Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-07-25

breast-works. Going down to the artille-
ry, l found the balls whistling overhead
and striking as far back as the position Of
the Seventh Indiana. Several soldiers
had been struck by spent balls. Finally,
bullet struck the saber of an artillery Of
ficer. This was getting little too warm,
and rapidly sighting the gun, he dropped
shell in the wood in the direction from
which the bullet came. For little while
the enemy seemed repulsed; they then re-
turned sad began sharp fire on the skir-
mishers. To aid the latter another shell
was thrown toward the rebels. Our boys
instantly sprang forward the moment the
she'll burst, and poured in a CALLING volley
upon the enemy, picking off particularly
the mounted officers.
As soon as their pieces were discharged
the boys hurried back to the trees and fall
en- logs behind which they concealed them
selves. In their charge they had discov-
cred that it was the Georgia regiment with
which they were engaged, backed by
strong force of cavalry.
COL. MILRoY-ANCTHER SHE'LL.
For few moments all was quiet; then
the rattle of-musketry began again, our
men apparently giving and taking in about
equal proportions. An occasional shot
from the enemy was still wbistling around
the artillery, when Col. Milroy, with the
utter recklessness of personal danger char
acteristic of the man, sprang upon the
breastwork, took off his hat and waved his
men in the woods back, shouting "Fall
back, boys, we're going TO fire another
SHE'LL" Standing there on the breastwork,
his stalwart form and full Coloneps uni
form made him a splendid mark, but he
seemed to have no conception that be
could be shot at. The skirmishers made
some reply from the woods two or three
hundred yards distant,) which he could
not understand; and there he stood, drawn
up to his full height, with his head Inclined
forward, listening intently till be distin-
guished, amid the din of the small arms,
the shout of the boys, Sire more to the
right" The gun was changed to the d.
Iection indicated, and another bomb sent
flying into the midst of the rebels. In
stantly our boys sprang forward, as the
Georgians ran from the bursting shell, and
poured in deadly volley. For few mo-
ments the fire was incessant, and our fel-
lows were seen pushing farther and farther
up into the woods. Suddenly they came
flying back, and took refuge behind the
logs and trees. The artillery threw anoth-
er shell, and the boys sprang forward a
gain, charged upon the scattering Georgi-
ans, drove them beyond their own intrench-
ments on the top Of the hill, and actually
chased them within half mile of their
camp.
A Struggling fire was Kept up on the
rebels until dusk, by portions of Two COM
panies, one from the l4th Ohio, and the
other from the 9th Indiana, with volunteers
from several of the other regiments. The
enemy had every advantage, but the
Georgians
COULDN'T STAND BOMBS.
They were in possession of high hill
covered with dense forest; they had their
breastworks erected on the top of the hill,
and their cavalry was ready.to charge upon |
our skirmishers whenever they ventured |
out from behind their trees, and attempted |
to advances in anything like military order.
It was our shells that did the business
The Georgians couldn't stand bombs, and
after the first explosion it was utterly i'm
possible for their officers to rally them.
Our boys stood fire nobly. In fact, du-
ring the skirmisb, but before any shells
had been thrown, Georgian, who was be-
hind tree some distance from one of our
men, called out to him "What troops are
you!' One soldier, squirting around his
Tree, and seeing that there was no chance
'or shot at his questioner, replied Soho
and Indiana volunteers" ssVolunteers!
hell" exclaimed the Georgian, "you needn't
.ell me that volunteers stand fire that way u
MILRoY's SWAMP DEVILS.
The days skrmish presented some in-
stances of extraordinary daring. Perhaps
lhe most astounding was that of a fellow
who undertook to furnish the news to the
-ebels. l did not witness it myself, as 1T
occurred while l was off on the hill, watch
ng the enemys camp, but 1 am assured
~ dozens who did see it, that one of Mil
oy's Swamp Devils, las the boys of the
,inth Indiana are called,) took a paper and
walked up the road at the foot
# the hill, on which the enemy were
,laced, till he got within convenient talking
listance. Then asking them if they would
lot like to have the news, and they hav-
NO answered in the affirmative, he unfol-
led his paper and began. ''Great battle at
danassas Gap; rebels completely routed;
ne thousand killed, ten thousand wounded,
nd nearly all the rest taken prisoners; all
raitors to be hung and their property con-
seated! By this time the bullets began
o rain down upon him rather thickly, and
e beat rapid retreat to a convenient tree,
arefully folding up his paper as he went,
nd shouting back that if they would come
ver to camp. he would give them the bal
nee of the news!
RALLY TO LOGS. Ii
The pecularity of the skirmish, Monday I
fternoon, was that our boys acted almost
ntirely without orders. There was but a
inele officer with them, and they dld'ntap-
ear 10 act under his direction. When a
hell was thrown, they would shout. Now
i've il TO tbem,r and forward the whole par
= would rush. When the enemy recover t
d and began to return the fire, some fellow $
,ould sing out, Orally to your logs" and