

What the blood of man is worth.

Toss the flag as you pass,

Let their stained and tattered mass

Tell the story of the terror and the glory of the battle

Of the Allatoona Pass.

After burying the dead and caring for the wounded, which are placed on the cars to be sent to Rome, we return to our old camp on the Etawah. At no time during the war have we seen so much of sadness depicted upon the faces of the men as we have seen since our return to Rome. The men stand around in the camp lonely and silent, without a word to say to each other. There is indeed sorrow in the Seventh; sorrow for their brave comrades whom they left wrapped in death's pale sheet on the Allatoona hills. The Seventh felt sad when they stood on Shiloh's field and gazed upon their dead and wounded companions; their hearts were moved when they saw so many of their number who had perished on Corinth's plain, but the blood that flowed from the heroes of the Allatoona Pass has completely unnerved these strong men; and will our readers call it weakness when we tell them that after that work of blood at the Pass, while standing around the camp fires near the banks of the Etawah, we saw stalwart soldiers weep; saw tears sparkle in their eyes for those brave boys who had surrendered their lives in the great war for human liberty?

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 261-70

Captain Charles Wright Wills: January 4, 1863

January 4, 1863.

There I quit, for we received orders to get ready at once to march to Jackson, Tenn. The colonel ordered me to take charge of the train (wagons) and with my company guard it through by the wagon road, while the other nine companies went through by railroad. The regiment got off that evening, but I was delayed until the 31st, when just as I got my company into line to start a couple of the finest houses in town took fire, and burned down. The colonel commanding the 15th Illinois Infantry, which had just arrived, put me under arrest and stationed a guard around my company, but after an hour's detention, my strong protestations against arrest and my arguments in favor of the honorable acquital of my men of the charges, induced him to allow us to proceed on our way. By Lieutenant Mattison's personal smartness the train was taken from the road in the p. m., while I was ahead selecting camping grounds for the night, and I did not get with it for two days, which I traveled alone. The distance is about 90 miles. The first night I stayed at Holly Springs and slept in the bed which General Pemberton, Van Dorn and Lovell of the Rebel Army, and Hamilton, of ours, in turn occupied. 'Twas in the room they occupied for headquarters. Mrs. Stricklin, the lady of the house, was charming. Her husband is a major in the Rebel Army. I ate my New Year's dinner at Dr. Ellis'. He was not at home, but his lady treated me very politely, and I give her credit for having the noblest face I ever saw on woman. She is a sister of Rebel General Hindman. Stayed at a private house at Lagrange that night (Mrs. Cockes) and heard some delightful music made by a daughter. Saw seven mounted Rebels on the 2d, and felt uneasy traveling alone, but got through safe to Bolivar. Here I caught up with my train which I thought was behind. When we started my men were on foot, when I caught up with them at Bolivar, 38 of them were mounted on horses or mules. Stayed at Medon Station last night, and arrived here at 3 this p. m., all safe. I have to go back to Holly Springs to-morrow to testify against the 109th for disloyalty.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 140

The Government of God

Society is of God, as well as nature and religion.  Man has received his life from the Creator, and no one has the right to take it from him, unless he is a violator of the most precious rights and privileges he has conferred upon him. – Even the Guilty and the wicked should not suffer the extremity of the law, but for crimes involving the life and peace of society.  No one has the right to shed the blood of his fellow, unless for reasons the highest and most sacred, derived from the word of God and the original constitution of our nature.  Government holds a sword, and that sword is the gift of God.  Without it, society would be exposed to the lawlessness of the unprincipled and base, and would be like a human body without arms.  God has the power to take away human life, as he does by sickness, famine, and death; and he has put the sword into the hands of human governments, to be used when the necessity of the case demands it.

He is called the Lord of hosts, or armies, and the reason is, that among the heathen the nation most successful in arms was supposed to have the most powerful God!  Jehovah entered the lists against the Lords many and Gods many of the idolatrous nations, and was always successful, when his chosen people, the Jews, cast themselves upon his arm, and thereby proved the eternal sovereignty.

The history of the struggles of the Revolution shows the special care of Providence over our great leader, Washington.  He rode in the thickest of the fight, and was never injured.  Four bullets made as many holes in his coat, and two horses fell dead under him in a single battle, yet he escaped without a wound.  He, himself, regarded it as a special interposition of the hand of God.

