The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-21
oPR1C1AI REPORT OF COL. M'G1xN1s.

HEADQUARTERS 18th IND. REG
Pittsburg, Tenn, April 10, 1862.
Col. IT. Z. Smith, Commanding First Brig
Gds, THIRD Dictsion:
SIN: have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing report of the part taken by the
Eleventh in the battle Of the 7th instant at
this place:
At 81 o'clock A. NJ. / received an order
from you to form our regiment in line of
battle on the left of Thompson's eth Indiana
battery, for the purpose of supporting it,
Your order was Immediately executed, aRd
skirrnishers deployed in advance of our
line. We occupied this position for about
one hour, when we were ordered to advance
and take a position half mile to the front,
on hill, and within Eve hundred yards Of
rebel battery. Our position at this point
was at the right of Thompson's battery.
This position was occupied by US, under q
heavy FIRE from the cnemy's guns, for two
hours, when the rebels changed the posi-
ton Of their battery some distance to the
rear, and we were again ordered to advance
q short distance in the rear of the gath In
diana, and there take position on the left,
thereby placing rs on the extreme left of
the division. During the whole of this
time, and in fact during the whole of the
engagement, we had different companies
deployed as skirmishers. Oar advance was
slow, but steady and certain.
at about 10 o'clock we were notified
that, in connection with the Gath Indiana,
we would be required to charge upon and
take a rebel battery some FIVE hundred
yards in front of us. / ordered bayonets to
be fixed, and gave some instructions as to
how the chsrge should be conducted. Ev-
cry man vas ready and anxious for the
word, bus Tor some reason, much to the
disappointment Of our men, the order to
charge was not given. At IL N. the rebel
| infantry made their appearance in large
numbers in front, and gave as the first
chance during the day Of opening q steady
and long continued FIRE upon them. This
| opportunity was eagerly embraced, and
such deadly and destructive fire poured
upon them that their advance was stopped,
| and, after a desperate struggle to maintain
their ground, they were compelled to re-
treat. We were again ordered forward,
and from this time to the close of the en-
gagement, continual fire of musketry was
kept up on both sides, the enemy dogg eddy
falling back and We advancing.
At 81 o'clock discovered that the Fed
eral forces on our left were falling back and
the rebels advancing, and that they were
really in the rear of our left flank. i'm
mediately notified you Of their position,
changed front with our left wing, opened
fire upon them and sent to you for assist
ance. During this, the most trying mo-
ment to US Of the day, received your or
der to " Fall back if it should get too hot
for us," but, feeling that the reputation of
our regiment was at stake, and knowing
that no portion of our division had been
compelled to fall back during the day, we
determined to hold the position to the last.
Fortunately, and much to our relief at this
critical moment, the AID Indiana, Col. Will
lich, came up on our left, and with their as
sistance che advancing enemy was compelI-
ed to retire. eur left wing was Immediate
ly moved into line with the right, and we
again made a " forward movement" which
was continued until A o'clock, when we re-
ceived with three scheers the intelligence
that the rebel army was in full retreat.
Every officer and man engaged in the
battle did his duty to my entire satisfae-
ton, and l have no special mention to
; make. OF the non-combatants, Chaplain
q. B. Hibben deserves especial notice fol-
valuable assistance to Surgeon Thompson
which was cheerfully rendered until all Out
wounded were cared for and made as com