The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-08-06

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essentially he (Col. Worthington) riding rapid
ly to the LEFT TO hurry il around. The men
came up rapidly, regularly and confidently,
STOPPING to the ground as they came into line,
and few If any, on the left or centre know
ing the intention of the movement, until, as
dropping into their places, the rebels were OBJ
served in front, also STOPPING, and in seeming
readiness to fire. In galloping back to the
right, the Colonel's horse received shot
through the front Of his shoulder blade, and
about the same fine the regiment fred, rather
too soon, but very effectively, as was aferward
discovered, killing and Gripping over two
hundred of the enemy.
The fire was instantly returned by the rebel
line, by which fourteen of the 46th were killed,
and perhaps eighty wounded. Lieut.. Col.
Walcutt and Major Smith miraculously es-
capped, the distance being little over seventy
yards. We were in open ground, the rebels In
a blackjack thieket. There were two rebel
brigades then in front of the 46Lh Ohio, of
which they were at once made aware by their
moving suddenly TO their rear and left, four
right and making for fsld, along the edge
of which the first brigade had Just passed with
the evident intention of gaining our left flank,
which they accomplished two hours afterwards
Meantime, the 9th Iowa and 40sh Illinois
marched forward few hundred yards from
where the 46th had wheeled out OF line and,
changing direction to the right, took position
in front of rebel battery supported by sew
eral brigades of their troops, which more than
two hours before had forced back, first, Sher-
mans center, and next MoClernaRd's left, and
eventually his whole division. On receiving
the fire of the 46th, as above stated, the rebel
troops fell back rapidly into the woods and
brush, and tie 46th, anticipating their flank
movement afterwards accomplished) changed
front to the rear by its right flank, delivering
an irregular but effective FIRE till it obtained
position obliquely to the right of the 9th lows,
and facing in direction nearly opposite to
that in which it had been advancing when first
wheeled to the right out of the line of the
brigade. -
In this position the lst brigade held the left
of the rebel force, (Which had made their first
most violent and successful attack on Sher-
mans center and McClernaHd's left,) in check
about two hours, till the troops first fred on by
the 46th Ohio, gaining its right late its left,
were about turning its rear, when General
Sherman, who was present, ordered the whole
line to fall back and rally inward to the left
and rear, which order was, of necessity, in all
respects, obeyed.
few moments beforethe retreat, Lieut.. COL
Walcutt received wound in the upper part
of the left arm, and during the retreat, Captain
Geary, Lieut. Wilson, and many others, were
killed. As soon as the 40th Illinois had come
up in front of the rebel battery, near the left
of McClernand's camp, a charge was made
upon the battery by Gen. Sherman's order, but
the rebels, being in great force behind the bat
terry, the charge was repelled. Capt. Hooper
at the same time was killed, and Lieut..
badly wounded. Col. Hicks, with severe
wound in the left breast and side, was carried
from the field. In its last position the 9Th Iowa
lost more heavily than any regiment in the
division. Capt. White was killed by cannon
ball, and ifty-one men killed outright.
As soon as the rebels had thus disposed of
Sherman's division, they took direction to the
right, McClernand being also driven back, and
then joining with their own extreme right, sue
ceeded in about two hours, or by o'clock p.
NJ, in routing the division of Prentiss, and
making prisoners of himself and three theus-
and of his men, which event would, in all
probability have occurred two hours sooner,
but for the integrity and united opposition OF
the lst brigade OF Sherman's division, as above
set forth, as correctly as the facts at the CON-
mand of the undersigned will permit.
OBSERVATIONS.
| The decisive moment in the above recited
! operations of the 1st brigade Of sherman's
division, evidently occurred when the 46th
regiment was wheeled out of line to attack the
rebels on its right. Col. Mcdowell, chief Of
brigade, was not Immediately at hand and nc
hesitation on account Of orders was admissible
This was more especially the case in conse-
quence of the separation of the 40th Illinois
on the left, from the other two regiments or
its right which could not have probably of
fered support in time TO save the regiment il
/ L l.. 81