Nebraska advertiser., 1862-03-20
The Nebraska Regiment at the Bat
s tie OF Fort DOneISOn.

To read Illinois papers one would nat
urally suppose there were no other soldiers
at the battle of Fort Donelson but Illinois
Regiments. Illinois has turned out men
nobly-men who have fought bravely,
too, on every occasion, and we would not
detract from them a single iota Of praise
or credit ; yet there were others there
whordid equally as well as Illinois Regi-
ments, or those from any other State
The Nebraska First, composed Of hardy
men, Injured TO all the hardships incident
and peculiar to camp-life familiar with
the use of firearms, and with as brave
hearts as ever throbbed in human breasts,
were there, and right nobly did they act
their part. For the reasons given above,
much was expected of our Regiment, and
il was called into action at a time when
even the appearance of finching could not
be tolerated: when Gen. M'Clernand's
and Col. Cruft's commands had been
compelled by the enemy to retreat, and
were fleeing, and ga. mounted officer gall
Hoped down the road, shouting, 'Ws are cat
to pieces!'n This was a critical mo-
ment, and we win let Gen. Wallace,
through his official report, speak for the
Nebraska boys. He says:
"Soon fugitiyes from the battle
came croEding up the hill in rear of
my own line, bringing unmistabable
signs of distress. Capt. RaYlins was
conversing with me at the time, when
a mounted officer gallOped down the
road, shouting "We are cut to p~iecesIp'
The effect vas very ~perceptible. To
prevent q panic among the regiment
Of my Third Brigade, I ordered Col.
Thsyer to move on by the right flank.
He promptly obeyed. Colonel Wal
lace, whose GOODNESS under the circum-
stances was astonishing, informed me
that the enemy were following, and
would shortly attack. The crisis was
come; there was no time to await
orders; my Third Brigade had to be
Thrust between the ratiring forces ond
the advancing foe. Accordingly ]
conducted Col. Thayer's command up
the road where the ridge dips towards
the rebel works; directed the Colonel
to form a new line of battle at a right
angle With the old one; sent for com
pany A, Chicago Light Artillery, and
despatched amessenger TO inform Gen
Smith of the state of affairs, and ask
him for assistance. The head of Col,
Thayer's column fled right double
quick. Lieut.. Wood, commanding the
artillery company sent for, galloped
up with q portion of his battery, and
posted his pieces so as to sweep APP.
proach by the road in front; a line Of
reserve was also formed at convenient
distance in the rear of the first line,
consisting Of the SeTenty-sixth Ohio,
and FOrty-sixth and Fifty-seventh
Illinois. 80
aa The new front thus formed covered
the retiring regiments, helpless from
lack Of ammunition, but which cOolly
halted not far of, some of them actu-
ally within reach of the enemy's mus
kerry, to refill their cartridge boxes.
And, as formed, my new front c%onsis-
ted of Woods battery across the road
on the right Of the battery the First
Nebraska and Fifty. eighth Illinois
left Of the battery a detachedcOmpany
Of the Thirty-second Illinois, Capt.
Dawson, and the F~ifty-eighth Ohio,
Its left obliqCely retired. rss Il
Scarcely had this formation been
made when the enemy attacked, com
ing up the road, and through the
shrubs and trees on both sides of it,
and making the battery and the First
= Nebraska the principal points Of ats
tack. They met this storm, no man
IN inching, and their FIRE was terrible.
g To say they did we'll is not enough
their conduct vas splendid. THEY
ALONE REPELED THE CHARGE
Col. Oruft, as was afterwards ascer>
tSined, from his position, saw the
d enemy retire to their works pell mel
and in confusion. Too much praise
cannot be given Lieut.. Wood and his