The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-02-21


fortunately the battery had been discoV-
ereo moment before, and the men had, to
great extent, availed themselves of the
protection of the neighboring trees, before
the storm Of iron hail was fairly upon them.
Your correspondent who was advancing
with the rest, has very friendly reeollec-
ton OF huge oak, but for whose protect
ing shelter the readers of The Democrat
would probably have suffered the small loss
OF the Imperfect narrative of subsequent
scenes. Capt. MenkIe, and many a brave
ieiloW OF theSeVenth, dropped to the ground
beneath this FIRE; but the regiment bravely
advanced, scattered the skirmishers of the
enemy lying in the valley, and maintained
the position they were sent to occupy.
OPERATIONS OF BIRGE's sHARpsHooTERs.
In the meantime Birge's sharpshooters
were doing good execution both to the right
and left of the position. Ia squads of
skirmishers they crawled up the ravines of
the ridge on which the batteries and rife
pits of the enemy were located, and lying
concealed behind stumps and logs Woe to
the unwary rebel who dared to show his
head above the intrenehments. The con-
tinual crack of the Dimiek rife could be
heard from these ravines all day, and at
last became perfect terror to the enemy.
Lying in this position these men for half
day completely siIenced the battery which
covered the road over which the Seventh
had advanced in the morning. In vain at
tempt after attempt was made to man the
guns, but hardly had the gunners grasped
their swaps ere a score of bullets would
drop them in their tracks. The enemy
were not without their sharpshooters too,
who. would in turn attempt response, but
.s1r.- a.
their bullets did much harm. I have heard
of but eight or ten casualties in the entire
regiment.
| Thus passed Thursday morning. Gen.
McClernand gradual closing in towards the
| river, on the right, and Gen. Smith slowly
and surely completing his line of circum-
valuation on the left.
| sToRBfIEe THE ENEMY's REDoUBT ON THE
| RIGHT.
| In the afternoon Gen. MeClernand de-
termined to make formidable assault of a
redoubt of the enemy, fronting about the
centre of bis right wing. The redoubt was
about the only one which could be distinct
/ " seen by as, owing to the timber and I'M
dergroWth. At this point the ground was
for the most part void of large timber,
the barren extending even beyond the road
on the ridge over which our troops passed.
The batteries of this redoubt had got very
perfect range here, and gave our troops
considerable uneasiness, by blazing away at
them whenever they passed over the brow
of the hill. Three regiments were detailed
for the work-the 4Sth, 18th and 49th
Illinois, They advanced in line of battle
order, the 49th, Col. Morrison on the right
the 18th, under commad of Major Smith
| (both Colonel and lieutenant Colonel being
absent) in the centre, and the 4Sth, Col
Haney, on the left. Col. Morrison, as senior
Colonel led the attack. The advance wa:
a most beautiful one. a x
With skirmishers advanced in front, the
three regiments swept down the hill, over G
KNOLL down ravine, and up the high hill
on which the redoubt was situated, some
$50 or 800 feet in height, covered with
brush and stumps, and all the time receiv.
ing a calling FIRE of grape, shell and musket.
ry, with precision which would have done
them credit on the parade ground. The
%ers nsaEX Esafgef e Ehfn oo
his men, was struck by a musket ball
| The Captain of the company on his right
also fell, and the Forty-ninth fell into some
confusion, but unappalled the SeventeetI
still gallantly pressed forward and pene.
trated even to the very foot of the works
But it was not in the power of man to scale
the a5at6s before them. Brush piled upon
brush, with sharp points fronting them
everywhere, met them wherever they
turned, and so, after a few interchanges O
musketry with the swarming regiment.
: which had been concentrated here, the order
for retiring was given. 1t was done in good
order, by filing off to the left and obliquine
into the woods below; but many a. gallant
soldier was left behind underneath the in.
trenchments they had Yainly sought tC
mount. They were not, however, destined
TO die unavenged. Scarcely had our retir.
ing columns got out of range, ere Tay lor':
= Chicago Battery opened on the swarmine
rebel masses with shell and shrapnell with
fearful effect. Every gun was aimed by the
Captain himself, and every one of them did
honor TO his craftsmanship.
a soRTIE ON THE LEFT.
About the same time that these stirring
scenes were being enacted on our right
wing, the enemy made formidable sortie
on our left. The Twenty-6fth Indiana, one
7 of the regiments of Gen. Smiths division
having at one time during the course OF
the day got into an exposed position, the
enemy promptly availed themselves of the
opportunity afforded them, and made q
most formidable sortie from their entrench-
ments. Although taken at disadvantage,
! the Twenty fifth met the advancing forces
bravelY, and, although suffering severely,
Y with the aid of other regiments which
promptly proceeded to their assistance,
drove them back to their hiding places
The lesson seemed to have been most salu-
tary No further sorties were made in this
| direction.
THE FLEET.
Dnrino the dax Jnr0rb- rVgsss lRffi56IE meet.
1t was therefore with no little qualification
that Information was at last received abont
noon on Thursday that the a0ant courier of
the feet, the Carondelet, Lieut.. Walker. had
arrived below the fort. In the afternoon
the report of her guns was received with
cheer upon cheer by the troops encircling
the beleaguered fort -~-.--.. SO
Lieut.. Walkers operations this afternoon.
although partaking more of the nature of a
reconnaissance, was considered by the rebel
/ officers as [ have since asrerfaina1 aS ona