Nebraska advertiser., 1862-05-29

HEADoUARTERs SECOND BaIeADE'
Army IN FIELD,
PlrrsRuRe, Aprll DO, 81.

&AAm ~ $500
PIrrsBURe, April 10, 1862. }
CAprA1S:- have the honor 10 sub
mil herewith a report Of the part taken
by The Second Brigade at the battle Of
Pittsburg:
Early on Sunday morning, the 9Th inst,
hearing at my camp at Stony Lonesome
heavy c~annonading in the direction OF
Pillsburg. I Immediately caused my com
mand to be put in a state of preparation
10 march at a moments notice, and anx
Iously awaited orders. Soon Major Gen
eral Wallace and staff rode up, and be
gave me the desired command to move tc
the scene of action. At twelve O'Clock
the brigade was in the line Of march, the
Sixty Eighth Ohio, Colonel Speerman
being directed by me 10 remain at TIA
point, in conjunction with Colonel Kin
ney's Ohio regiment, for the purpose Of
preventing an approach Of the enemy by
the Adamsville road. We arrived upon
the field at Pittsburg at dark, and throw
Ing GU; 6 strong force Of piekets in front
of our line, we bivouscked In order Of
battle, the troops lying down with their
arms ia their hands. During the night a
severe thunder storm came on. Those
who slept awoke to find themselves in q
drenching rain. but they bore their hard
ships with fortitude and che~erfulness.-
Captain Noah Thompson Of the Ninth
Battery Of Indiana Light Artillery, hav-
ing come up in the night and placed his
battery in position IN the open field in
front. At daylight on the morning of the
9TH, | moved the First Nebraska, Lieut..
Col. McCord, forward, so that its left
rested on the battery. | then placed the
i Tweniy-third Indiana, Col. W.. L. San
derson, on the right of the First Nebras-
ka, having the Fifty-eighth Ohio, Col.
Bausenweln, Immediately 10 the rear of
the two. While in this position Thomp-
sons battery opened fire upon a battery
of the enemy, discovered upon the hill,
directly in front. Having siIenced it, /
received orders from Gen. Wallace in
person to advance. I did so, across the
deep rayine and up the steep decIivity
where the rebel guns had been planted
keeping Capt. Banner and his company
of the First Nebraska, as skirmishers in
advance, which movement was executed
in good order. Here the General d.
Fected a charge in front of his division,
which was executed by a left wheel OF
the whole line. Advancing in line a
short distance, we were soon under a
heavy fire of the enemy's guns, both ar
tillery and infantry. Moving forward,
we emerged from the timber into a small
cleared field, where, Capt. Thompson
having moved forward also, planted his
battery. / then moved the brigade by
the right flank nearly half a mile into the
timber again for the purpose Of extending
our line to the right, and then forward to
the brow Of a steep hill, where we re-
manned some ihree-quarters of an hour,
when The enemy's battery was again ST.
lelenced. The order then came from
Gen. Wallace 70 move forward. We did
so, and emerged from the timber into a
large open field. Moving my Brigade
onward in a full line of battle, reserving
our fire, we crossed a deep ravine and
passed up on to the ridge beyond, under a
terrible fire of musketry and artillery
from the rebels. Arriving ON the brow
of the ridge, | gave the order to open on
them, which was promtly done. Our FIRE
told with fatal effect, for they immedi-
ately fell back.
a few moments previous to this OBJ
serving 4 body of the rebel cavalry ad-
Vancing In the outskirts of the timber on
my extreme right, evidently with the in
tention of fanking us, | directed Colonel
Sangerson, of the Twenty-ihird Indiana,
to move by the right flank some twenty
rods, SO as to bring his regiment directly
10 front of them, and to drive them back
"a movement which he promptly and
successfully accomplished. Ongetting in
front of them the cavalry discharged their
carbines. The Twenty-third Indiana i'm
mediately returned the fire, and under
the lead of their Colonel, then pressed
forward, and the right flank company of
the irSt Nebraska, Capt. Banner, also
giving them a right oblique fire, when the
rebels at once fed in confusion. Still
fearing a flank movement of the enemy,
and observing Col. Whittlesey coming up
with two regiments, / at once rode TO him
and requested of him to move the right as
rapidly as possible, which he readily did.
The action now become general along
the line. / again gave the order For
war, , and the line advanced as regular,
9with a front as unbroken as upon the
parade ground, the First Nebraska, Lieut..
COZ McCord, moving up directly in front
of the enemy's battery. Advancing about
twenty rods, and finding the enemy had
made another stand, l ordered a halt, and
directed another fire upon them, which
continued some fifteen minutes. when dis
covering the enemy again r~eceeding, we
pushed on nearly half a mile, halting as
we assembled the brow Of each hill (the
grounds being composed of hills and val
Ieys) and giving them another volley, and
hen moving forward again. Perceiving
the enemy's battery again in position.
supported by heavy bodies Of infantry,
another halt was ordered, and another
fire opened upon them, which became
continuous along the whole line.
The battle now ragged with unabated
fury for nearly two hours. The enemy's
battery was exceedingly well served, ii
having obtained excellent range. l had
no artillery to oppose 10 it, bat the fire Of
our infantry was terrific and incessan;,