Correspondence of the Davenport Gazette.
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.,
April 8, 1862
EDITOR GAZETTE: Ere this, I have no doubt, the telegraph wires have brought you the intelligence of another hard fought battle, and another glorious victory to our arms.
This was the hardest fought battle on this continent, and to attempt describing it would be a thing almost impossible.
I have no time to give the particulars, as there is a great deal of work to do at the present time, but for the benefit of our friends who have the interest of the Iowa Second at heart, and are anxious to hear of their fate – as they know we must have played a prominent part in the great battle – I will say a few words.
The Iowa Second fared very well – only ten or twelve killed and about one hundred wounded. Companies B and C had none killed and but few wounded, and they slightly; with the exception of Capt. Bob Littler. At ten o’clock on Sunday morning, he was struck on the left arm by a piece of shell which shattered it in a horrible manner. He was at the head of his company at the time he was struck. The boys – or at least a few of them – led him from the field to the transports, where his arm was amputated close to the shoulder. He is now in Savannah doing very well. He being the only commissioned officer in the company at the time, command fell upon Sergt. Suiter, and right nobly did he do his duty – leading the company through the thickest of the fight until its close on Monday evening. He won a commission by his bravery, and is to be promoted to a Lieutenantcy immediately.
Captains Cox, Moore and Wilkins [sic] and several Lieutenants were wounded, none of them seriously. Col. Tuttle was acting Brigadier General through the battle, and will be promoted to one if justice has its reward. Lieut. Col. Baker was in command of the regiment. Both won laurels, and two braver men never existed. All the boys, as usual fought well, as did nearly all the Iowa troops.
Our loss in killed, wounded and missing will not fall short of ten thousand; and the rebels at least double our number. The ground for miles around is literally covered with dead bodies.
– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.,
April 8, 1862
EDITOR GAZETTE: Ere this, I have no doubt, the telegraph wires have brought you the intelligence of another hard fought battle, and another glorious victory to our arms.
This was the hardest fought battle on this continent, and to attempt describing it would be a thing almost impossible.
I have no time to give the particulars, as there is a great deal of work to do at the present time, but for the benefit of our friends who have the interest of the Iowa Second at heart, and are anxious to hear of their fate – as they know we must have played a prominent part in the great battle – I will say a few words.
The Iowa Second fared very well – only ten or twelve killed and about one hundred wounded. Companies B and C had none killed and but few wounded, and they slightly; with the exception of Capt. Bob Littler. At ten o’clock on Sunday morning, he was struck on the left arm by a piece of shell which shattered it in a horrible manner. He was at the head of his company at the time he was struck. The boys – or at least a few of them – led him from the field to the transports, where his arm was amputated close to the shoulder. He is now in Savannah doing very well. He being the only commissioned officer in the company at the time, command fell upon Sergt. Suiter, and right nobly did he do his duty – leading the company through the thickest of the fight until its close on Monday evening. He won a commission by his bravery, and is to be promoted to a Lieutenantcy immediately.
Captains Cox, Moore and Wilkins [sic] and several Lieutenants were wounded, none of them seriously. Col. Tuttle was acting Brigadier General through the battle, and will be promoted to one if justice has its reward. Lieut. Col. Baker was in command of the regiment. Both won laurels, and two braver men never existed. All the boys, as usual fought well, as did nearly all the Iowa troops.
Our loss in killed, wounded and missing will not fall short of ten thousand; and the rebels at least double our number. The ground for miles around is literally covered with dead bodies.
– Published in the Daily State Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862
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