Tuesday, August 17, 2010

From The Great Battle

Cincinnati, April 15.

The Commercial has information from a reliable gentleman who left the battle ground on Thursday evening. He estimates our loss in killed from 1200 to 1500, wounded 3500 to 4000, and missing 2500. The rebels lost more killed than we did, and not so many wounded. About 1000 unwounded rebel prisoners were taken about 1200 wounded. Up to the time he left 2200 rebels had been buried. Our troops retook on Monday all the batteries lost on Sunday, and captured twelve pieces from the enemy. The rebels were so confident of their ability to hold our camps, which they took on Sunday, that, with a single exception, they did not destroy them. On Monday, Beauregard sent a flag of truce, requesting permission to bury his dead and saying owing to the heavy reinforcements you received on Sunday night and Monday, and the fatigue of my men, I deemed it prudent to retire and not renew the battle. Permission was not granted. The bearer of the flag admitted that Beauregard received a slight wound in the left arm.

– Published in The Gate City, Keokuk, Iowa, Wednesday, April 16, 1862

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