The following incident is reported of him:  In the battle of Monongahela – the defeat of Braddock – a distinguished warrior swore it was impossible to bring Washington down by a bullet.  His reason was, that he had taken steady aim at Washington seventeen times, but could not once hit him, and he gave up believing he was invulnerable.  Washington’s work was not then completed.  An unseen hand defended him; and every soldier is under the special care of Him, who recognizes His authority.  Let every one who goes out to defend the sacred rights of his country, look to God for aid and counsel.  He is a present help – a refuge in distress.  If he fall in battle, he falls in a good cause; and even the more wicked and desperate are cut off from the evil to come, and are saved from additional years of crime and guilt.  God does not permit war to be an undeserved and lasting injury to any one.

War should lead us to look to god as the Supreme Arbiter and Judge of nations, and make us feel our dependence upon Him, at home and in the field of battle.  Each father and mother, who has sent a son into battle, should pray as Moses did for Judah:  “Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people.  Let his hand be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.”  Let every warrior, like Judah, call upon the Lord; and let every parent and friend remember Judah on the field of battle.

God uses war as a purifier of the world.  It is often the scourge of a nation’s wickedness and impiety.  It makes the proudest heart to quail, and humble itself under his mighty hand.  It shows how vain is the help of man.  The neglect of a single officer may turn the tide of war against us, and after a successful campaign, bring us into unexpected disasters.  God is now reminding us of His authority, and teaching the nation that not in statesmen, nor in captains or great generals, but in Him alone there is ever-lasting strength.

The following incident is recorded in a private letter from Ft. Donelson by a soldier in the fifteenth Illinois regiment:

I visited the battle-field on the day of the surrender; here indeed can one truly see the “horrors of war.”  I would not sicken you by detailing the horrible sights I witnessed, but I cannot refrain from mentioning one incident.  In passing among the wounded and dead of the enemy, I came to the body of a young man, lying partly on his side; he belonged to the Second Kentucky Regiment, and was an exceedingly handsome man.  It was the expression of his face, so different from the rest, which first attracted my attention.  One of his hands rested upon his breast just beneath his coat; slightly removing this, I discovered the cause of that expression: tightly grasped in his hand was a Bible.  My curiosity was so great that I could not resist the temptation of learning his name, but it was with no little difficulty that I succeeded in obtaining it, so tightly had his fingers stiffened in their grasp.  I opened the book, and on the fly leaf was written: “Presented to Robert Reeves by his affectionate mother,” and then immediately beneath these words were “My dear son, when troubles and temptations assail you, here alone can you find comfort and consolation.”  What a consolation would it be to her poor heart if, when she hears of the death of her dear son, could she but know that ’midst the din and roar of battle, and with death slowly but surely creeping over him, he had sought and found that comfort and consolation in the teachings of a redeeming Savior.  * *

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, May 5, 1862, p. 2

Further Particulars Of The Fight

CAIRO, April 10. – Particulars are arriving hourly bringing more accounts of the great battle.  The Chicago Batteries gained new laurels in the struggle.  Taylor’s Battery did fatal execution; their praise is in the mouth of every one.  Waterhouse’s battery was in the first attack and was badly cut up and mostly killed.  Taylor is said to have practiced his men by particular movements that dealt destruction to the enemy.

Company A, Chicago Light Artillery, under command of Peter Wood was in the hardest of the fight and performed wonders.  Their feats could not have been surpassed.

Taylor’s Battery followed the enemy within four miles of Corinth.

The 20th Illinois regiment was badly cut up.  Col. Marsh was slightly wounded; his Aid was killed.

The 15th Illinois regiment, under command of Col. Ellis, was badly cut up; most of its field officers killed, among them Col. Ellis, Major Godard, Capt. Wayne, and others.

Col. Davis, of Freeport, was shot through the lungs, but is still alive.

Gen. Wallace was shot through the head, the ball entering back of  the left ear and coming out at the nose, taking out one eye, but he is not dead as reported.

Gen. Johnson [sic] was certainly killed.

General Halleck and staff, have just passed here, en route for the Tennessee river, on the steamer Continental.

Gen. Cullom has arrived here to look after the river defences.

