Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-07-12
Che Obio 5tatesnra,r
lIron tho wayne County Domoen..1
Operations Of the l2oth Regiment
5E''i@ before Vicksburg. T
REPORT OF COLONEL sPEIGEL.
THE BATTLE or rHoMpson'a HI11.

"a THE BATTLE OF THoMPsoN's HILL.
H'-'0H' laOrH Rro'r o. v, T.; IN THE yInD,|
B,igadier- General z. T. Garyayd, Commsndino
lot Brigade, 9h Division. u.3. ~ :
Sin: I have the honor to herewith transmit
the following report of the part taken by the
l2Oth o. v. I. In theactlon Of Thompson's Hill
on the let instant, and with II q list of casual
ties: -. ...
About FIVE o'clock A. M. we we're ordered TO
advance aud take o position on the right of
Lampher's balteryC which We accordingly did,
under severe FIRE Of the enemy's she'll, in which
position We remained for about half an hour,
when We advanced to the ravine and from there
were ordered to advance and form 10 line OF
battle In ravine to the left of tho division.
Soon after, in conjunction with the llSlh H.
linois volunteers, We advanced briskly to a DO.
sitlon behind fense fronting the enemy, In
support OF the 49sh Indiana, which was deploy-
Soon after Col. Kigwin, Of the 40 h Indiana,
informed me that he was ordered to the right
on o line with his position, ard at the came
time received orders to cover his old position
with ekrmishers. l then advanced com panies
A and G as tkirmishers, and d, l and B as sup.
ports. Athalf past seven A. M. | was ordered
to recall oil but one OF the companies. moved
as ordered, somewhat to the right, In advance
Of our line, to relieve the 42d Ohio. The ene-
Dye shell, grape-ehot and bullets few thick
and fact around US, but the brave aud gallant
boys moved brlskly on until We arrived in front
OF the 42d Ohio close to the ravine moving par.
allel with the enemy's strongest position. +
then engaged the enemy for about twenty min
utes without being able to do him much harm,
being continually under cover on the opposite
bank OF the ravlue. then advanced as Skin
mishers some of the best shots from all com.
panies down into the ravine, With orders to ad.
vance, closely supporting them With the re-
mainder, keeping up Q constant Ere toward the
top Of the opposite bank. When nearly down
the ravine discovered the exact position of ,he
enemy's advance toward my left on the opposite
bank. then charged upon them With the reg
lment and quickly drove them from the bank 10
the knoll, where they rallied and made stand
which only increased the determination of my
brave boys. Rushiug up the bank we drove
them from behind the knoll taking eight pris-
oners. When | had obtained possesAion OF the
knoll did not deem II prudent to follow any
further, being at least three hundred yards in
advance OF any of our troops and in danger of
meeting the enemy's entire right wing, masaed
behind number Of old buildings directly In
front oi me. deployed my regiment on the
knoll In order to pnsh the retiring force and hold
the position against more formidable attack
As soon as the retiring enemy had regained the
main body, the attack was renewed with re-
doubled ferceness, but, meeting with such con.
timed and well-directed volleys from uB, he
fell back under cover Of the houses again
then continued to fight the enemy, who was
concealed behind logs, fences and house,, and
some perched upon the tree tops until my ammu.
milton was beginning to run out and many of the
guns became uLft for use, when was relieved
by Col. Bennett, of the 69lh lodi ana, and ordered
70 retire. then fell back to the second ravne
10 the rear OF me, repleuishing tho empty car.
'trdge-boxos With ammunition from the boxes
of their comrades who were killed and wounded.
! remained in that position until late In the
afternoon. saw the charge made on the left,
when l quickly formed my regiment, marching
II toward the chafging column in order to sup
port them II necessary, but before reaching them
the enemy fed 10 confusion. glorious vic
tory was won--the l20th had nothing more to do
but to exult, 10 cheer and be merry, and that,
assure you, was done. &
i oAnIo: clo,s this report, General, without
saying that the men of the 120:h have not only
justified their former reputation, but even have
excelled IT. They have display ed gallantry and
bravery on that day which will never be for
gotten BY their country To the line officers,
oil OF whom stood bravely up to the work, | am
much Indebted FOR their aid and courage 10 |
promptly carrying out every order given
Lieut. Col, Beokman has shown himself worthy
Of tue position he holds-while promptly assist
log In msneuverlng the regiment, his encoutag-
Ing and cheering words were always heard
along the lines. Maj Slocum, while with me
10 the morning, showed that coolnese aud cour-
age for which he is we'll known in the army,
and while detailed 10 take charge of the skIr-
mishets oi the lett flank Of the division, did his
full duty to the entire satisfaction OF the Cen
eral Commanding the division. Adjutant Sher-
man, young in years, has truly shown himself
a veteran on the field. He possesses all the
elements necessary to qualify him for the posi-
ton he holes. Brave and cool, he became oour-
sgeous and dashing when the occasion required
it. .ss,b - q 1IBEl .A FL /
Both officers and men have my sincere thanks
for their cheerful Corporation on the field OF
Ihompson's Hill q 1QoGHnT
have the honor TO be, General,
Your obedient servant,