The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-02-26

the FIRST platoon as skirmishers, Lieut..
Townsend had command of them, and
Serg't Edward Hurso2,lwho Is setting
as Cd Lieutenant.) had eommnpd OF
the Company reserve
We had only three Sergeants in the
engagement, Serg'tJ ehiel Hall, on the
right of our skirmishers, as right guide;
Ssrg't VIM. n. Colburn, in the center,
assenter guide, and Serg't Leonard R.
Norton. on the right Of the company
reserve. We had not been there but a
short time when one could hear the
ballss whiz as they passed. by our ears
and soon one came and. wounded Ser
Hall in, the right leg; he was taken. to
the rear. Our regiment stayed there
about three hours, (eyery little while
we could see Butternut raise his head
above a rock. or stick his head out
fion behind tree and FIRE at some of
NJ, and then we would return the COM
pliment, taking as deliberate aim as if
they were deer or any other wild ami
mal when We were relieved by the
22d Illinois. As soon as relieved, our
regiment retired to ths rear with the
loss of two killed and about Is wound
cd, the only casualty that happened in
our Company, was the, wounding OF
Sergeant ]. Hail. This skirmishing
vas kept up until after dark, but that
night we were permitted 10 have small
fires, 90 that we could cook what little
we had to cook, but the bigger part OF
the A2d, being ON picket that night,
they suffered with the cold considera-
bly,, but not murmar was heard.
Wednesday, Dec. 3lst, just as our
Regiment was coming in from off
picket, our Brigade had orders to fall
in line of battle. Soon we could see
the rebels charging on one of our bat
teriss, that was about half mile in ad
Vance of where oar Brigade wasformed
in line of battle. Then our Skin.
mishers and the Battery had to re.
treat, and in a few moments the enemy
bad q whole Brigade in small piece
of woods where our skirmishers were
but few minutes before. We did not
Ike the looks of this very much, but
were not permitted to stand and wit.
ness this scene before us very long be.
fore our attention was called to the
reading Of q general Order that was
read for the benefit and encouragement,
Of the officers and soldiers in Genera
Rosecrans command. While this wa,
being done we could hear volley after
volley of musketry and the booming oil
cannon on our right. Not, many min,
utes elapsed before the order came, by
the right of Companies to the the front,
double quick !! march Then we start
ed for fence that lay about half way to
where there, was that rebel Brigade in
the woods when we got there we
gave them two or three volleys of mus
kerry, then we were ordered to get
over the fence, and after We had go
over, Col. Roberts rode in front of the
old AID and said, Double Quick
Marcel, fix Bayonets, which was quick
y done. When We had got within
fifteen rods of the woods the rebels
began to skedaddle, for the very rea.
son that they did not like the looks Of
our saber bayonets. The 42d routed
the whole rebel brigade but such a
sight ! never saw, the dead lay scat
tered here and there all through the
woods. While we were making the
charge and after we got into the woods
the rebels were throwing grape and
canister at us, but they done but very
little damage. Sergeant Leonard r
Norton was wounded while making
this charge; all of this time, on our
right We could hear continual roar OF
cannon and musketry. One cannot be-
gin to imagine how it sounds until they
havea trial of it. We were not per.
mittsd TO stay in that piece of woods
long, for Gen. Johnson's men had been
surprised and were falling back in ter.
ribls disorder, Gf he had only held his
position as Gen. Sheridan had done
We might have whipped the Rebels be
fore noen) Soon the order came fol
as to retreat which was done as COO
as if we were coming off parade; then
we formed in line of battle in the edge
of Cedafs above MENTIONED oul
right rested near the Selbyville or Six
Mile Pike, and the left resting in real
Of Hoatland's, and a, part of Hescok',
Batteries. We were ordered to lay
down, and while there our Battery
opened on Rebel Battery that was
not far distant. Soon they replied
and the shells would burst over ouI
heads, and while there a long ball came
L..J.o IL La Major uottox...:-,-