Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-02-12

suited IN our capturing a company of cavelry.
This was ut Sturd Crceh, aud the next day
being Sunday, We lay there OIL day. On
Monday morning we resumed Onr march, but
had gone but short distance when wc again
came upon the bnshahackors. Here we had
right n sharp skitmish, but finally compelled
them 10 take 10 their heels We pursued
them 10 within three miles Of Murlrcosboro,
and then halted for the night. Next morn,
ing NO discovered that We were within about
six hundred yards Of the cnemy's batteries
aud rife pitt. They might have made US
skcdadle had they known il. They soon run
ont battery and commenced firing Oh us,
but this was almost Immediately silenccd by
one Of our batterys. This was about all tho
fighting done that day where wo were. On
"Wednesday morning We received orders TO
cross tho river within about two hundred
yards Of tho onemy's entrenchments This
did not exactly like. II was "a hazardous un-
dertakng, and know II to be certain death
to some OF us. We had made preparations to
perform it, however, when orders came for US
to move to the assistance Of tho Right Wing
Ohis being the Centrc), which was then en-
gagged and hard pressed. Just aS We started
to perform this last order, the enemy opened
their batteries upon US, killing one and
wouudng four Of our regiment. We moved
to the rear of Gen. McOook's division, which
was then Gghting hard to hold their position.
We soon arrived at the Right, aud were inn
meGately formed in line Of battle. The boys
were all in high spirits, although our prospects
did not seem to warrant such feeling. We
were then ordered to move forward. Now
expected some hard fighting, and soon dis.
covered that | was not mistaken, for we had
moved but short distance when the enemy
opened out upon us. The balls came whisu-
ing thick and fast around US, and every mo-
mcut VIC could see one of our men go down.
We moved to within a hundred yards Of the
enemy before we fired q ggu; We were then
ordered to blaze away at them, and II ever
men worked hard We done it there. We kept
this up for about half an hour, when they
brought another regiment up to flank us,
which they succeed in doing. This exposed
us to a cross fire. and I'VE were compelled to
fall back about two hundred yards and take
another position. The brigade on our left
had given way, which left us unprotected,
and our regiment was fighting against brig
adc, yet we held our position till the enemy
had come within ten steps and their right
forming around us, when we again fell back,
but not before we had been ordered to do so.
We did not fall back any too soon, Tor when
we raised up of the ground there were but
very few of us to leave, and as we did so
the enemy made everything whiz about us. |
expected every minute to get chuck in the
back, but luck was on my side. In our re.
treat we passed over two Illinois regiments,
who lay quiet, unobserved by the Rebels,
until they had come almost on them, when
they raised up and poured such volley into
ranks that they rctrcated considerably faster
than they came. We formed in line again
as soon as we had fell back a short distance
but our ranks had been fearlully thinued -
We went into the action about 400 strong,