Gen. Strong and Secretary Scott met General Halleck on the boat and had a conference.  Gen. Halleck did not come ashore.

Col. Scott, Assistant Secretary of War, has gone down to New Madrid.

The list of prisoners captured at Island No. 10 foots up to 4,346, rank and file.  Transports have gone down to bring the prisoners to Cairo.  What disposal will be made of them is unknown.

The value of property captured at No. 10 amounts to over two millions of dollars.

As the Continental rounded to at Cairo this morning, Gen. Strong had a salute of 10 guns fired in honor of Maj. Gen. Halleck.

ST. LOUIS, April 10. – Two steamers, fitted up as floating hospitals, left here yesterday for the Tennessee river.  Large contributions of all kinds and supplies are being made to-day, to furnish more steamers, which will leave this evening.

The Western Sanitary Commission are moving earnestly and energetically with this matter, and every effort will be made for the speedy relieve of our wounded soldiers at Pittsburg Landing.

Col. Kellon, 1st Adj. General, and General Ketham are in charge here, while Gen. Halleck is in the field.

EVANSVILLE, Ind., April 10. – The steamer Charley Bowen left here at 11 a. m. for, for Pittsburg Landing, with a delegation of Surgeons and nurses, and a full supply of hospital stores from Indianapolis and Warwick county, Indiana.  They will take on board another delegation of Surgeons and supplies from Posey county, and Mount Union.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 3

James C. Harrison

JAMES C. HARRISON, dealer in groceries, boots and shoes, at Osceola, established his present business in 1867. It was first carried on under the firm name of Read & Harrison. In 1878 Mr. Harrison purchased his partner’s interest, and in 1880 added boots and shoes to his stock.  Mr. Harrison was born in Clinton, Oneida County, New York, June 20, 1843. His parents, Francis and Catharine (Ward) Harrison, removed to McHenry County, Illinois, where his father died in 1880; his mother still lives in that county. James remained at home until he had attained his eighteenth year, then enlisted as a private in Company F, Fifteenth Regiment, Illinois Infantry.  He remained with his regiment until 1863, when he was promoted to Second Lieutenant of Third Regiment, United States Artillery. He took part in the battle of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, and in several skirmishes. He was honorably discharged in April, 1866, at Memphis, Tennessee, and then returned to McHenry County.  In July, 1867, he came to Osceola. In 1870 Mr. Harrison married Margaret C. Hess, of Osceola. They have two children – Grace and James E.  Mr. Harrison has served as alderman several terms. He belongs to the Odd Fellows order, and the Knights of Pythias.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 413-4

13th Iowa Infantry Monument: Shiloh National Military Park

IOWA

TO HER

13^TH INFANTRY.

HARE’S (1^ST) BRIGADE.

McCLERNAND’S (1^ST) DIVISION.

ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.

IOWA

13^TH REGIMENT INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS

COMMANDED BY COL. MARCELLUS M. CROCKER

This regiment held this position from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., April 6, 1862. Retired under orders about two hundred yards, and maintained its position until about 2.30 p.m.  Moved to a point near the camp of 15th Illinois Infantry where it repelled a charge of Wharton's Cavalry.

Under orders, moved to a point near, and west of, the camp of 3rd Iowa Infantry, where it fought its severest engagement, and remained until about 4.30 p.m., when both flanks being turned, it fell back, by order, to the Corinth road and joined a portion of Colonel Tuttle's command; advanced towards the enemy; then retired to the last line of the day, its right in front of the camp of the 14th Iowa.

Was in reserve line on the 7th with slight loss.

Present for duty, including officers, musicians, teamsters, etc., 760.

Its loss was, 1 officer and 23 men killed; 1 officer and 15 men died of wounds; 8 officers and 118 men wounded; 5 men missing; total, 171.

