The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-03-15


pickets and our own was kept up during
the night The spirits of the men, ami.
mated and encouraged dy the conduct of
their officers, never tagged notwithstand-
! ing they were without tents or fire and
were opposed to the storm and assailed by
! the enemy's shot
During the night it was evident that the
enemy were receiving large reinforcemeuts,
and when morning broke Oh the 18th it
showed that they had been busy during
| the nisth i'll erecting new works in COM
J handing positions and mounting them
/ with guns. McAllisters battery was or
dered from the other side of the valley
and put into position on the road Du-
ring this day my brigade occupied a posi-
ton n little in the rear of the road and
under cover Of the hill; the right resting
on the left of Col Oglesbys line, and
being within three or four hundred yards
of the salient angle of the enemys works
on his left. We lay in this position most
of the day, the order Of the reglrnents from
right tie left being as follows: llth, Doth,
18th, 18th, 49th and 18th. TayIor's Bat.
| terry was posted at the intervals between
the l7th and 10Th; McAllistel guns were
distributed along the point; Dickey' S
/ Cavalry were in the rear and on the flank.
| Undcrinstructions from Gen McClernand,
i to commence the construction of a small
earth work on the road to cover three or
four guns. Mr. Frecellion, ofthe 18th, had
charge Of the work. which was completed
| during the night and two of McAllisters
:. guns and q 10 pound rihed gun of the lst
1 Missouri! Artillery were placed on it the
next morning During the whole of the
l4th rambling and irregular fire Of sharp
shooters was kept up, varied by occasional
discharges of artillery. The enemy shells
and round shot fell at time thickly within
the lines, bat the casualties were few
At day break on the morning of the 18th,
the enemy threw heavy force of Infantry
and cavalry supported by field artillery
and his batteries within the work, out of
his intrenchments, and commenced a Wig
orous assault on the right of the whole
/ line
The attack was commenced and con
! tinued with great spirit aud gradually
/ drove back our extreme right About
seven clock A. NJ, the llth and Goth
! Illinois, on my right, became engaged
with a heavy force OF the enemy's infantry.
They charged up the hill and gained the
road in front of my position, but the
moment the rebel flag appeared above the
hill, 4 storm OF shot from the lth and
2Jlh drove them back in confusion Again
a new and fresh line of infantry appeared.
aud ordered the whole line. except the
ilth ANA the left wing of the 18th, to
advance and occupy the hill, where they
were exposed, uncovered, not only to the
fire Of the euemys infantry, but Ia a rak-
ing OF the enemy batteries of artillery
across the valley They opened their fire.
supported by Taylor Battery and two of
McAl!ister guns, Zone having been dis
abied by shot from the enemy cannon J
and for some time the conflict was strong
aud fierce But at length the strong
masses of the enemys infantry gave way
before the steady, well directed and con-
tinucd fire OF the right of my line They
fell back, however, only to give plaza 10
another line Of fresh troops who advanced
to ;he support. and who were also com
PEELED by the -tendy, unAnching yalor OF
our men 20 give way.
Ia the meantime there were indications
that the enemy were gaining some advan-
ta.e on the right OF the whole line
EeIufuTcsmentS. consisting Of Kentucky
and Indiana troops had been sent forward
past ny position to support the right but
notwithstanding this II became evident 10
me from the sounds coming from the
direction Of the caemv shot. which began
To rake my line from the rear of my ri .ln
that the right Of The line was giving way
My orders being peremptory to mold that
position OF the lane occupied by nay brigade
to the last extremity. ! sent one OF my
aids to Gen. McC!eruand With information
( of the state OF affairs and 10 express my
I fears that my right flank would be
! completely turned unless endorsements
should be sent to that quarter Fiudine
/ that nc reinforcemeuts Were within reach,
and Gen McClernand having lett me TO
my discretion if found nv position unite
( nable. and seeing that the enemy steadily
/ advanced on my right flank and was
/ speedily gaining my rear. many of the
/ corps having exhausted their ammunition
gave orders TO move the whole brigade
to the rear up the road, with view of
forming a new line Of battle Before this
ORDER was given all our troops on the right
of INV brigade had fallen back except the
/ 3st Illinois. Col. John a Logan. who
occupied the left OF Col. Osle,by's brigade
/ immediately adjoining the 3lst, and or
[ the right oil my line, was the llth Illinois.
/ Lieut. Col. L T. G. Ransom com.nauing
J When the order to retire was given. it
failed to reach Lieut. Col. Ransom, who,
with the 18th regiment, was CALAMITY
supporting the 3lst against fierce on
slaught on their right Rapidly as the
gaps We're opened in the ranks of the
, enemy. they were "a promptly closed to
! Che right and the shortway point alone
| showed the destructiveness of that fire.
Soon the 3ist. their ammunition having
| failed, retired and the 1lth took their
! place, changing front to the rear under
/ a most CALLING fire with all the GOODNESS
I and precision Of veterans.
In tie meantime the order to retire was
being executed in good order BY the other
/ regiments of the brigade. The character
of the ground rendered it impossible for
| me 10 see the whole line at once. When
/ the ith changed their ont they were
exposed to "a fire in front and on both
| fiauks, and the enemys cavalry charging
upon their flank, they were thrown into
some confusion and retired, but steadily
and i'll comparatively good order. After
/ falling back some half a mile, | halted
the brigade, and as rapidly as possible
procured supply Of ammunition and
| formed second line Of battle At this
point Colonel Ross, of the 10Th Illinois,
arrived on the field and tool. command of
| the 18th and 18th regiments, and we were
reinforced By some troops of Gen Lew.
Wallace's division, and with their aid and
the assistance of Taylor's Battery and
some pieces of Dressers and Willard 5
Batteries, the advance of the enemy was
checked, and he was driven within his
entertainments, leaving a large number Of
his dead an wounded on the field.
At night my brigade was Withdrawn to
a hill between the valleys, so as to be
within easy supporting dis,ance'o of either
wing, where rested until morning With
the morning of the 10th came the news
Lit IL. L., n M