Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-31

nv had made stand on the opposite side with
cavalry and infantry. NV men were considerably
scattered for that the only way that the
fight between the fOrds could be made; but ap-
pretending charge from the cavalry, lost no
time i'm getting them into line above the ford as
much as possb g, Tor the bank of the stream above
the ford was IA small bluff of FIVE six feet, afford
ing prett- good protection against charge OF
cavalry. NV extreme left was less protected. |
suggested this TO the gallant Capt. Scott, of COM
pany H but he thought that brave man who had
a ball and a bayOnet between him and cowardly
enemy, was sufficiently protected. The enemy
did not stand long. My men were cool, and
being face to face with the enemy, and being in
good position most of them fired with precision.
In is but jnstice to the dead to say that the en-
envy were commanded 10y an intrepid young Off
GER whose voice was heard loud above the din OF
conflict, cheering his men, and urging them on to
the charge Such courage was worthy of bet
ter fate. Not many rounds had been hired, not
many volleys exchanged, until | saw this brave
officer fall, and no man can describe the conster-
nation that seemed to Pervade the troops At
the fall of their leader. without firing another
gun, they fed in the widest disorder. Putting
the left wing of my command in front, charged
rapidly across the river, and gave pursuit, direct
ing the advance so as to pass where / had seen
the commanding officer fall lie was not dead
when reached him, but he never spoke; the
IeillOr OF uesttu WAS on MS uiu bul
moment passed until saw that the vital spark
had fed. Major Jonathan W Gordon, L. s. A,
who hld been by my side through much of the
engagement. aiding and assisting me, encOura-
ging my men, and exposing himself to danger
was still there, and being foot, was in n state
of complete exhaustion. | requested him to de-
tail three of my men, and take charge of the
body, secure his effects, to be returned to his
friends, and ascertain, il possible, his name. A
FL Al.
time with his commander. This done (ail of
which required but a mOment,) continued the
pursuit of the enemy.
They had carried number of their dead and
wounded TO house on the road, quarter of 4
mile beyond where the officer alluded to fell, End
a number not wounded had taken refuge in an
adjoining barn. As We passed the premises, /
directed Capt n Lord, of Company G, who had
been at the head of his company, and in the
midst of the danger from the beginning of the
fight, and whom knew 10 be as kind and mer
cilul as he is brave and heroic, to take suffi-
cent number of men to surround the barn and
house, and without the firing of gun, unless re-
sistance was made, to take those not wounded as
prisoners. to bring the prisoners had al
ready taken, and to put guard over them and
the dead and wounded, and to adopt instant steps
to relieve the suffering wounded enemy-all of
which he faithfully did. A portion of Captain
was detailed for this purpose. Capt. Bemusdaffer
and Adjutant Gavin assisted in posting men
around the premises, that no one should escape,
and no wanton firing be done. Before we arr-
we'd at the house. indeed be ore We arrived at the
second ford, where the enemy made the second
stand we had taken number of prisoners |
am not aware that any prisoner was taken on
the RICH. side of the river, nor beyond the sec
ond ford, which were not taken by my command.
I NAL of tba with tha
main body of my command, and until overtaken
by Capt Benlam, some one and ahalf miles
beyond COrricks ford who directed me to pursue
the enemy no further. halted accordingly, and
nv officers and men, all of whom had acted
nobly, made their supper on beef alone, killed by
me on the spot. | lid not stop to examine the
captured property, but dropped sentinels, and
continued the pursuit of the enemy; nor did |
return until the next day, when | found that the
wagons, amounting, should think, to forty or
fifty, with their contents, had passed into the
hands OF another command, which did not cross
the river until had pursued the enemy far be-
yond, and that command claimed the captures.
| am therefore. unable to state what the wagons
contained. or the precise number of wagons,
horses or mules. l do not desire any of this
property, nor do my men; but only that the share
of credit due its captors or that the part that my
command took, whatever it may have been, may
be properly awarded.
1t is claimed that these captures we're made by
the command that first engaged the enemy from
the opposite side of the river, and drove him from
the wagons that we're yet in the river. l claim
that my command crossed the river long before
any other command, and captured those of the
enemy who remained with the wagons,
and finally drew the enemy from the hill Oh the
right side of the river, and beyond the second
ford and that l made the capture, though did
Il Of thar de Nh
command took twenty three prisoners, list of
whom is herewith transmitted. What number of
the enemy we killed, am unable to state, owing
to the pursuit already referred to. 1t Affords me
the most heartfelt pleasure to state, that not a
man of my command fired upon any one of the
enemy who grounded his arms, or showed any
disposition to surrender. Heroic they were,
their heroism was tempered with mercy.
/ am informed that an examination proved the
commanding officer killed to be Gen. r. S. Gar
nett, OF Virginia, the commanding General of the
enemys forces Major Gordon reports to me that
the papers found upon him prove such to be the
case and have heard that Major Love, of your
own staff, recognized the deceased as General
Garnet.
The wounded of the enemy, as far rs | know
were properly cared for, and DIR. G.. w. New,
chief Surgeon of my regiment, reports to me
that lie dressed their wounds. He furnished me a
him, which herewith submit. / cannpt speak
too highly of Dr. New. He is bravg soldier,
and shlful surgeon. On this, On former
occasion, he proved his willingness I'd encounter
danger and his superior skill in the Inc liz
profession.
The laurels Won by Lieut.. Col. Spencer, at
Buena VISTA were not furnished on this occasion;
OH the contrary, man in the command was
more eager for the fray. No one could have been
more cool and self possessed, nor yet more
brave and determined | know not how the Sec
ond in command could have rendered more or
better service than he did. In speaking of him
in terms of commentator, ! but utter the senti
ment that pervades the Regiment. Nor may
omit to say that Major Samuel p. Oyler was in
the fight; that he was in his right place, did his
whole duty, and approved himself possessed of
grit, pluck and capacity.
OF Adjutant James Gavin / will say, that he
is never in the way and never out of the way; al
wavs right where he ought to be, and in the faith
full discharge of his duty. On this occasion, as
at Phillippi, he proved himself possessed of rare
capabilites-luick, intrepid, willing to encounter
any necessary danger in the discharge of his duty
regardless of his own personal safety. | can not
withhold from him my unqualified appreciation,
without proving myself incapable Of approaching
worth. No common soldier in the regiment
has encountered more toll, privations and danger
tnall ne ne HAS WOh SOou ildnic, anu u MoTtHl
of il. Ii is my duty to put his praise on record
n duty which | execute with delight. Adjutant
Gavin took Surgeon Darlington, of the 23d Vir-
ginia regiment, prisoner
1t affords me pleasure to state that George +.
Buell. at one time a resident of Indiana. and a
member of the Legislature from the county oil
Marion, rendered me his aid on this occasion
and as an amateur tiyhter took part with my
regiment and rendered me material assistance.
While my men were marching in the river to
charge the ford. he bore my orders from front to
rear, and animated and cheercd my men by his
fearless bearing and brave example, and finally
took his place in the ranks, and with musket in
hand fought like a war worn veteran.
1t is proper to state here that the enemy, Just
before reaching the first house beyond where Gen.
Garrett fell (the same house afterwards appro
priated to the wounded a hospital,) threw
down the fence, passed into the meadow and
orchard and limbered up one of his guns between
where the General afterwards fell and the house.