Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-05-01

acfoss tue heiu 10 occupy tue OIL VI " oouo
in front Of Thurbsr. The cavalry made
the first dash at the battery. but the Skin
mishers of the 9th Missouri poured an nm
expected fire INFO them and they retired
pei NELL Next the infantry attempted
charge. The first brigade easily repealed
them. All this time my whole division
was under furious cannenade. but being
well masked behind the bluff. or resting
in the hollows of the wood, the regiments
suffered bnt little.
Gen. Sherman now moved forward a
handsome line of battle to engage the enc
my posted in front Of his command. Sim
ultaneously mine was ordered TO advance.
the First Brigade leading. Emerging from
the woods. it entered the second field /
have mentioned. speedily followed by the
Second Brigade. when both marched in
face of the enemy aligned as regularly as
if on parade.
Having changed front as stated, my move
ment was now diagonal to the direction
originally started on. though the order was
still in echelon. with, the center regiment
Of each brigade dropped behind its place in
line as reserve. While thus advancing,
Col. Whittlesy. as appears from his report,
in some way lost his position. bat soon re-
covered it.
The position Of the enemy was now d.
rectly in front, at the edge of the woods.
fronting and on the righ, of the open field
my command was so CALAMITY crossing
The groundto be passed getting at them
dipped gradually to the center of the field.
which is there intersected by small run,
we'll fringed with willows. Clearing an
abrupt bank beyond he branch, the snriace
ascends to the edge Of the woods held by
the enemy. and is without obstruction. but
markell by frequent, swclls that Afforded
protection to the advancing lines, and was
the secret OF my small loss. Over the
branch. up the hank. across the rising
ground. novel the steady First Brigade;
on its right. with equal alacrity. marched
the Second. the whole in view, their ban
Hers gaily decking the scene. The Skin
rise and grouped themselves behind the
ground swells, within 10 yards Of the reb-
ell lines; as the regiments approached them.
suddenly a sheet Of mrsketry blazed from
the woods, and battery opened upon
them. About the same instant the right
Of Shermanrs Division fell hastily back
To save my flank. / was compelled to or
der halt. In short time Sherman re-
pulsed the enemy and recovered his lost
ground. My skimnishers. meanwhile,
chung to their hillocks. sharp shooting at
the battery. Again the brigaaes advanced,
their bayonets fixcl for charge. but press
ed by Sherman, and so threatened in front.
the enemy removed their guns and fell
back from the edge of the woods. In the
advance Lieut.. Col. John Gerber was kill
ed, and it is but Justice to say of him,
"no man died that day with more glory,
yet many died and there was much glory"
Capt. McGriffin and Lieut.. Southwick,, Of
the same regiment. also fell--gallant spi-
rits, deserving honorable recollection.---
Many soldiers. equally brave. perished, or
were wounded in the same field.
II was now noon, and the enemy hav-
ing fallen so far back the idea of thanking
them further had to be given up. Not
wishing to interfere with Cen Sherman's
line of operations. but relying upon him
TO support me on the left, M front was
again changed. the povenent beginning
with the first Brigade. taking the course of
attack precisely as It had been in the out
set. While the vancouver wassbe;ng eff
fec.ed. squadron Of rebel cavalry gollop-
ed from the woods on the right to charge
the flank temporarily exposed. Col.
Thayer threw forward the 23l Indiana.
which aided by an oblique fire from a
company Of the LIST Nebraska, repealed the
assailants with loss.
Scarcely had the front been changed,
when the supporting force in the left again
gave way. closely followed by masses OF
the enemy. Ny position this time became
critical. as isolation from the rest of the
army seemed imminent. The reserves
were resorted to. Col. Woods. with his
regiment, was ordered into line on the
left. The remnant Of Michigan regi-
mcnt, sent me by Gen. McClernand was
dispatched to- tic left of Woods. Thur
bur galloped mp and was posted to cover
retreat, should such misfortune become
necessary. Before these dispositions could
be effected, the 11th Indiana already en-
gagged with superior numbers in its front.
was attacked on its left fanh. but backward
wheeling three companies Of his endanger-
ed wing. Col. McGinnis gallantly held
his ground Fortunately. before the enc
my could avail themselves Of their advan-
tage by the necessary change Of front.
some fresh troops dashed against them,
and once more drove them back. For
this favor my acknowledgements are es-
pecially due to COL August Willich and
his famous regiment. .f ~ Ha
Pending this struggle, Col. Thayel
pushed on his command and entered the
woods, assauIting the rebels simultaneous.
ly with Col Smith Here the 5Sth Ohio
and 23d Indiana proved themselves fl
comrades in battle, with the noble list Ne
lbraska. Here also the 10Th Ohio won a
brilliant fame The LIST Nebraska fired
Eaway It's last cartridge. In the heat Of tho
action, at word. the 18th Ohio rushed
in and took its place. Otto the right
meanwhile, arose the music Of the 20tl
and 18th Ohio fighting CALAMITY in sup
port of Thurbur. to whom the sound o
rebel cannon seemed challenge-no soon
er heard than accepted. tf
/ From the time the wood was entered
ts.forwardss was the ONLY order, and stey