Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-30
EXPLOITS OF THE INDIANA DARE.
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We hsd an account, some time since, of the
exploits Of a squad Of the Indiana llth regi-
. ment at Patterson's Greek, but Col. Wilson, of
that famous regiment, thus describes the skir-
mish -.
my report OF the skirmish on Kelley's
Island, near Patterson's Creek, is not only
true, but, in fact too lightly colored. There
were but thirteen Of my picket, and at least
seventy Of the enemy engaged. On my side
there was but one man killed; on the enemy's
side twenty-seven were killed, including those
who have since died. This disparity is ac-
counted for by the fact that my men were on
the Island under cover, while the enemy had
TO cross the creek directly under our fire
In tie first engagement, the enemy, in the
desperation Cf fear, spurred their horses head
long into euivert, where, heapsd into help
less mass, they fell an easy prey. Eight of
them died there, and were left on the track.
Hay, my Corporal, led the attack. To illus
tTate his perfect cOolness Turning sharp
elbow, close BY the railroad, be saw the enemy
and counted them, AZ in all; fearing the effect
OF the number upon bis squad, he shouted to
the rebels: Halt! turn and fight, you id sons
-! Then to his men: Forward boys
here's only twenty-one Of them. Let oHt-the
each one like Nolan at Balaklavs-Hay at
their head. SPlendidly mounted, the gallant
fellow soon overlook the flying enemy, and
closing with them, at their horses tails, emp
tied every barrel Of his revolver, all the time
brushing their pistols out Of his face as if they
had been musquitoes.
In further iliustration. one of the pickets, q
boy named HollOWell, - years old, fred away
his last cartridge, and, having nothing else to
do, turned to picking raspberries, pausing only
to yell " There's another down--bit 'em
again" Again, bullet graIed the right cor
ner of Louis FOrley's forehead, and Knocked
him down completely. Three men rushed out
to kill him. Ones arm was raised TO strike
bullet from the island stretched him across
Ferley's body. Another put pistol to For
leys head-WhiZ came another ball, and the
EeeOnd rebel went down upon the first. The
third ran. Foriey recovered shook of his dead
enemies, rose up to run, and after few steps
again fell, this time into s.pile of friendly
grape vines, under which he hid until dark
While be was thus concealed the enemy search
ed the ground. Some Of their expressions were
very amusing: Come away from there,n
yelled an officer while the fight was in pro-
gTess, " d-n you, don't you see we're fighting
the whole regiment" The idea was that the
thirteen were my entire regiment and 50 the
secession journals are reporting 1t. In the
same way POrley overheard them at each shot
from my picket "Who is hit now? ?' There's
another gone" When my boys at last scat
tered, two Of them were compelled to throw
away their rifles. Instead Of leaving them
where the enemy could get them, each one
pitched his weapon into the canal A big fell
low was in the act Of plunging his sword into
Hay, back, when little Hollowell leveled him
with the butt of his gun, breaking it into fifty
sp'.a;ers Bat it Is no use going further. I
eoa!I fl pages with the incidents of this fight.