The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-05-07
Report OF Col. HoveY OF the 24th An
diana Regiment.
BATTLE FIELD -PITTsBuRa LANpING. !

BATTLE FIELD -PITTsBuRG LANDING, \
Camp First Brigade, Third Division, -.
Dept. of the Mississippi April 8, 1862. J. O
Sir. .-On Sunday, the 9th inst, my reg
| iment, IN connection with the First Brigade
or the Third Division, was ordered to march
from Crump's Landing, Tenn, to the field
of action at this place. We arrived a little
after sundown, while the musketry was
still raging and the cannon roaring, with
my regiment on the extreme right and in
front. Before arriving we had been inform
ed that the enemy occupied the right of the
road in force. Under direction Of Colonel
Smith, commanding the Brigade, skirmish-
ers were thrown out and my regiment rap
idly marched forward and formed in line
of battle before some tents supposed to be
occupied by the enemy On being chal-
lenged, however, they proved to be Berge's
Sharpshooters, and we were received with
cheers instead of bullets. Here the whole
Brigade bivouacked for the night, sleeping
on their arms, under one of the most severe
rains of the season. --tt'~ ~ z7sI
About 81 o'clock on Monday morning,
the 7th inst, the battle opened on our left
by forces supposed to be under the COM
mand of Gen. Buell.. Our Brigade was i'm
mediately formed in line of battle, my regi-
ment upon the extreme left, and marched
rapidly upon what supposed to be the
centre of the enemy. 7-A +'s@.--' ta57a#
About o'clock A. NJ, we threw out
skirmishers in advance, and received the
first Ere of the enemy. s .... ,'a5-9
From this point we passed through a
small wooded raVine into an open field, and
at double-quick rushed rapidly forward to
slight depression, where our men were
halted to support one of our batteries,
which was playing with deadly effect upon
one of the rebel batteries. At this point
we again threw out skirmishers, who fred
with terrible effect upon the officers and
men who were manning the rebel batteries.
The enemy being again driven back, our
brigade was thrown in advance of our ar,il-
Iery into narrow skirt of woods between
two fields. Here we were halted for
a short :ime, and the shot and she'll of our
battery and the battery of the enemy rain
ed thick and fast around and above u.s.
Again the enemy slowly retired in order,
and we were pressed rapidly through an
other field, halted, threw out skirmishers,
and a stubborn conflict ensued.
About IL o'clock A. N, three gallant Off
GERS of my regiment, Lieut.. Col. Gerber,
| Capt. McGofin and Lieut. SOuthwick, fell.
| Capt Spicely, Capt. Bolton, Lieut.. Smith,
10
ed officers and priVates were wounded. a-a
Our skirmishers and battery again forced
the rebel forces back, our brigade followed
| up rapidly into the woods, and terrible
conflict of musketry ensued, which con-
tinued several hours the enemy contestiug
every inch, but retiring before US. -----
During the day every company in my
regiment was deployed as Fkirmishers, and
did good service. They were generally
under the superintendence of Capt. SpiceIy,
/ who acted as Msjor until the fall of Lieut.
| Col. Gerber. From that time Capt. Spicely
acted as Lieut.. Colonel and Adiutant Barter
as Major of the regiment. cannot speak
too highly of their effective services on
that occasion they were cool, brave and de-
| termined, and had the full confidence of the
men. Capt. Spicsly, though wounded and
stunned by ball on the temple, continued
on the field the whole day, and performed
the full duties of true soldier.
say with pride cannot conceal, that
the oath never faltered or gave back an
| inch from the first charge in the morning
+ until the enemy gave away in the evening
In an exposed condition, in the open field,
over hill, valley, and woodland, for more