See Also:

• Dedication Exercises at the 13th Iowa Regimental Monument
• The Iowa Monuments At Shiloh National Military Park
• Official Report of Marcellus M. Crocker
• Iowa Colonels and Regiments: Marcellus M. Crocker

Gone Home

Capt. Cox and Sergt. S. H. Tool, of Clinton county, belonging to Co. I, 2nd regiment; Corporal H. A. Crandall, and a soldier of the 15th Illinois, all wounded, passed up the river on the Northerner early this morning. Capt. Stearns, also of Clinton county, who has been sick at St. Louis was on the Northerner, as were a number of other soldiers.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 22, 1862, p. 1

By Telegraph

(Reported expressly for the Gazette.) THE WAR NEWS. Important Movements looked for on the Mississippi. Appropriation for the Steven’s Battery. Increased Efficiency of the Medical Department. The Rebel Force at Yorktown Exaggerated. AN ATTACK SOON TO BE MADE BY McCLELLAN. FEDERAL LOSS BY THE DESTRUCTION OF NORFOLK NAVY YARD. HIGH WATER AT CAIRO.

*~*~*~*~*

From Cairo. Correspondence of the Missouri Republican. CAIRO, April18. A Gentleman just from Pittsburg reports all the wounded taken away from that point. A skirmish took place at Savannah on Wednesday, between a detachment of our cavalry and a rebel picket guard; which were posted uncomfortable near, and very strong. The rebels were driven back, having 5 killed, 65 wounded. Refugees report that the rebels are fortifying at Lick Creek, half way to Corinth and strengthening their works at Corinth. Some state that trains are arriving and bring fresh troops through; while others say they are sending off stores preparatory to evacuation. CAIRO, April 18. The steamers Minnehaha and T. J. Patten were fired into by the rebels yesterday while ascending the Tennessee with troops. Upon the former one man was killed and one severely wounded. The Patten was uninjured. The Troops on the Minnehaha landed and burned a row of wooden buildings near which the firing originated upon the bluff in the rear, rebel guerillas were plainly visible in the interstices of the trees. Matters at Pittsburg drag their slow length along without perceptible change. We are gradually moving into the interior. Slowly, but surely, we advance and hold our positions. No more such Bull Run panics as characterized the fated Sabbath; and let us pray no more such slaughters. Ten Irish residents of Southern Illinois were arrested and brought into Paducah to-day, for preaching rebellion to the Egyptians. The will speedily be mad examples of. Captain Ferris of the 15th Illinois, died to-day at Paducah from the effects of a gunshot wound received at Pittsburg. Gen. Mitchell has burned the bridge across the Tennessee river at Decatur, Alabama, over which the Charleston and Memphis railroad passes, and thus effectually closed a rebel channel of communication eastward, whence the rebels have drawn liberally for troops and supplies. He has also burned the railroad bridge at Florence. He is now at Iuka, Miss. Recent intelligence from Corinth confirms previous reports of the magnitude of the enemy’s force and character of the efforts he has made to resist the onward march of the Federal army. A desperate stand will be made there, and our people must be prepared to hear of a terrible decimation of our troops. Gen. Halleck is cool and cautions, and will achieve success. The fight will commence soon. The steamer Planet arrived at Paducah this morning with the 71st Ohio, en route for Fort Donelson. This is one of the Regiments that ran so disgracefully at Pittsburg. Special to the Chicago Times. River rising very fast and has already attained a very [remarkable] height. It is up to the works of the break which flooded Cairo a few years since. It is over forty feet above low water mark. Great preparations are being made in anticipation of the water breaking through the levee. We have no special news from the Tennessee. Gen. Halleck has sent down an order prohibiting all civilians, including nurses, and the swarm of volunteer philanthropists who are seeking the battle-ground to gratify curiosity merely, from leaving Cairo. The wounded will be down here before the nurses can get up to savannah, and the other class are not wanted at all. What advices we have agree in saying that Gen. Halleck is infusing his masterly spirit of order and discipline into the army, and the belief that his strategic genius and executive ability will constituted a sure guard against future surprises, grows stronger every day. Rebel accounts state that Beauregard and the other leaders have become more cautious and less sanguine as these facts dawn upon them. Their soldiers will not flinch in the coming battle, as they have all been under fire now, which constitutes the hardening process. Those who retreated [in the Federal Army] were raw recruits, who had never been within sound of a gun. There were at one time ten thousand of them huddled on the river bank, whom blows, persuasion or curses would not move. An officer told me that in his excitement and indignation he could have seen the artillery turned on the solid mass of terror-stricken humanity without the least compassion. The movement on the Mississippi is deemed contraband. Important events will be looked for in that direction before long. Island No. 10 is occupied by Col. Buford, who has lately been promoted to a Generalship. Our gunboats had a brief engagement with four rebel gunboats on Sunday. Some dozen or more shots were exchanged and a shell exploded close over the Benton. No damage was done, and the rebel boats lost no time in retiring. Arrival of the pirate Sumter Prisoners. BOSTON, April 18. Thos. T. Tansall, late U. S. Consul at Tangier, and Mr. Myers, purser of the pirate Sumter, arrested at Gesiras, Morocco, arrived here today in the bark Harvest Home, to which they were transferred from the gunboat John. The prisoners were in irons, which were removed by order of Marshal Keyes, and they were sent to Ft. Warren to await instructions from the government. NEW YORK, April 19. The schr. John Roe at this port, reports, March 14th, 5 p.m., off Savannah, passed a propeller showing English colors, and after hauling them down, ran up the rebel flag. She was steering in the direction of Bermuda. – Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, April 21, 1862, p. 1

