, 1863-01-22
Ul)ica9o Qribtlue.
HEADQUARTERS 18TH Ill. Vol. 1NpANTnT,}
In tue FIELD, NEAN V1cKsuuno, Mles.,
fnrc .rf.nr 4fa tGG]

In THE FIELD, sEAn V1eKsuunG, Mirs.,
- . December 3tet, 1858.
GRSERA1: have the honor to report that,
In pursuance Of orders, this regiment dlsen.
point on tue Yazoo Riyor, on Friday, Dec. 20,
and, under the command Of Col. John B. Wy
man, Immediately proceeded to take up po.
sition to the front, About two miles from
the river, our ndyanccd skirmis1lcrs met the
cncmy's pickets and drove them back, captur-
Ing two horses. after which re <cncamped for
the night. On tic morning of tho 17th VIC
again took up our line Of narch to the front,
meeting the cnc1ny's plckets and skirmlshors
III greater numbers than on the preceding day
clearing, to the opposlts woods. from which
they opened fire on us with artillery. A sec
tIon Of battery coming to the front, their
guns were speedily 6flcnccd, and we bivouack-
On the position We had gained.
Early on the morning Of the 28tt, tho rcgi-'
I'd IS ekirmislers across the clearing, but
without meeting Will, any opposition On the
part Of the enemy. We were then ordered up
10 the support of q battery on our right, aud
on arriving on the ground assigned to us,
opened fire On the encmy's sharp p,; ;shooters' hooters
cd by d formidable ubattis Of felled timber. It
was here TINT the regimentsu suffered its scvercst
loss in the person of its gallant Colonel.
Whilst on the right Of the regiment, and In the
act Of giving the order to fire, with bis body
and M e morty ~ woundsd % ulh th
ball passing through his lungs. En0earcl to
his regiment, and beloved by all for lis fear
less bravery aud daring, md for the high de-
gree Of interest hc overlook in the promotion
Of the comfort and welfare Of those il his
command, We will long lament the untimely
loss Of our leader, and regret that he was not
spared to receive and enjoy the rewards which
a grateful country would have accorded to
him for his 5oldierly qualities aud chiyalrous
bravery in action.
Alter the fall Of Col. Wyman, the command
Of the regiment devolycd on nc, and main-
and well directed fire, until relieved by anoth-
CT regiment, and Was ordered to take posi-
tion on our extreme left, and in front Of thu
cnemy's batteries and carthWorks. On reach
Of my command rs pickcts, holding the re-
naming companies III reserve, and IN this atti-
tndc ne remained until the following morn
ing. At II q. IN. on Monday, Dec. 90,
received yonr orders to place my regiment on
the right Of the brigade, and prepare to storm
the enemy's batteTy's in front; and,
in conjunction with the other portions
Of the brigade, moved forward to the edge
of tic woods, and then charged ut double
quick across the open ground towards the en-
emy- The natural obstacles to rapid move
u,ent on our part were great, and had been t.
ken advantage Of, anal improved to their
quent1y, considerable confusion ensucd, and
| the ,ucn OF the different regiments got mixed
| up together. Under perfect storm of shot
and shell from the cncmy's batteries, and ri.
| 1emcn, the larger portion Of my command
were rallied BY myself and Major Partridge,
| with the assistance Of the line officers, and,
gaining the top Of the banks on the opposite
| side Of the creek, charged again, across the
field, passing two line Of rifle pits, and u1ti
mately reaching a point, within q short
distance Of the cncny's main. works
The fire. from the cncmy's batteries
point, had, by this time SO terribly decimated
us, that the advanced portion Of the entire
stornling party, found it impossible to pro
cecd further, but they stubbornly held thei1
position for some time, until further resist
:ncc was useless and tic unwclco,nc order o.
retreat was given.
Tic losses Of my command have been heavy
and tho return will be incontroyertiblc eyi
dence that neither officers nor men showed ,
deficiency Of courage, but, that nll cylnced ,
bravery and sclf.sacrilcing patriotism, worth,
Of tlle cause in which they are engaged.
| To Major Partridge my cspccin1 thanks ar
due, for the bravery and determination witt
which he led tie party tie had rallied aroun'
linn, and whilst also commencing the gallan
conduct Of all the line officers. i would NOR
especially direct your notice to the nobl
conduct Of I'd Lieutenant G. Napcr, Of com
pnny z, who led his men in n manner not t
be surpassed, and Is supposed to hare bee
wounded and taken prisoner.
| Tic color bearer and color guard were n
shot down, and the colors, unfortunately hay
fallen into the hands Of tho enemy.
calaass ESfssd es in af the sppfia papeon Of fRsFt s Isl
and Goth, aud hare the honor to be, you.
most respectfully, 4. 3. GoR0As,
Lieutenant Colonel commanding 18th reg
1nent 1lliunis infantry.
Brigalier General +. ?. Blair, con1mandin
1st brigade, 4th division, 18th army corps.