Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-04-30

that help was needed, with the rapidity
of a Highland watchfre. Throughout
the two Divisions thus summoned to the
fray, the soldiery instantly fell into line
and were speedily on the double quick"
to the scene of action. Of our Battery |
need only say that although in the second
line of encampments, it was one of the
first in the field. Fully 5000 men were
soon on the spot, but only to find that the
enemy had been repulsed by Sherman's
brigade alone. 1 allude to this incident
here to show the lack of caution exhibit
ed two days subsequently,. when the foe
were permitted to approach in force within
q mile Of our lines before being engaged,
and would add that from the zeal and en-
thusiasm then displayed by the men of
the l4th Battery, | had not a doubt of
their valor when the time for its exhibi-
should come.
In thirty-six hours that time arrived,
and nObly did those gallant spirits fulfill
the hopes their zeal excited.
Sunday morning before breakfast, the
action commenced on our right wing, but
the success of Friday evenings skirmish
with confidence in their own powers, made
our men under-rate the valor and strength
Of the rebels, and it was not until borne
down by vastly superior numbers that the
long-roll was again sounded. Then there
was mastering in hot haste" and soon
all went pouring forward in the ''impetu-
tide of war"
Our Battery, having taken their position
in McClernand's Brigade the day previous
were in the front line of camps, and at
the first formed in order, while
fragments Of shell were wllizzing through
the trees above their heads. In a few
minutes we were speeding on a gallon 10
the scene Of strife. first taking position
within a hundred reds of our quarters at
the edge OF. a piece of woods. The third
section, embracing two pieces, under COM
mand of Lieut.. King, actingin the absence
of Lieut.. Smith, was ordered forward and
took position at a crossing of two roads to
protect them and subject the enemy to a
raking fire on their approach. From here
the line of fire could be distinctly seen,
and wounded men were constantly filing
by on their way to camp, while those I'M
able to help themselves were being carried
past by their comrades on muskcts and
rude filters.
Soon the remaining pieces were ordered
up, and the whole Battery commanded TO
move tothe line of fire and then takeposi-
ton in the woods to our left. Our Capt.
is said to have replied to this order
THAT is not my place. l cannot hold my
Guns there half AN hour, my boys will be
all cut to pieces" There was no time for
parley, however, and We Immediately took
the place assigned us-a most unfortunate
position, where we could not even see the
enemy. at n distance of fifty rods, who,
true to their reasonable instincts, adj
vanced under the American colors.
The lots Iowa and 18th Illinois, our
supporting Infantry, took position in our
rear to the right and left respectively, so
that from the first we bore the hrunt OF
the fire. The treachery of the rebels aid
ed by the color of their clothing, which
was the exact hue of the dead leaves COW
eringthe ground, enabled them to advance
and deliver a telling fire before we were
certain of their identity. The Iowa Reg
imcnt rose and replied and Immediately
fell back, leaving our right flank unde-
Tended. Our Guns now opened fire and
were served with great rapidity and accu-
racy, doing terrific execution, ploughing
great gaps in their lines, and preventing
any advance upon u front.
The Illinois Regiment on our left, who,
from their position, could see the effects
of our fire better than ourselves, by reason
of the smoke, would cry out, by way Of
encouragement, "Give it to EN- boys
You're cutting them all to hell!'
The rebel forces swept nearer and nearer
till some of our men heard one of them
say distinctly: by God, here's a Battery
that has 10 Infantry. that we can take as
well IS not" and suiting the action to the
word, they bore down upon our unprotec-
ted right, by flank movement, to contend
against which would have been certain
destruction. We made a percipitate re-
treat TO the quarters we had left scarce an
hour before, leaving four dead and five
wounded upon the field and one-fourth
Of the command disabled by wounds
nearly twenty of whom we succeeded in
getting off with us, besides securing Six
Caissions and Two Limbers.
LIST OF KILLED.
j. A. Kagy, of Bristol, Gunner, 1st De-
tachment; WIN. Downey, of Cleveland,
Cannoneer, LIST Detachment; T. f. Chat
fee, of Orwell, Lead Driver, lst Detach-
ment; Robert McMillin, of A~ustinburg,
Ashtabula County.
LIST OF WOUNDED.
Capt. J. D. Burrows, of Geneva, in his
right arm; Serg't De Witt Ackley, of Mes
.opotamia, in leg; Serg't j. W. Francis, of
Nelson, in thigh; Serg't F. B. Pierce, of
Austinbuig. in shoulder-blade; Privates,
VIM. Lovall, of Pennington: in hip,
slightly; Vim. Rutan, of Champion, in
head, slightly; A. Peabody, of Greene, in
left breast; j. Hunter, of Niles, in hip,
seriously; Vim. Hewitt, of Nelson, in fright
thigh, slightly; ]. Prichards. of Hiram. in
left ankle, slightly; F. Harrington, of
Pdrkman, right wrist; Richard Taylor, of
Leroy, Lake Co., both arms; A. O. Shep-
herd, Perry, Lake Co., left foot; T. Blanch-
ard, Perry, Lake Co., left arm; S. Barber,
Leroy, Lake Co., head and hand; T.. Bow