FROM PITTSBURG, TENN.

A FEW MORE PARTICULARS

{Special to the Chicago Journal.}

CAIRO, April 10.

Particulars are arriving from Pittsburg Landing Hourly, bringing more incidents of the great battle. Chicago batteries gained new laurels in the struggle. Taylor’s Battery did fearful execution. Their praise is in the mouth of every one. Waterhouse’s Battery was in the first attack, and was badly cut up; horses mostly killed. Taylor is said to have protected his men by peculiar movements that dealt destruction to the enemy. Company A, Chicago Light Artillery, under command of Peter Wood, was in the hardest of the fight, and performed wonders; their feats could not have been surpassed. Taylor’s Battery followed the enemy within four miles of Corinth. The 15th Illinois Regiment, under command of Col. Ellis, was badly cut up. Most of its field officers were killed. Among them were Col. Ellis, Major Goddard, Capt. Wayne and others. Col. Davis of Freeport was shot through the lungs but is still alive. Gen. Wallace with shot through the head, the ball entering back of the left ear and coming out at the nose, but he is not dead as reported. The 20th Illinois Regiment was badly cut up.

– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Sunday, April 13, 1862

THE GREATEST BATTLE OF MODERN TIMES!

FARTHER PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING!

18,000 Federals Killed, Wounded and Missing!

35 to 40,000 Rebels Killed, Wounded and Missing

Chicago, April 9.

The following is the only account yet received of the battle of Pittsburgh landing. – The attack was brought on by three hundred of the twenty-fifth Missouri, under Gen. Prentice, by attacking the advance guard of the rebels, which was stationed on the left wing, firing volley after volley of musketry and shell. Our forces soon formed into line, and returned the fire vigorously. By the time we were prepared to receive them they had concentrated their largest force on our left and center of Sherman’s division and drove our men back from their camps and bringing up fresh forces, they again opened fire on our left wing and the division under the command of Gen. McClernand.

The fire was returned with terrible effect and determined spirit by both infantry and artillery along the whole line for a distance of over four miles.

Gen. Hurlburt’s [sic] division was thrown forward to support center, where a desperate conflict ensued and retreat. The rebels were driven back with terrible slaughter, but soon rallied and drove our men in return from 9 o’clock Sunday morning until night – no possibility of determining what the result would be.

Rebels exhibited remarkable generalship at times engaging our left with apparently whole force. They would then suddenly open terribly destructive fire on center and right. Even our heaviest, most destructive fire did not seem to discourage them or disarrange their solid columns. Major Taylor’s Chicago battery Artillery mowed them down in scores, and the breach would be filled immediately. Most desperate fighting took place afterward. The rebels seemed impressed with the idea that if they didn’t succeed in flanking us their chances for success would be extremely doubtful. At five o’clock they had forced our left wing back so as to occupy fully two-thirds of our camp and were fighting their way forward at a desperate degree, confident in their efforts to drive us into the river.

At the same time, they heavily engaged our right. At this time reinforcements which had been ordered forward had not arrived, Wallace’s division having taken the wrong road from Cruness [sic] Landing, did not come up until nightfall. When they arrived they had no way of crossing the river except by transports used for Quartermaster and commissary stores which were too heavily laden to carry any considerable number.

