The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-03-14


trouble, was found in position to the right !.
Of my new line, whittier it had fallen back.
Riding down its front.IIfound the regiments
in perfect order. having done their duty
nobly, but with severe loss, and eager for
another engagement. The deployment of a
line of skirmishers, readily united them
with Col. Thayer's brigade, and once more
placed my command in readiness for orders.
About three o'clock Gea. Grant rode up +
the hill and ordered an advance and attack
on the enemy's left, while Gen. Smith at
tackled their right. AT General McCler-
hands request undertook the proposed
assault. Examining the ground forming
the position to be assaulted, (which was al-
most exactly the ground lost in the morn
ing) quickly arranged my column Of at
tack. At the head were placed the Eighth
Missouri, Col n L. Smith, and the Flew
enfh Indiana, Col. Geo. McGinnis, the two |
regiments making a brigade, under Colonel |
Smith Col. Cfuft's brigade completed the |
column. AS asupport, two Ohio regiments
under Col. Ross, were moved up and well |
advanced on the left flank of the assailing |
force, but held In reserve. re- a111 G.
Well aware of the desperate character
of the enterprise, informed the regiments
of il as they moved on, and they answered |
I
ward, - and gave the word. ~ a1aa
My direction as to the mode of attack
were general; merely to form columns of
regiments, march up the hill which was
the point of assault, and deploy as occasion
should require Colonel Smith observed
that form-attacking with the Eighth Mis-
souri, in front. Colonel Cruft, however,
formed line of battle at the foot of the hill,
extending his regiment around to the right.
And now began this most desperate, yet,
in my opinion, the IdOst skillfnlly executed 4
performance of the battle. ea>a i5
Il is at least three hundred steps from
the base to the top of the hill. The ascent
is much broken by out-cropping lodges of
rock, and, for the most part, impeded by
dense underbrush. Smiths place of attack
was clear, but rough and stony. Cruft's
was through the trees aud brush. The
enemy's lines were distinctly visible on the
hill side. Evidently they were ready.
Colonel Smith began the fight without
waiting for the first brigade. A line of
skirmishers from the Eighth Missouri sprang
out and dashed up, taking intervals as they
went, until they covered the head of the
column. A lively fire opened on them from
| the rebel piclSets, who retired, obstinately
contesting the ground. IN several instances
assailant and assailed sought cover behind
the same tree. Four rebel prisoners were
taken in this way, of whom two were killed
by a shell from their own battery, white
/ being taken to the rear. .4Hc11F
Meantime, the regiments slowly followed
the skirmishers About quarter. the way
up they received the first voliey from the
| hilltop, around which il ran a long line of
| fire, disclosing somewhat of the strength of
| the enemy. Instantly, under orders of Col.
| Smith, both his regiments laid down. The
| skirmishers were the chief victims. Geo.
B. Swarthout, Captain of company II /,
| Eighth Missouri, was killed gallantly fight
| ing far in advance Soon as the fury OF the
| FIRE abated, both regiments rose and marched
on; and in that way they at length closed
upon the enemy, falling when the volleys
| grew hottest, dashing on when they slack
| ened or ceased. Meanwhile their own fr-
| ing was constant and deadly. Meanwhile,
also, Colonel Crufts line was marching up
| in support and to the right of Colonel
Smith. The woods through which he
muskeTy FnaGgF pEfe sl g dfEHfks gish
cleared the hill, driving the rebel regiments
at least three quarters of mile before them,
and halting within one hundred aud fifty
| yards of the entertainments, behind which
the enemy took refuge. This was about
1--WE o'clock, and concluded the days fight
ing. In my opinion, it also brought forth
the surrender. p p - go ti1e
While the lighting was in progress an
order reached me, through Colonel Webster,
to retire my column, as a new plan of OPP
erations was ia contemplation for the next
day. IL carried ont, the order would have
compelled me to give up the hill so hardly
reeapturei. Satisfied that the General did
not know of our success when he issued
the direction, assumed the responsibility
of disobeying it, and held the battle ground
that night. r-
Wearied as they were, few slept; for the
night was bitter cold, and they had carried
the lost Geld of the mornings action, thick
ly strewn with the dead and wounded Of
Netherlands regiments. The number of
: Illinoisans there found, mournfully attested
the desperation of their battle, and how
firmly they had bought it, All night, and
till far in the morning, my soldiers, gener-
GUS as they were gallant, were engaged
ministeFing to and removing their own
wounded and the wounded of the FIRST di-
vision, not forgetting those Of the enemy.
Next morning, about daybreak, Lient.
Ware, my aid-de-camp, conducted Colonel
Thayer's brigade to tie foot of the hill.
Lieut.. Woods battery was ordered to the
same point, my intention being to storm
the intrenchments about break East time.
While making disposition for that purpose,
a white flag made its appearance. The
result was that | rode to Gen. Buckner's
quarters, sending Lieut. Ross with Major
Rogers, of the Third Mississippi (rebsl)
regiment, to inform Gen. Grant that the
place was surrendered, and my troops in
possession Of the town, and all the works
on the right. asta
In concluding, it gives me infinite pleas
ure to call attention to certain officers and
| men of my division.
| If Gen. McClernand has know ledge of
the prompt assistance Col. Cruft and his
brigade carried his brave but suffering regi-
ments in the terrible battle of Saturday
morning, bis notice of their conduct will
make it superhuous for me to praise it. In
the afternoons fight for the re-capture of
the bill, The Colonel led his tired column