The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-12-10


tapping around as if to inclose the
Tunnel Hill. When on Sherman's
right you were west of Tunnel Hill.
When you were on Sherman's left, you
were east of the hill. The center was
90 thrown out and retired that, like the
wings it remained at respectful dis
lance from the enemy who formed the
centre, while Sherman formed the arc
of the circle. 1t will be readily under
stood from this that making separate
attacks from his right and left, Gen.
sherman approached the rebel position
on different sides eff the hill. So far
separated were the columns that the
hill prevented them from seeing each
others movements. They were hence
unable to act in concert-a fact which
may have had something to do with
the result of the attacks.
The first attack was made by the
brigades of Generals John w. Corse
aud Col. Jones, 4th Virginia, from II e
left Of the line. The movement began
at eleven o'clock in the morning and
the assault lasted only ten minutes.
No sooner had our men appeared on
the top of the hill than they were re-
ceived with Tremendous volley of
musketry. But nevertheless they ad-
vanced rapidly, charging ri6e-pit of
the enemy and after hand to hand
conflict retired in some disorder, leav-
ing their dead and wounded inside the
enemy's outer work. BIc it must not
be supposed that our men fled to the
foot of the hill. No sooner had they
reached the protecting slope of the hill
which hid them from the view of the
enemy, than they reformed in good
style and laid down under the brow of
the bill to await an attack in return.
But the enemy did not dare TO attack,
but contented himself with the repulse
he had succeeded in at quite heavy
cost to both parties. The two bri-
gades remained quiet for some time.
AT half past eleven Gen. Giles Smith,
with his brigade, among which is the
57th Ohio infantry, went to the assis-
tanee of Gen. Corse, aud after short
delay, the whole proceeded to make
SECOND ATTACK.
This att tack did not differ from the
first in movement or result, but it was
more desperate and was persisted in
much longer, the final retirement of
our men not taking place until half-past
twelve, an hour having thus been con-
sumed in the assault. There have been
but few more desperate encounters in
the war, than was this engagement of
an hour, and it speaks volumes in praise
of the men engaged, that, at its end,
though much broken, they rallied at
the slope of the hill and held the posi-
ton gained. The rebel fire was very
heavy. They brought several pieces
of light artillery to bear on. our men,
and poured into them necessarily a
stream of grape and canister that did
great execution. Generals Corse and
Giles Smith were severely wounded in
this charge, and Col. Walcot, of the
46th Ohio, took command of the troops.
in this assault the 37th Ohio and 9th
Iowa suffered very severely, losing
many valuable men and officers.
While this was going on the left, a
force of one brigade from the right OF
Gen. Shsean's line advanced to the
attack on the western side of the hill.
They met with some decided opposition
at the foot of the hill, from force
posted behind the railroad bank, but
disledged them by an admirably exc
cuted movement. They then began to
ascend the hill, and marched up, under
heavy fire, to point over half way to
the summit, where an abrupt ledge of
rocks protected them. Here they
halted to rest, but they were not al
lowed much of this, as the rebels be-
gun, not only to fire upon them, but
finding the ledge of rocks too great 6
protection, they threw huge stones
down the hill, and thus upon the men.
About ten minutes past one second
brigade (Mathias) moved up the hill,
and formed under a heavy fire, in the
rear and on the left of the first brigade.
Here this also halted, but, like the first
was not permitted to rest. Indeed
about this time the first brigade, Col
Loomis, unable to bear the attack OF
stones i,eaped upon them, rose from its
position and advanced, but to receive
such heavy Ere that after moment
the line wavered and broke, falling
back rapidly and in considerable dis
order. But no sooner had it met, in
descending the hill, the ascending bri
gade, than the men rallied as if by
magic, and moved up the hill again in
admirable good order, and upon a line
with the other troops. These also ad
vanced to the protecting ledge of rocks
before mentioned, and here the whole
force lsid down as before.
1t was nearly two o'clock when il
was discovered tina: a third brigade
Ranne's-was moving up Inc hill to tht
assistance of the other troops. This
brigade formed on the left and rear Of
the two others. 1t was evidently in
tended, at first, to form line of battle,
echelon on the right, but the circum-
stance Of the falling back of the first
brigade, prevented the carrying out OF
this intention. This whole force was