We were therefore contesting the field against fearful odds, our force not exceeding thirty-eight thousand, while that of the enemy was upwards of sixty thousand. Our condition was critical. Large numbers of men were panic struck, others worn out by hard fighting. Gen. Grant and staff recklessly rode along the lines during the entire day amid unceasing storms of bullets, grape and shell, inciting the men to stand firm until reinforcements could cross the river. In the evening Col. Webster, Chief of staff, got into position with heaviest pieces of artillery pointing on enemy’s right, while a large number of batteries were planted along the entire line from the river bank on the Northwest to extreme right, two and a half miles distant. About four before dusk a general cannonading opened on enemy from along our whole line, with a continual crack of musketry. – for a short time the rebels repelled vigorously, and effectively, but their return became less frequent and less destructive, wile ours grew more rapid and more terrible.

Gun boats Lexington and Tyler which lay a short distance off the left wing, rained shell on rebel hordes. This last support was too much for enemy and ere dark, firing nearly ceased and all combatants rested from work of blood and carnage. Our men rested on their arms, on the field, in the position they held at nightfall until Gen. Wallace arrived with his division and took position on our right. Nelson’s division of Buel’s [sic] army having arrived, was ordered to form on left. Crittenden’s division also of Buel’s [sic] army ordered to his support.

On Monday morning the battle was renewed at day-break, simultaneously by Nelson’s division on left and Wallace’s division on right. Nelson’s force opened most galling fire on rebels and advanced rapidly as the rebels fell back. The fire soon became general along the whole line and began to have terrible effect on the enemy. The men of Gen. McClernand’s, Sherman’s and Hurlbut’s division, although terribly jaded from previous day’s fighting, still maintained the honors won at Fort Donelson. The resistance of rebels was at all points gallant and worthy a better cause, but not enough, however, for the undoubted courage of our troops and dreadful destruction produced by our artillery, which sweeping them off like chaff convinced them that defeat now would be death to their hopes.

The rebel Generals still urged them on in the face of certain destruction, hoping by flanking our right they might turn the tide of battle. Their success was once more cheering as they began to gain ground there, but our left under Gen. Nelson was driving them and by 11 o’clock had succeeded in flanking them and capturing their batteries. They rallied on left and right and forced themselves forward in another desperate effort. Reinforcements from Gens. Wood and Thomson coming in, regiment by regiment was sent immediately to Buell, who had again commence driving the enemy. About 3 p.m. General Grant rode to the left, and finding the rebels still wavering, sent a portion of his body guard to the rear of each. Five regiments were then ordered to charge across the fields, himself leading with brandished sword and waved them on while cannon balls were falling like hail around him. The men followed with shout heard above the roar of battle. The Rebels fled in dismay as from a destroying avalanche and never made another stand, and were followed. By half past five the whole Rebel army were in full retreat to Corinth with our Cavalry in hot pursuit, with what result is not yet learned. It is impossible yet to learn what amount of material is captured; it is known however, a large amount of their artillery and a number of prisoners were taken. The Rebels took some prisoners, estimated several hundred, among them Gen. Prentiss. He is also reported wounded. The killed on the rebel side includes the Commander-in-Chief, A. Sidney Johnson [sic], who was struck by a cannon ball Sunday afternoon.

There is no doubt of this, as the fact is corroborated by several rebel officers taken. It is further reported that Beauregard had an arm shot off. Rebel Generals Breckinridge [sic], Bragg and Johnson, all had commands. Our loss in officers is very heavy, but it is impossible at present to state the number. Among them are W. H. L. Wallace, Col. Pegram, Col. Ellis, acting Brig. Gen., killed; Major Gadduck, 15th Ill., Lieut. Col. Conrad, 72nd Ohio Lieut. Col. Kyle, 41st Ind., Col. Davis, 41st Ill., mortally wounded; Gen. Sherman, Col. Sweeney, acting Brig. Gen., wounded; Col. Dave Stuart, acting Brig. Gen., Shot through the breast Sunday, but remained on the field until Monday. Gen. Sherman had two horses shot under him. Gen. McClernand not hurt but had bullet holes through his clothes. Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing is variously estimated at from ten to twenty thousand – Rebel loss twice that number. This, however, must be greatly exaggerated. Our force on Monday numbered about 80,000.

– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862