Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-08

70 capture u in order 20 encourage them 20 make
stand and, If possible. induce them to pene
trate the country still further from their base In
tins they we're partially successful, for although
zen Manson did not pursue the retFeatng foe.
ne ordered his brigade 10 pass the night where
they we're, on their arms.
THK FIGHT NEAR RoeERsvILLE
Early the next morning our scouts reported
the enemy advancing in force toward Rogers
VILE Our pickets were soon after driven in,
and about half past Z o'clock furious cannon
aiding ensued, which continued for more than an
hour. Like everybody else, could not think il
possible the rebels were moving upon us with a
very heavy force and a. heard the first
discharge Of artillery. | FASTENED to the field.
Louder and faster grew the reports as | nelred
scene Of action. | could clearly distinguish the
sharp, crashing thunder of our RoJman guns
from that produced BY the enemy's pieces. and
was well satisfied that our artileTists were doing
their duty.
The 10th Indiana, from General Cruft's brig
ade, which was composed of the 18th and 10th
Indiana, 10Th Ohio. and 18th Kentucky. had al
ready advanced toward the scene of actIoa, while
the o9th Indiana occupied the extreme right. 1t
was now evident that general engagement must
eDsue, and the 18th Ohio and 18th Kentucky were
also ordered up. leaving the 18th Indiana as
reserve The 95th Ohio. headed by its gallant
the road 10 the inspIriting sound of tie drum and
fife, but few men dropping out of the ranks, not
outstanding the oppressive heat The 18th Ken
lucky soon after followed. its fine brass band
playing Yankee Doodle" and as soon as posi-
bic both regiments were in line of battle
The 95th Ohio was posted near the centre, aud
before the men had time TO catch their breaths
alter their fatigung march, they were ordered TO
charge battery, well supported by infantry, on
the enemy's lett. For regiment. who were
smelling gun power for the first time, this was
asking good deal. but il could not be helped.
All the regiments were raw; il was deemed nee
essary to silence the battery; and it was no bar
der that one should do it than another The brave
fellows prepared to execute the command, but
when within short distance of the laundering
guns, they we're met by murderous cross lire,
which cut them w badly. and caused considera-
BILE confusion IN their ranks. lie now nppa
rent that the enemy ieariuly outnumbered Us, as
usual and the J5th ordered To tall back.
which they did in not very good order, while the
66th Indiana into whose lines they fell, acted
upon the example set them.
The enemy had now fairly fianked both our
wings, and pouring into our i'll fated fellows
shower of bullets from three sides In all my
experience, have never heard anything like the
firing on our left II was also heavy on the cen
tire and right, but the principal fighting seemed to
be on the left, where the 10Th and list Indiana
and 18th Kentucky were stationed
The musketry was sharp, quick. rafting, crash
ing, almost deaiening, surprising anything Lad
ever conceived in the way of infantry firing To
add to the horror of The scene, the wounded were
now pouring in rapidly, covering the floors of
Mr.. Rogers dwelling and the smooth lawn in
its front. One poor fellow had been shot TIN GU IN
the head, and Was just breathing his last An
other most shockingly disfig ured in the face.
Another had lost his good right hand, and was
nursing the bloody stump Another-but why
dwell upon these sickenng details? They are
the same in every battle
About nine o'clock, a number of mounted
civilians, who had ridden out to see the fight,
took the alarm, and turning their hor,es heads
IN the direction of tcwn. galoped back the top
of their speed The drivers of ambuanceS, too,
caught the infection, and could not he persua led
to return to- the field. To add to the confn- ION,
our artillery, now out of ammunition, had 10 he
withdrawn to prevent its falling into the hands OF
tire enemy. his seemed To destroy what little
confidence remained. aud in few minutes the
scene wore very much the appearance of a STAN
pede. number of our men were seen hyins
across the fields, and moment after, the rebels
rending the air with loud cheers were swarmne
about the woods aud coruGeids which skiried the
road on both sides.
Ii was mystery to me then why the enemy
did not ut once push aud take advantage OF
all later in the day
At this juncture | had about made up nv mind
to remain at the hospital and render Dr. Chitten
den what assistance -vgnld, although greatly
disnclined to fall into the enemys hands Find
ing. however that the enemy did not pursue as
had anticipated. concluded to move back toward
town Before had proceeded a hundred wards
the bullets were whistling around my head in the
most uncomfortable manner, and must say that
for the moment | heartily wished myself back
The firing after ceased, and was not long
IN finding place of greater security.
THE FIGHT AT MooRE's FARM
During the battle near Rogersville, our caval
rv, about 500 strong. was drawn up in line the
farm OF Mr.. Moore, about a mile north of the
of the first conflict Although there was
no fight IN them. and the wonder is they did moi
fly. as usual, 1T the first alarm. they made them
selves very useful in rallying straggiers. and
panic stricken men, and by Their conduct enabled
Gen MlnSon, the senior officer on the field, to
make another stand.
At this critical moment the 18th Indiana
which had been ordered up. came along on the
double quick, aud materially assisted in prevent
ing general rOut. ] shall never forget the ii. hi
of that gallant body of men. rushing by at a
right shoulder shift their new Springfield riie-
shmmerng IN the rays OF a sutry August sun
Msny ct them were driving to a swift deStruc
uOh, anu lAeN Knew IL, Dut tley never mated
once. nor slackenel their speed till they arriy ed
on the ground.
BY this time the other regiments had fallen
back to the rev position. and were rapidly re
formed in excellent order \ fresh supply OF
ammunition had arrived for the artillery, aud ey
erything was in readiness for Il second engage
nent, which was not long DELAYED.
At the battle near Rogcrsyille. | have neglect
ed to say, the enemy fought Us with brigade OF
Tennessee troops. These were now wIhdra VII,
and Texas brigade was placed in font This
light WAS very similar TO the first beginning with
artillery, and ending with close infantry firing
resulting, near noon. in the gradual repu>e Oi
our men. They were again fianked and outnum-
bered, and although they fought splendidly they
could not maintain their ground against the fresh
and well-selsoned troops with whom they were
contending. Exhausted by their efforts and al
most furnished for water, they reluctantly Welded
their ground and fell back to "A new paint dapDu
-near the cemetery. about mile beyond Rich
mOnd
The rebels did not pursue, much to the sur
prise of our men, bat remained under shelter a.
they had done the close OF tie first fight Had
they dashed forward. II would have been impos
sble 10 re form our shattered column: but this
was not their policy. They were playing deep
er game, will be SEEN and really desired tC
proiong the fight till as late an hour I'm the da