The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-09-19
EVANSVILLE, IND. FRIDAY MORNING,

point lndlcateQ, was exposed 10 a neaFy
fire from the enemy. | regret to state
that Major Conklin of the list Indiana
was killed while moving to the support
of the 10th, and bravely cheering on his
men; and that very shortly afterward,
Lieutenant-Colonel Topping fell from
his horse mortally wounded while encour-
aging the men of his command.
The rebels seemed determined to turn
my left flank, and | was compelled to
, transfer seven companies of the 69th
regiment from the right to the left,
where, together with the list, they faced
the enemy and fought bravely
In the meantime Gen. Cruft arrived on
the field with two sections of artillery,
and the 95th Ohio regiment in advance.
| directed him to place this regiment on
the ground that had been occupied by
the 69th, to support the three companies
of skirmishers now warmly engaged
and to charge upon battery that the en-
emy was then endeavoring to plant upon
an eminence only short distance to the
front and right
In attempting to take this position they
were exposed to a severe fire, which threw
them into confusion The enemy press
ed forward with heavy force, driving
all the troops upon the right before them.
At the same time we were entirely out
fanked upon the left, and the enemy
having gained the cover of large corn
field and the woods, made descent upon
the left wing, which gave way and re-
treated in great disorder. Up to this
time had maintained my first position
for three hours and forty minutes, during
all of which time the artillery, under
command of Lieut.. Lampier, had kept up
{. constant fire, except for very short
time, when the ammunition had become
exhausted, and before they had received
a supply. The 55th Indiana, Col Mahan;
the 10th Indiana, Col Lucas; the 69th
Indiana, Lieut. Col. Korff, and the list
Indiana, Lieut. Col Topping, occupied
prominent and exposed positions from
the commencement of the engagement
and contended against the enemy with a
determination and bravery worthy of old
soldiers. The three remaining regiments
of Gen, Cruft's brigade arrived just at
the time when our troops were on full
retreat and the rout had become general,
the Eighteenth Kentucky being in ad-
vance, under command of Colonel War
ner. This regiment was Immediately
deployed into line, and made despe-
rate effort to check the advancing enc
my, and contended with him, single
handed and alone for twenty minutes,
when, after severe loss, they were COM
1 PEELED to give way before Overwhelming
numbers, The Twelfth and Sixty-sixth
Indiana regiments, not having arrived in
time to take part in the first battle, re-
tired in good order and were formed in
line of battle on high position near
ROdgersvllle, about mile in the rear OF
the first battlefield. Taking these two
regiments as nucleus, | rallied the re-
mainder of the division, but saw at once
that it would not do to fight upon that
ground deployed the cavalry of Coils.
Metcalfe and Munday upon the high
ground in front of the Infantry, placed
one piece of artillery in the road, direct
ing the fire toward the enemy, who were
forming line of battle near Rodger's
house,. then gave orders to the infan-
try to face by the rear rank, and move
to the rear in line of battle They moved
in this manner about three quarters of a
mile, halted and about-faced Ihad now
arrived on the ground which / had oc-
cupied in the skirmish with the enemy the
evening before, and here ordered Gen.
Cruft to move off with his brigade to the
i right and take position on elevated
ground, putting two regiments in the
woods on tie extreme right, and two be-
hind the fence, fronting a field of corn
and to throw skirmishers forward into the
corn-feld and woods. The first brigade
| formed bekind fences on the left of the
road. The artillery was placed on the
right and left, on the same ground occu-
pied the previous afternoon. | now sig
nailed the cavalry and artillery, which
had been left on the ridge in front, and
which, until now, had held the enemy in
check, and they retired rapidly and tool
their proper position in the new line
The enemy noao began advancing an grea
force, through the open fields, an line o.
battle, and okile they acre thus ad
Uancifg, a courier rode upon the field
and deticered TO me your order, dated a.
Lexington, August 80, directing me Il
retire by the Lancaster road If the enc
my should ddcance IN force II acas then
l22 clock, p. NJ, and in less than fr,
minutes from the time receiced youl
order the battle RACED aOith great fierce
ness along my sohoLe line. The enemy
right soon gave way under the fire from
the artillery on our left, and his wholt
attention was then turned to our right
upon which a vigorous assault was made
, by infantry advancing through the woods
and open fields They were met in tn,
most gallant manner by General Cruft',
brigade. The 18th Indiana and 1Stl
Kentucky regiments being placed in the
| woods contended with fearful odds, bu
repulsed the rebels several differen
: times At this point the gallant Colone
Warner of the 18th Kentucky, was dan
gerously wounded. The Goth Indian:
and the 95th Ohio regiments held thei
] positions and drove the enemy back
short distance. The enemy soon rallie,
[ and again attacked our right wing, which
alter a terrific engagement, lasting owe
one hour, was compelled to fall back, an,
i retreated in confusion.
| was then forced to order the left win.
to fall back, which they did in tolerablI
good order, the enemy crowding close up
: ON them. On arriving at my camp
! made another effort to rally and reform
the troops, and had only partially sue
: ceeded when / heard you was on tn,
I / 7