The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-03-15

mortal wound of which he died in about
one hour. Lieut. Col. Ransom, command
ing the 1lth. Illinois, was struck in the
shoulder by Mimic ball Merely calling
Major Nevins to the command until his
wound could be temporarily dressed, he
resumed the command and remained with
his regiment throughout the day Lieut.
Col. j. A. Maltby, OF the 45th regiment,
while encouraging and animating his men,
was shot through the thigh and severely,
though trust not fatally, wound d.
cannot find words in which fittingly
to express the debt of obligation and
gratitude / bear to the officers command
ing corps for the prompt, fearless, and cool
manner IN which my commands were car
ried out in every instance Except one,
and that resulted from the stupidity of
one orderly My orders were perfectly
understood, and carried into effect with
promptness and perfect order / have
already spoken of the part borne by the
llth Illinois, under Lieut.. Col Ransom
Both he and Major Nevins are deserving
OF the attention of the Department Col
G. {. Marsh, of the Goth Illinois. exhibited
the utmost courage, GOODNESS and self.
posse sion on the field. encouraging his
men with all the order of parade Major
Richards, of the 10Th, also acted with
great bravery Col Haynie and Major
Sanford, olthe 4Sth, Col John E Smith
and Major ~ Smith, OF the 18th, Lieut..
Col Pe.se, of the 18th, and Capt Bush,
commanding the 18th Illinois, all distin-
tinguisled themselves by their bravery,
and contributed 10y their example to the
attainment Of the brilliant result: The
conduct of Capt. Ezra Taylor, commanding
Sth battery Il, during the whole series oil
engagements, was such as to distinguish
him as daring, yet cool and sagacious
officer, pushing his guns Into positions
that were swept by the enemy shot He
In person directed the posting of his sec
tons and IN very many instances sighted
the guns. Such conduct found it natural
reflection IN the perfect order and bravery
that characterized his entire command
His battery OF SIX pieces fired 100 rounds
OF fixed ammunition during the engage
ment, being an average Of 81 rounds TO
the gun. McAllisters guns did good SER
vice. They We're three u FOUNDER howit-
zeIs, without cassions, and with a limited
supply of ammunition, aud without full
complement of men. One Of them lost
wheel, shot away on the 18th, bat supplied
from their Timber. On the 18th, the trale
of another howitzer was broken, and it
was rendered useless They fired all their
ammunition, about fifty rounds To the
piece. The cavalry of the brigade (ith
Illinois. Col. Dickey) did excellent service
in accommodating and holding the enemy
in check on the right. Lieut. Col MCCOI-
Tough, Major Wallace, Capt Rock wood
and Capt. Townsend are worthy Of par
ticular mention for services rendered
The field music and bands Of the several
regiments and corps rendered very eii-c-
tive service in taking care of the wounded,
especially in the Ith and 10Th regiments.
The baud of the lith lost their instru-
men's
The surgeons and hospital ass s-ants of
the entire command performed their pain
ful and important duties in a manner
highly ered!table. To Surgeon Goodbrake
acting Brigade Surgeon, | feel under cs
pecial Obligation Surgeons helton Of the
18th, Young of the ith, Assistant Surgeons
Kent of the llth. Luce Of the 4th Cavalry.
and Young of the 18th Illinois, also rem
dered valuable assistance. ] also wish 20
return thanks TO SIrgeon Edgar OF the
sd Illinois for attent ons to the wounded
OF nv command Caaplaius Parsons OF
the 18th and Button Of the 2Jlh were
inde.atigao.e in their attention to the
.
the dead
! wish also TO call the attention Of the
General commanding tho Division TO the
conduct and beaJ7ug Of nv staff. Leu
tenant Israel T. Runsey. Of Taylol's Bat
terry, aid de camp and acting Assistant Ad
jutant Gcueral. and Lieutenant Ger.on !
Davis, llth Illinois. QuarterE.as ter and
Comailssary, also aid de camp, Active, in
tel!igent. ardent and brave, they were ever
reas}y To FENDER apy aid in their pnwer
riding TO every part of the field amid the
hottest OF the fire, and by their daring and
coolness contributing much towards the
success OF the day Artifieer George l.
Church. Taylors battery, who acted as one
Of my Older,ies, Is worthy of commenda-
ton for bravery and self possession on the
field
Manv instances of individual daring oe-
Cured that are worthy Of mention. but
where all acted their part SO nobly com
parsons seem invidious. / cannot forbear
citing two instances 10 which mE atten-
ton has been called 10y commaders Of regi-
ments Corporal Smith, of company E
18th Illinois, distinguished himself 10y
great personal bravery in sllirnishing with
the enemy. Corporal Armstrong, of COM
pany II. llih Illinois when the Color-Ser-
geant Of the regimen; was shot down, and
the colors fell, rushed 20 the spot and
Selling the flag, bore it from the field
amid a storm of balls. The flag itself was
riddled with shot
In order to a due appreciation OF the
courage, endurance and fortitnde of the
men by whom this victory has been won, 1t
must be borne in mind that they marched
from Fort Henry without transportation or
tents, or ratIons, except what they carried
and that they were exposed for three days
and nights without tents and almost with
out fires, being SO near the enemy's lines
as 10 render fires imprudent, that the
weather was extremely sesere-two nights
they were thus exposed. accompanied with
driving snow storms aud severe cold
that during the whole three days they were
under fire and compelled to hivouac in line
of battle, with their arms in their hands.
Added to this, most of them had never
seen battle, and but few had ever heard
hostile shot. Under all the circum-
stances, it is certainly a great matter of
congratu!atlon that so long and fierce a con
Hict against an entrenched enemy fighting
on position we'll known TO him and
unknown to us, and greatly superior in
artiilety, has resulted so gloriousiy for
our arms.
Very respectfully your obt serv't,
w. II. L. WALLACE.
Col. Com = ID Brig, LIST Div
The list Of killed, wounded, and missing
appenden to the above report, would fill
half page of this paper, and is omitted
The following is the Recapitulation:
Killed. Wounded. Missing Total