Weekly Gazette
Elgin, Illinois
April 2, 1862

From the thirty-Sixth.

FRIDAY, THE GREAT DAY.- Arose rather late, thinking we were going to lay over, as the reveille did not rout us very early, but after eating a breakfast of coffee, meat, a biscuit and a half, there was a detail of two men to clear off the brush. In a short time we were ordered to fall in, and ours and another Reg't were stationed on the brow of a hill, supporting a battery, ready for the enemy, which they said was expected, but we could not believe it. Laid there an hour or two, then started, as we supposed, for Springfield; had gone two or three miles, and was halted, and waited for a thousand or two of cavalry to get back by us. We were then ordered to march back, and did so, but soon the firing commenced up the road ahead of us a mile or two; they fired rapidly too, I tell you. Well, we marched over to the west of the firing in pretty quick time. All at once we came out in an open field of about 80 rods square. We were drawn up in line of battle. The 12th Mo.l Reg't was with us and a battery of artillery. It being a very common thing for us to be drawn up, we thought nothing of it, but all at once we saw the cavalry and artillery, a couple of thousand, coming out of the brush in the opposite corner of the field, just as fast as they could run, some of them riderless, and some with saddles turned, and every one striving to get past the other. the 12th Mo. stood at our right, about 30 rods in advance of us. The horses passed between us at lighting speed, and close after them were the secesh cavalry. There we stood, as immovable as a rock, and the cowardly d----s, on coming up to the corner, instead of coming in, rode right along in the brush just outside of the field. A few shots were fired at them, and they disappeared. It seems the cavalry had been out there scouting, and coming upon them fled, and made a perfect stampede of it among them but not among us, for if we had broke and run, undoubtedly the day would have been lost; at least the officers say so; so the 36th will receive an honor for this. Our artillery got stationed and began to shell them. We fell back a few rods, and they, I should think, arranged themselves in line of battle, for we saw their flag, for the first time, thro the brush, and then they opened fire on us, the first one wounding one of our men. We then fell back into the brush, and their shot when over our heads. Only laid a short time, when we arose, threw off our blankets, and advanced across the field at a charge bayonet; did not reach the brush before we halted, and the rebels fled from their position. We maneuvered round in the field a short time when we saw a Reg't of rebels in the brush, where we started from, but supposed it was

Missing

time they would come out on the edge where we could see them, the Artillery would put a shell right amongst them, until they had all left, then we ascended the bluff, where we found plenty of wounded rebels. They said one of our shells killed and wounded 60 of them. We took their arms from them and went out onto the main road, where we joined Sigel. While we were upon the bluff the other reg'ts could see us, and such cheering I never hear; and when we saw Sigel, we all cheered and threw our hats up in the air making the welkin ring louder than the cannon, if possible.

Price retreated right on, Sigel and we, following him. The roads were almost paved with guns, traps, wagons, ammunition, dead horses and men, that he had left in his haste to get away. We followed him five or six miles and encamped. To-night we had a little minute pudding without anything on it, but we relished it, for we had had nothing to eat since morning, and this was at dark. next day we marched to Keetsville, 4 miles, and back, without a mouthful to eat. We then stopped and cooked something in the rain, and marched on and encamped near the battle ground. This was Sunday, a week ago to-day. We laid there until Thursday, then came to this place and are now encamped in a corn-field, close to a creek.

LEROY SALISBURY