The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-06-12

In letter TO his father written soon Alter
this battle, JOHN C. KIrsELMAx thus gives
some Of its details. and the part that the
69th took in the being memeber of
Go. A of that Regiment After fighting
from e o'clock in the morning until noon,
he says:
"Our regiment was ordered in the adj
vance to cross a deep ravine and drive the
enemy of a large hill where they were hid
in the canebrake thicket picking off our
cam oniers. To look at The hill. one would
have thought it could not be elimbed-but
up We went, and soon sent the rebel sharp.
shooters flying down the other side of the
hill. Here two or three regiments opened
fire on US from another bluff ahead of US,
and they kept it up until O'Clock P. ".
when every thing became silent. excepting
the shrieks of the dying and wounded
Whilst this silence lasted, we thought we
would let the enemy know we we're still
alive, and our company, the Lieutenant
Colonel, and the Adjutant. sung a familiar
song. the chorus Of which runs thus;
"Ths Union forever Hurrah boys. hurrah
Down with the traitors, up with the Stars" dc.
We sung this in loud. clear voice. do
not tell this because think our company
any drawer than the rest for one company
OF the Goth is just as brave as another, aud
there's not q Drawer regiment in the field. if
do say it myself. When the rebels heard
this song. they halloe6 back TO US: q Yes.
we'll make you rally round your id old
flag p Well. they tried it, but mary"
rally did We make of the kind they allud-
ed 10. About thirty minutes after we sung
the song. the rebel 6lst Missouri regiment.
charged bay"nets on us-they came at US
on the full run, with fixed bayonets glitter
ing in the sue. Our regiment kept pouring
the lead into their ranks and cutting them
down like grass; but still the traitorous
mass came rushing on. Our Colonel gave
the order for us to fix bayonets, and we
stood ready to receive them. They came
up within twenty fee, of us, and began to
think we would get to try our hands at the
bayonet exercise but when they got that
distance they cana 10 the conclusion that
the 69th had been in town before. ard they
came to halt Now CONNIE need the blood
lest work of the day. We fought them this
short distance for two hours-I could see
the whites cf their eyes. Just as we were
hill, and the 42d Ohio. coming to our relief,
one dose from them was enough, and they
broke and did not come back again. TIE
rebel 9th Missouri was never whipped be-
fore. and guess they thought it would be
mere cbild's play to drive US from our posi-
ton. There was no more fighting in front
Of our division after this. but fighting con-
tinued on our right until dark, and then the
bloody battle Of Thompson's Hill was
brought to close. The result of the DAYS
fgh.ing was : the rebels were whipped and
scattered TO the four winds-we took about
$500 prisoners and IS pieces Of artillery"
Mr.. X. gives the number in the regiment.
fit for duty, after this battle, at $50. and
says that this is the remnant out Of LOO.
when the regiment started from Indiana. a
little over eight months ago. He says his
brother Albert. about the time the rebels
made their bayonet charge. was wounded
in the hip by nine buck shot, he was not
then considered dangerously wounded.
In a postscript, dated the 7th. Mr.. X.
says:
News came last might tina. Albert was
dead. He died early on Thursday morn
ing. May Sd, and was buried decently
under q large oak tree, close to the Mssis- |
sippi river. He died without a struggle
No word Of complaint passed his lips since
be received his wound, and be died without
speaking to any one. The man who lay
with him did not know he was dead until
next morning. All who knew him in the
regiment, mourn his loss-both as q brave
soldier and true companion. Twas as much
surprised as grieved to hear of his death
Do not giieve too much over his loss, for
remember he has fallen in a noble cause, |
and that God will bless him for it. and time
will honor him, and he will be remembered |
IS one Of the patriots that fell battling for
Justice and liberty. Oh! what would l not
give if be were not dead Oh, my brother
my brother how / loved him But will !
bave revenge--yes, double revenge for his
life will spare no rebel: but will fight
hem until I can do SO no longer. swear
this before High Heaven--so help me God J"
In another place in his letter, Mr. K.
says:
"Albert's captain told me that be was as
brave a soldier as he had in his company.
Colonel Perry told me OF his bravery in the
ield."
Z" At the battle of Thompson's Hill, two
ebel Generals were killed and two taken
prisoners. One of them. General Bohen,
,io!ated his parole. and General Osterhaus
Jays he'll hang him. if he IS agaic caught.
Dur line of battle was three miles loug. and
General o. led bayonet charge. Our