The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-07-18
I'd IlIiant SkirmIsh of the 24Gh LndG.
ana Rel memG.

ana Reg memG.
We are permitted to make the following
extract from letter from Mr. Jno. F. Crisp,
Jr., to his parents:
ave started from a little place called
Aberdeen, about three o'clock last Sunday
morning. We went out for the purpose of
could find. We had only six companies
from our regiment, to- wit: A, B, G, D, E,
and F, mastering about 800 men.
We had marched about two miles, when
our skirmishels ran into some cavalry pick
cts, and fired upon them. They mounted,
and went kiting." We went on little
further, when we came to the edge of q
very large prairie, aud long ways out we
could see about twenty-five or thirty cav
airy. They stood out there and looked at
US for some time, but were too far off for
Us to do any good with our rifles or mus
kets.
They were trying to lure US out so that
their main body could charge on US when
we advanced into the open prairie.
But our Colonel was too sharp for them
We had advanced only about 400 or 500
yards on the prairie, when we suddenly
heard a yelling behind US. Our Colonel
ordered US to advance to the woods
We could see them coming full tilt,
charging on our little squad. We bad but
one hundred men in our reserve, all the rest
having been sent out as skirmishers. The
bugle was sounded to rally on the reserve,
but they had charged on US before the lest
of our men got to Us. We could see them
coming on fell run about four hundred of
them.
Thinks l, to myself, we are gone up,
sure, if our men do not get to us in time.
But here they still come. The Colonel gave
the order to fix bayonets, stand firm and re-
serve our fire as long as possible.
By this time they had got within about
thirty or forty yards of Us, when they came
to halt and formed line of battle in front
or US. They looked like a strong setof men
| for our little squad of one hundred to whip.
But it was life or death with US. So just
az they had formed their line to ride over
us, our Col. gave orders to fire.
1t seemed like as if the boys had hardly
fred their loads out until they had smother
in. We gave them :hree good voiIeys,
when, to our surprise, they came to right
and left flank, and away they went. We
advanced in the direction they retreated
We had but one man killed and twenty
one wounded. Only six of our company
were wounded. None of the Evansville
4
| killed and wounded, and fifteen or twenty
missing. We had sent for reiuforcements
but they did not arrive until the battle was
over We rested until the doctor had
dressed the wounded, and while we were
there squad of fifteen men, under Lieu
tenant, came in with a flag of truce, asking
| permission to bury their dead. for which
| duty we gave them twenty minutes.
| We took nine prisoners, and nine or ten
| horses. r.a--1
Our Colonel was very much pleased with
our days work, and also Gen. Fitch, who
made speech in behalf of the six compa-
MES of the Gath Regiment Indiana Volun-
teers, He said we had shown the rebels
that we were ready for them, let them attack
US when they wOuld-in front, flank or
rear. He said be should have to report it
to the Secretary of War, as the most bril-
| liant skirmish of the West.