Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-11-12
The FredericklOwn Expedition.
Gallantry Of the Twentieth Illinois
Regiment.
oFF1crA1 RrPoRT or cor. MARsH.

SIR-In accordance with your request
! have the honor TO submit my cfheiaI re-
port of the action Of the Dist inst.
On Monday, the 22st inss-, the regiment
marched twelve miles from camp TO freas
ericktown. where halt was ordeFed.-
After resting about aU h0Gr and bali, !
was ordered. with the rest of the brigade,
to march toward Grecnyille and took my
place Ia line in the rear u the seventeenth
Illinois. being third in position, Captain
Stewards sduadOn Of cavalry leading the
march. The march had continued scarce,
Nv mile when the column was halted and
information passed. along the iiue that the
enemy we're in position directly in front.
A moment afterwards, Col. Plummer,
commanding the brigade, came NJ, ordered
forward Taylor's section Of artillery, ana
ordered me to take position on the extreme
right. While moving to my place, the
battle was commenced by our battery,
which opened on The enemy and was lni>
mediately replied to had Just formed IN
line of battle wher | was ordered to move
70 the left and support the Seventeenth
Illinois and Eleventh Missouri, who were
already engaged with the enemy concealed
in n corn field on the left Assuming the
nosi,ion ordered, directed the third dis
NtkluH "a NY ANf 'AiiS'AN ~ - 80 - =
and. leploying the remainder as skirmish-
ers. advanced and engaged the enemy.
Shortly after | cane into aeii0n,s the IN
faniry Of COL Lowe commenced retTeating
fr0msthe corn field and the shelter Of the
fences that concealed them; they thea ex-
p5sed themselves to a rakiug FIRE from my
left wing which was poured IN with ter
riIle effect At this punt scut fur pTis-
oners and six Of the eneny's wUuuded>tS
the rear.
While 10 line Of battle and deployipg as
skirmishers, We were exposed to the enc
my's batteries, which Kept up constant
discharge Of grayc and round shot. which
flew tricky around but owing to the
poor manner in which they banded their
guns, we fortunately escaped uniniured.-
Two crane shots passed through the co.'s
ors, as did bal rifle balls.
shortly after the retreat OF Col, Lowe,
firing ceased from the enemy's batteries,
and pushed on "a rapidly as possible in
pursuit Of the forces opposed, VINO APP
pNarei 70 be retreatiug eH Rdsse. Lieut..
Col Erwin, with the right wing. being on
the right side Of the Greenyille rad, and
Major Goodwin with the left wing, on the
left side of the same road, my colrrS in the
Gentry Of the road. While moving for
ward in this manner many Of the enemy
were killed and wounded as they retreated.
Shortly after passing the place where the
enemy's batteries had been, Col Baker, Of
the Indiana cavalry passed me in pursuit
of the retreating forces 1 Immediately
pushed forward TO support him. The cav
airy had passed me bat few moments
when | heard discharge Of artillery. and
yulley Of musketry IN front, and almost
Immediately after Col. Baker, with por-
ton of his cavalry, returned, and request
ed me to hurry forward, stating thar the
enemy had planted their batteries in front
of him, and that the infantry were behind
fences in such manner that he could not
charge on them. at once moved on at
double quick. passing Col. Bakers cavalry
who were drawn up en- each side OF the
road. At this time Licut. Col Erwin dis
covered TO the right a battery, short dis
tazce in advance. with the Union flag iiy-
ing. As he had been concealed from the
road for some distance by the timber thro'
which he passed, he supposed them to be
some of our own forces who had passed
while he was out of sight, and, fear
full of iniuring friends, be Withheld his
FIRE. While sill approaching them, they
limbered up and moved of at run.
At this point several Of the retreating
forces were xillei and wounded. About
this time, Col Carlin, ofthe Thirty Eighth
Illinois, at the head Of not more than two
companies, came mp the road. l pushed
on ahead Of him, pursuing the enemy
When about two miles and half from our
starting point, my le!t wing emerged from
the timber iut0.1n open field. AZ this in
slant discovered u short distance ahead u
number Of cavalry, whom | supposed by
their dress to be Union troops. ! rode up
to a house n short distance in front, and
Inquired Of woman who was there, and
anu was informed that they We're tnios
men. | Immediately ordered my left wing,
who we're firing into them, to cease firing,
fearful that they would XIII ouroWn forces.
On riding up to the sput, we ascertained
from q wuunlel man that they were the
rear guard Of the enemy, and that JEFF,
Thompson in person was with them. Pur~
suing them at q double quick, ! succeeded
in getting within long range of them al "a
turn Of the road and fred, killing one
At this time ! was about three miles and
half from eur original position, and res
ceived an order 10 halt and return TO Fred-
ericktswn, VIII ch did.
During the engagement aud pursuit my
com nInd behaved with GOODNESS, and my
orders were UHtNtI WIN q Ft1ulue~S lfuiJ
cummendIble, taking into consideration
the fact that it was tie frs; time they were
ever under FIRE.
When all do well the mention Of indi-
yidual names is unnecessary.
NV field and staff were in their proper
positions, and afforded NE efficient aid in
the discharge Of my lGties, Rev Charles
Button. Chaplain Of my regiment. was on
the field, and vas untirins IL his efforts to
nil the wounded and dying, am happy
te report only three wounded AID none
killed, which, considering the long time we
were under FIRE, is truly remarkable.
Herewith send list o! the wounded,
and Il report of DR.. Gooibrake, Surgeon Of
the regiment.
] have the honor to be, very respectfully
Your obeIiout servant,
&C. MARSH.