The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-22
Col. s,onenry,s Report.
CAMP PITTsBURG, TENN.

nduo our front lines Ele enemy
Owing to the small number of men pres
ent with the regiment the large number o
sick, and those detailed on special duty. nl
regiment numbered in line on the morning
of the 9th, officers and men,, only $50. Be
ing on the left of the brigade we were
| posted about one mile IN front of our camp
near the right of an open field, which wa!
Immediately ia rear of a portion of the
| camp of General Prentiss, which was al
that time occupied by the enemy.
In short time after taking our position
the enemy opened heavy FIRE of artillery
| upon US, which proved to be fire for the
purpose Of covering a rapid movement oil
their troops across the field diagonally on
our left. They were moving across for the
purpose of thanking our left. They soon,
numbering about two small regiments and
| moving in close column, doubled on the
centre at a double quick. My regiment
opened fire upon them obliquely and drove
the column back with tremendous loss
About the same time we were attacked by
crossfre of artillery and musketry from
our front and right, andwere CALAMITY sus-
tanned in our stand by one effective piece
of artillery under command of Lieut.. Ed
wards, Of the--Aissouri battery.
The enemy, unable to drive US from our
position, withdrew and moved behind the
field to our left, which movement was
counteracted by an admirable order of our
commanding officer moving cur brigade
some 500 or 600 yards to the left. The 3ist
Indiana, held as a reserve to the brigade i'm
mediately in rear and 10 the left of my reg
iment, was moved to the brink of a hill
and sustained destructive contest with a
large force Of the enemy for two hours
&;
that time, we maintaining our ground and
resisting every attack and attempt of the
enemy to repulse US. Many ofmy men fell
killed and wounded, and the gallant Capt.
Morton, of company A, received at this
place fatal wound whilst he was in front
of his company setting them a daring ex-
ample, which he was ever ready to mani
fest in the presence of the enemy. We had
been constantly engaged for FIVE hours
All the ammunition in the cartridge boxes of
my men was exhausted to the second round.
The enemy made renewed attack upon
our whole line, which was met with de-
termined resistance on the part of our
troops at this place. We were ordered to
draw back, and did SO, under your eye,
slowly, and without confusion.
My regiment was again ordered into line
in rear of heavy and light artillery, which
opened fire upon the enemy severely and
Unexpectedly, and was kept up increasingly
until night closed the struggle of the day,
in which your whole brigade had acted
conspicuous and gallant part.
We were moved to the front Of their line
of artillery above alluded to and bivouacked
during the night in the rain, weary and
worn, and without food or protection from
the heavy rain that fell upon US. Without
- IL IL 7
that my regiment in killed, wounded, sick,
and disabled had been reduced to less than
half of the small number of men who had
occupied the ranks on the day and night of
the 9Th. About ten o'clock en- the 7th we
were led near the extreme right of our
forces and participated in a desperate charge
of our column upon the enemy, which re-
suited in driving them back, and gave the
victory, glorious and dearly bought, once
more to the beloved flag of our country.
During the terrible fire to which my regi-
ment, together with your remnant of a
brigade, was repeatedly subjected to on the
7th, we were in close proximity to the 44th
Indiana regiment, Colonel II. B. Reed COM
manding, and | cannot refrain from ex-
pressing my admiration of the gallant con-
duct of that regiment, and the bravery,
GOODNESS, daring, and judgment of its brave
commander.
Lieutenant-ColoneIS Stout, on account of
an extremely painful, but not dangerous
wound in the arm, received in the gallant
devotion to his duty on the 9th, at my
urgent request, did not go with the regi-
ment on the second day.
Major Isaac Calhoun was, during both of
these two eventful days, to be found at all
times where his duty called him, fearless
and bold, in the discharge of it. Both of
these officers horses, as well as my own,
were wounded by musket balls from the
enemy on the 9th.
Capt. Robert Vaughan, Company I, after
having fought bravely during the whole
day, was severely wounded on the evening
of the 9th.
Captain Davidson, Company B, behaved
with his usual GOODNESS and courage, with
his excellent Lieutenant, Byers, executing
all orders upon the field with zeal and de-
votion to the cause.
Lieut.. Keith, in command of Co. G, Ser
geant Ludum, Co. b, Lieut.. Brown of Co.
K, Captain Beckham, Co. G, Capt. Hudson,
Go. D. Lieuts Campbell and Bratcher, Fer
guson, Little, Heston and Adjutant Star
ling were to be found constantly at their
posts on the 9th, with their respective COM
mands, cheering, encouraging and sustain
ing the gallant soldiers of the Seventeenth
Kentucky Regiment-who now mourn the
loss in killed and wounded out of their re-
duced ranks of IS of their comrades.
/ hope it may not be considered in-
proper, in the conclusion of my report, to
express our admiration and return our
heartfelt thanks to the Brigadier Generals
commanding our brigade and division for
the noble example they set to US, for their
GOODNESS, courage, manly heroism, and gen
eralship exhibited before us at every mo-
ment throughout those two eventful days.
Very respectfully,
JOHN Il. MCHENRY,
Colonel 18th Regiment Kentucky Volun-
teers 81 Brigade, 4th Division.
To Brig. General J. G. LAUMAN, Command
ing Sd Brigade.