The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-29


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 |
movement was now diagonal to the direc- |
ton originally started on, though the order |
was still in echelon, with the center of each |
regiment of each brigade dropped behind
its place in line as a reserve. While thus
advancing, Col. Whittlesey, as appears from
his report in some way lost his position,
but soon recovered it.
The position of the enemy was now di-
rectly in front, at the edge of the woods,
fronting, and on the right of the open field
my command was so gallantly crossing
The ground to be passed getting at them
dipped gradually to the center of the field,
which is there intersected by small run,
well fringed with willows. Clearing an
abrupt bank beyond the branch, the surface
ascends to the edge OF. the woods held by the
enemy, and is without obstruction, but
marked by frequent swells that affored pro-
lection to the advancing lines, and was the
secret-of my small loss. Over the branch,
| up the bank, across the rising ground,
moved the steady First Brigade; on its
right, with equal alacrity, marched theSec-
| ond, the whole in view, their banners gaily
| decking the scene. The skirmishers in ac-
| ton all the way cleared Che rise and group
| ed themselves behind tae ground swells,
within IS yards of the rebel lines as the
regiments approached, them, suddenly sheet
| of musketry blazed from the woods, and
battery opened upon them. About the
same instant the right of Sherman's Divis-
ion fell hastily back. To save nay flank, 1
was compelled to order halt. In a short
| bo
covered his lost ground. My skirmishers,
meanwhile, chung to their hillocks, sharp
shooting at the battery. Again the brigadeJ
advanced, their bayenets fixed for charge,
but pressed 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. Gerber was killed,
and il is but justice to say of him, no man
-died that day with more glory, yet many
died and there was much glory" Capt.
McGrifhiu and Lieut.. Southwick, OF the
same regiment, also fell-gallant spirits, de-
serving honorable recollection Many SOL
diers, equally brave, persisted, or were
wounded in the same field.
1t was now noon, and the enemy having
fallen so far back, the idea of fankiug them
further had to be given up. Not wishing
to interfere with Gen. Shermans line Of
operations, but relying upon him to sup
port me on the left my front was again
changed, the movement beginning with the
first Brigade taking the course of attack
precisely as it had been in the outset
While the maneuver was being effected, a
squadron of rebel cavalry gsllsped from
the woods on the right to charge the flank
temporarily exposed. Col. Thayer threw
forward the 22d Indiana, which, aided by
an oblique fire from company of the LIST
Nebraska, repealed the assailants with loss.
Scarcely had the front been changed,
when the supporting force on the left again
gave way, closely followed by masses of
the enemy. My position this time became
critical, as isolation from the rest of the
army seemed imminent. The reserves were
resorted to; Colonel woods, with his regi-
ment, was ordered into line on the left
The remnant of Michigan regiment sent
me by Gen McClernand, was dispatched to
the lett OF Woods. Thurber galloped up
and was posted to cover a retreat, should
such misfortune become necessary. Be-
fore these dispositions could be effected, the
18th Indiana already engaged with supe-
rior numbers in its front, was attacked on
its left flank, but backward wheeling three
companies Of his endangered wing, Colonel
McGinnis CALAMITY held his ground. For
tunately before the enemy could avail them
selves of their advantage by the necessary
change of front, some fresh troops dashed
against them, and once more drove them
back. For this favor my Acknowledgements
are especially due to Col. August Which
and his famous regiment.
: Pending this struggle, Colonel Thayer
pushed on his command and entered the
woods, assaulting the rebels simultaneously
with Col. Smith. Here the 58th Ohio and
; AID Indiana proved themselves fit com
rades in battle, with the noble lst Nebsas-
ka. Here also the 10th Ohio won a bril-
liant fame. The 1st Nebraska fred away
its last cartridge. In the heat of the action,
at word, the 18th Ohio rushed in and
took its place. Of to the right, mean
while, arose the music of the goth and 18th
; Ohio, fighting CALAMITY in support of Thur
Der, to whom the sound of rebel cannon
seemed challenge-no sooner heard than
accepted.
From the time the wood was entered,
forward " was the only order, and step by
step, from tree to tree, position to position,
the rebel lines went back, never stopping
| again-infantry, horses, and artillery-all
} went back. The firing was grand and ter
rible. Before US was the Crescent Regi-
ment, of New Orleans; Smelling US on the
f right twas the Washington Artillery, of
Manassas renown, whose last stand was in
front of Col. Whittlesey's command. To
and fro, now in my front, then in Sher-
mans, rode Gen. Beauregard, melting his
troops and fighting for his fading prestige
Of invincibility. The desperation of the
struggle may be easily imagined. While
this was in progress, far along tbs lines 10
however, the enemy seemed retiring every,
where. Cheer after cheer rang throuSh
the woods, and each man felt the day was
ours.
About 4 o'clock the enemy to my front
broke into rout and ran through the camps
occupied by General Sherman on Sunday
morning. Their own camp had been esta5.
lished about two miles beyond. There.
without hating, they fred tents, stores
&c. Throwing out the wounded, thew
piled their wagons full of arms (Springfeld
muskets and Enfield rifes) ingloriousIy
thrown away by some of our troops the
day before, and hurried on. After follow
ing them until nightfaII. | brouobt NV Al