The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-02-25


only see here and there part of the rebels
works, but could form no idea of their
range or extent. l sent forward, as direct
ed, the Hank companies, A and B, Captains
SaltZman and Rheinlander, to deplov "a
skirmishers, which they did most admira-
bly,, and the Regiment moved forward on
the charge. Our flank companies, as they
advanced, found the enemy's works ex-
tended far to our left, and they very properly
moved to the left, and took position on
hill, where they did valuable Service by
preventing a FIRE on our flank from the
enemy's rife pits, and in keeping silent
six-pound field piece that was brought to
bear on us from that direction. At the foot
of the hill the enemy poured on us terri
BILE fire of musketry, grape and canister,
with few shells. The rebel breastwerks
were now in plain view on the top of The
hill. The heavy timber on the Hill 81 II
had been felled, proving dense mass of
brush and logs. Through and over these
obstacles our men advanced against the ca
emyis fire with perfect GOODNESS and steadi-
ness, never hating for q moment until they
received your order. After halt of few
moments they again advanced within a
short distance of the enemy's bFeaatworks,
where the fire from a six-ponnd field piece
and underground howitzer on our right,
was so destructive that it became necessary
to halt and direct The men to lie down to
save US from very heavy loss.
After remaining under a very heavy FIRE
for two hours and fifteen minutes, with no
opportunity to return the FIRE to advantage,
the enemy being almost entirely hid, and
seeing no movement Indicating a further
advance from any part of the line, / asked
your permission to Withdraw my regiment
IN cava from. hooxrYy Ioor r,st,a-, -
do no good. In retiring, owing to the ma
ture of the ground and our exposed posi-
ton, the men were thrown f4to slight con-
fusion, but they rallied promptly at the foot
of the hill, and remained in that position
until night, when we moved back, as di-
rected by you, to the ground we occupied
in the morning. We lost in this action
fourteen killed and sixty-one wounded.
= On the l4th, considerable firing was kept
up between our skirmishers and the enemy s
sharpshooters, but nothing of Importance
occurred. a
On the 18th, at 2 o'clock P. NJ, we formed
a line of battle, and sent forward Company
B, Capt Rheinlander, to deploy as Skin
mishers, and advance in front of the regi-
ment. This order he executed promptly,
and moved his company forward at double
quick. few moments after, the order
came to me TO move my regiment by the
left flank, and follow to support the SD In
diana and Cd Iowa regiments. This move
ment left Capt. Rheinlander without SUM-
port, but he advanced boldly to the enemy's
rifle pits, to the right of the point where
they were being attacked by the Iowa "a,
and drove back the enemy, and was among
the first, if not the gerry first, of our forces
that mounted the breastworks 81 8
We moved by the left flank to the creek
bottom on our left, and beyond some old
houses, where the left halted, and the right
was brought forward and we advanced in
line OF battleup the hin, on the run, and
entered the enemys works at the point
where they had been taken by the I'D Iowa.
We pushed forward across the field in the
direction of the heaviest firing, until we
reached the bottom of a deep hollow Here
we halted to form our line, which was
somewhat broken in advancing, and pre-
pared to move forward, but seeing the forces
in front of us slowly retiriag, we remained
IN line to cover them, and when they had
all passed by us w. marched back in rood
order to the breast works, which we held
during the night. Our loss in this action
was forty wounded-many of them Sc
verely.
cannot bestow too high praise on the
conduct of the officers, in both of these ae-
tons. To Lieut.. Col. Morgan and Major
Foster am much indebted for the fearless
and energetic manner in which they dis
charged their duties. Their conduct is
worthy of the highest commendation. Ad-
juiant Walker and Sergeant Major Jones
were brave, prompt, and faithful and were
ever ready to carry orders in the thiekest of
the fight. Capt. Laird, of Co. K, was Sc
verely wounded in the leg, on the 18th,
while leading his company to the Charge
He refused to leave the field, and when at
last he was compelled to leave, he eheered
his men when he retired. Captains Saliz-
man and Rheinlander, commanding the
flank companies, rendered very valuable
service, and were often placed in exposed
positions.
The other Captains and Lieutenants, al
most without exception, displayed great
courage and energy, and are worthy of the
highest praise. | could not mention one
without naming all. The Regimental Band
and Chaplain were actively engaged in re-
moving the wounded from the field, aud
providing for their wants at the hospital.
The conduct of the Surgeon and Assistant
Surgeon is esteemed worthy of especial |
mention. Assistant Surgeon Arthur White |
devoted himself to relieving the wants of I
the wounded and suffering at the hospital, /
while the Principal Surgeon, DIR. John 7. !
Walker, followed the regiment to the field |
and received the wounded as they fell in |
the fight. It was the first time that our
men had ever been exposed to the fire, and |
they stood it with the firmness of veterans.
Many instances OF personal courage and
good conduct of non-commissioned officers
and men occurred, but so numerous were
they that it would be difficult to point out
particular cases. The conduct of the vari-
Gus companies was uniformly good and
worthy of the highest praise. The loss ON
----~=- hi e 1(}}tf
first day. : O'i elie
Enclosed | send you list of the killed
and wounded.
l am respectfully your ob't sery't
JAMES G. VEATCH
Col. 25th Regt Ind. Vol. +