Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-07-24
A. T. H.

near Rich Mountain, a point they had
reached at ) P. NJ. on the 18th, after a
hard days march, and were in sight of
the enemy. Mr.. WOlcott says:
We were much clatcd at the prospect of
a fight and campcd in an oat field as IN
c~Oncernedly as if we were at Camp Tay-
lor, our trouble was rain and rattlesnakcs.
which were plenty. Leland's Band killed
one in their tent, and one monstrous one
was killed which had eleven rattles. On
Wednesday, P. NJ. we were called out for
a fight, but for some reason the attack was
delayed and we went back to our tents in
a severe storm Of rain. We drew -four
rations that night, Gust os we usually do
when circumstances are such that we can
not cook them and having neither salera-
tus or grease of any kind, We might as well
have had 50 much saw-dust furnished US,
but We were used to it, and it was useless
to grumblc, so we went supperless to bed,
only to be called to arms at . A. N. We
formed in line and there stood in the cold
damp of the morning till about 4 o'clock,
then we marched out to the road and there
halted for an hour in a cold drizzlinR rain.
At last our march commenced and after .
short distance We turned off the road into
the woods and marched silently mile after
mile through dense woods, over steep hills
and deep %ravines, following a wild path that
our ax-men had partially cleared for US
Our object was to make a wide detour and
attack the enemy in the rear and cut of
their retreat, while the other division un.
der Gen. McClelland in person, was to at.
tack thcm in front. and the regulars gel
their cannon into position so as to play up
on the rebels guns and silence them, il
possible. Our division consisted of the
Sth, 10th and 18th Indiana, and 10Th
Ohio Regiments, and a squad of Cincinnati
dragons, all under command of Gen. Ro-
zcncranz. We had advanced to within
three miles of our position, when to oul
surprise our scouts were fred On by tht
rebel pickets and two of the Indianan'
killed and two others wounded. W
pressed on at quick time for about a mill
r when it commenced to rain furiously; vi
we're forced to halt some 20 minutes in or
der to preserve our guns from the wet
We were drenched to the skin but KEEP
our powder dry" and pressed on abou
half a mile and there halted to reconnoiter
when boom went one Of the rebel cannon
and whiz, crash came a shot through tn
trees right over our heads. Thus the bal
opened, shot, shell, grape and canister fol
lowed spiritedly, but fortunately for u
their range was too high and but few shot
struck among US, otherwise many woulC
have fallen. We soon pressed FORWARD
under cover of the woods, and the Stl
and 10th Indiana who we're in advance o
us. opened fire with their rifles. but as the.
advanced over the hill toward the road (ol
the other side of which the rebels wer'
posted behind a breast work of rocks am
logs they broke their lines and each shell
tered himself as best he could, behind rock
and trees, while both sides kept up a brisl
fire with deadly effect. Meanwhile til,
10Th stood steadily in ranks, exposed t
the cannonadc of the enemy but unable t,
reply. Our Colonel begged in vain 70
the Generals permission to charge the reb
els and silence their battery, but at lcngtl
the order came for as to advance and sup
r port Col. Sullivan's regiment who charges
f up the road to the left Of the enemy's pc
sition. The 10Th, which had been forme
into column of companies under fire. nov
wheeled into line, and with the exception
, of three companies who were held as a re
serve, advanced rapidly till within sixt
rods of the enemy, then halted and fred
c vOlley in good style, after which the me
: fred as fast as they could load for abou
/ an average of two rounds moro, then az
D vanccd in splendid style to within les
t than 40 rods and fired a murderous volle
, as one a Our first fire silenced tn
E cnemy's battery, and the second was tel
|, ribly destructive. We had to aim higl
the second time in order to overshoot tn
: Indianians who were diminishing in from
; Of US, and just as We fired the rebels wer
t forming in line in the woods behind thei
: breastworks on the hill across the roa
from us, our shot struck right in thei
ranks Though VIC could not see them an
e moved them down IN heaps literally. W
1 were prevented from further firing by tn
i Indianians who charged up the road o
t the left and had now reached a point S
near the enemy that our fire, if continued
e would have been destructive to friends an
, foes alike. At eur second fire the rebel
s fled in disorder and the field was won.
: The force Of the rebels was some S Q