Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-27

tiOusly until daylight. when Wo captured
some Of the rebel piekets, whom We forced
to show Us their camp, which was on hill
lust above ne. We soon msds the ascent,
tbs 2sEh Ohio ahead, the 18th Indiana next,
and last the s2d Ohio. 1--WE did not stay
there long after the ball opened.) When
our front arrived on the ground the enemy
were drawn up in line Of battis to Teceiye
them. They opened their fire on the 25th
Ohio with good success, for their shots were
low and well directed, and made more than
one brave fellow kiSs tie earth. After that
fire both the 25th Ohio and 18Th Indiana
broke ranks aud found shelter behind the
trees. The SD had net yet reached the
scene Of aetien, and as quick time was too
slow for US, double quick was resorted to,
but many could not fol- OW, for the forced
march Of 80 miles, in twenty hours, the
greater part being in the night, had com
uletely exhausted them, which broke our
ranks also. And nov every man went for
himself, companies and regiments getting
completely Baixed up. Our boys pushed to
the front to the edge Of the woods, where
the ebaues was The bast and the Gre hottest
The bulIsts from both sides now aew liter
ally as thick ss hail. At this time the 9th
Indiana and ID Virginia should have at
tackled the fort on the opposite hill, uttheg
had not come up Jet. For near an hour
this mzrdsrous and terrific fire was kept up,
when our forsAs began to fall back. Our
bOys of the SD, and ssPesislly Of Co. F
were tSs lest to follow; they allowed the
ysssis to cous up close, and then took cool
,5a from behind trees sad Jet them have II
= a, good effect. They fought iiks tgeri
~ - ~, their grORpd like veterans, but al
I.,t wo-. ~biiged to give way to superior
numbers. ,n.,,.
our forces fell b Nck slowly, Closely follow
ed bv the enemy for a 'Vout h6lfs mile. RsV-
ing nothing but my swo.' d and g small re-
voiver I could do but little good with these
but seeing q wounded soltiier upon tue
ground, orders were given to one Of our Co.
to take care Of him. took his musket, beg
eed several cartridges and commenced firing
at our pursuers. saw several officers halt
ing and trying to rally their men. They
succeeded, when we set up yell and ad-
vanced in double quick. The enemy gave
way and We followed to the edge of the
woods, killing and wounding many. At the
edge Of the woods many halted, but the SD
continued on, followed by 8 hundred others
unta We reached the brow of the hill, from
whichWe could see the whole camp. Now
the time had arrived to order a bsyOnst
charge. The 9th and ID Virginia had come
up and attacked the fort, butOne gun played
on us and without effect; but no command
to that effect was given, from the fact that
we had become detached from the main
body of our forces and had no field officer
withus.
We called for an officer to lead US, but
no one responded. A thought struck m,a,
why not lead myselfR Word followed
thought, and blow followed word, for our
case was desperate. called Co. into
line, and the few that were there obeyed
cheerfully, and then invited all others to
fall in along. A few did, and when we had
about twenty in line, took off and waved
my cap, gave cheer, ordered charge, and
away we went, over the enemy's rife pits
which they had left, clear into the eneny's
Damp on dead run, carrying the rebels
before us. We had been in hope that the
rest of our force would follow US, We could
then have taken the camp, but for some
reason they did not. The rebels soon saw
this, and taking courage from the snlallnesl
of fhe attacking party, opened on Us 8 ter
risc FIRE, the fort also firing shot at 'us from
9 small cannon. We lodged behind theii
tent chimneys and some stumpss when ;
regular squirrel game commenced; as soOl
as head became visible on eitlAer side bu /
lets came BY showers. Isat br,hind stun
and fred over it. Several lJalls struck it
and a shower was passing Iae all the time
until after firing my gun / stopped to re
llosd when my knee became exposed, snt
the result was ball sfruck It. I jumpe
I'D but had to dodge again, as was agai'
greeted by another shower of balls. I di
not feel much paipl saw my pants an
drawers we're sas and the plsce where Il
ball eniasea my knee. had no time to ez
anime the wound, but los ded and fire
away, and 90 did the rest of the boys Fl
about ten minutes, when I was obliged
retire from pain in ray knt,s. The boys 3
: followed me, and Rhen we arrived at Il
, top Of the hill We looked back and resolve
{ try another charge. Again I halIowed, G
F "fsll in" L did fall ia, the same o
crowd. Another waving Of caps, anoth
b eheer, and away We went again on an il
proved double quick, which being cont
giousj infected secesh, and away they we
4 under cover Of their camp, for they began
T improve cur retreat By believing US.
/. were again in our old place, amongst
: tsnt chimneyT and statmPa. The Squir
, game commenced as ain, but could T
, but 3 few rounds myBsf en- account Of 1
wound becoming pain ful, and ssAed Lie