Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-09-10


in collecting the scattering ranks. The sight
had become sorrowful, if not indeed disgrace
full Many officers implored their men and
with tears in their eyes to rally, crying out
' For Gods sake men don't run of this way.
Rally, men rally. The cavalry will stand by
you to the last, and fight with you" The
latter statement did not prove true. Icannot
say how many men were rallied for a second
stand, but think fully one-fourth of these
who were panic-striclIen made good their way
to town. and started thence for their homes
THE TWELFTH INDIANA TO TIE RESCUE.
Just as the stampede was at its height, the
Twelfth Indiana, which had been held back
as a reserve, came up the road on the double
quick with flying colors. The effect was ad-
mirable The scene infused vigor into many
desponding hearts. and caused hundreds of
men to halt on their afFrighted retreat The
Twelfth formed the nucus around which the
greater part Of the fleeing army rallied tor a
second stand. The stars and stripes never
looked more beautiful than upon the unsul-
lied banner of Indianas sons as it waved a
signal for another great effort to beat back the
foe to liberty and Union. The colorS of the
Twelfth were the only ones I could see upon
the second battle ground.
But, now for q second stand of 5000 citi-
zeus against $4,000 soldiers
THE SECOND STAND. .-
The rebels captured one piece of artillery
during the first engagement Of Saturday.
With this exception, I believe, all our. guns
were available for the second fight. Early
in the day, our artillery ammunition gave out
and this caused a partial cessation of hOstili-
ties on our side for a short time.
The ground selected by our men for this
second stand, was abeut half mile to the
Richmond side of the hospital and about a
mile from the first battle ground. 1t was
not the best position in the immediate neigh
borhood, but happening to be the point at
which the scattered troops were rallied, it
was chosen in preference to attempting an
other change and rislling another stampede.
It is difficult to say what the positions of
the different regiments engaged were The
men had been mustered into squads, compa-
MES and bsttalions, irrespective of regiment
al organizations, and assigned to positions
forming line of battle very much similar to
the first one. Every field officer on the
ground used his best exertions to encourage
the troops, implored them to stand and not
run away in wild disorder to be pursued and
shot down. The effect, for while, seemed
excellent The men stood unhinching up to
the calling fire of an overwhelming force.
The rebel artillery was reinforced fer the
second fight, and it seemed to be their deter
mination to annihilate our army rather than
to capture it. With fifteen pieces they kept
a continuous fire Of grape, shell and solid
shot upon our reduced ranks. Our undrilled
Indianians and Ohioans kept their lines IN
broken. At the expiration of half an hour
the firing ceased on both sides for nearly ten
minutes-from what cause did not learn.
Then commenced musketry fire, which
proved too much for our inexperienced men.
It lasted for about five minutes, and ended in
a second stampede. Our troops, while they
stood, loaded and fred with wonderful re-
pidity, considering their late initiation into
an art which their antagonists had been prac-
ticing for year and half While they fred
as often as the rebels, I do not believe they
did half as much execution as was done to
them. Unused to taking steady aim at
objects like those now before them, many Of
them became too much excited and too nerv-
Gus for craftsmanship and discharged their
guns at an angle of forty FIVE degrees-send-
ing the bullets harmlessly over the heads Of
their opponents. The rebels took deliberate
aim, fired low, and with telling effect.
The second stampede was commenced and
made. 1t was worse than the first one, and
the officers found it much more difficult to
rally the troops after it. Men took to the
woods, the roads and the corn fields, throw
ing away their guns and cartridge boxes
The rebels, again victorious, and frantic with
enthusiasm over their second triumph, seps-
rated into squads snd pursued the flying host,
with terrible effect.
The news soon spread through the army
and through the town of Richmond that
general retreat to the Kentucky river had
been ordered, and mingled groups of citizens
and soldiers soon thronged the Lexington
road, on the march beyond what must soon
be the Confederate lines. But it was mis-
take. No threat had been ordered; but Cen
erals Graft and Manson had determined to
make third effort to repel the enemy.
THIRD AND LAST STAND.
Consider the number of our forces in the
morning, the fact that they had been panic
stricken twice, and that they had already lost
upwards of 800 in killed and wounded, and
it will be apparent that the remnant was not
large enough to make a formidable stand.
But General Nelson had arrived from Lex
ington, and was determined that the day
should not be lost so early. He knew well
the result that waited him--indeed, as soon
as he heard that General Manson had brought
on an engagement with Kirby Smiths forces
he sent a courier to Richmond to order all
the baggage and supply trains 20 be sent this
side of the Kentucky river.
As the General approached the battle field,