The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-04-01

made their progress exceedingly difficult, and uc,
uniy didths shrmishors uf this regiment receive
terrible VOlley frum the enemy before thew could
rcoin their comrades, but the entire l0lst became
to some extent separated from the rest ct the brig
ade, and for considerable time Lieutenant Colo
uel Dnan was thrown upon his resources. Olsen
tangliug himself to some extent hom the c,dSrs, he
was moving along the lane | have before men
toned, when he was suddenly setupon by Dukes
and Brcckiurdgc's regiments. lie Immediately
formed his men in limo along the lane, and met the
rebel onset with determined courage.
saw POSITION rAxxS ny orR rRoors.
In the meantime the S0th Illinois had moved
backward, and taken position along Naught's Hill
facing nearly to the east; while the 1891 Illinois,
had also retrograded, aud tsker up position along
the line ot fence at about wo-thirds from the foot
ot the Hill To it's summit, their right resting upon
the pike, ther skirmishorS extending acUSs aud
connecting them with the left OF the S0th Illinois,
while their left was endeavuring " communicate
with the right of the l0Ist Indiana Ii will bc OBJ
served that in making this retrograde movement,
the l23d had almost entirely crossed to the cn Of
the road from the right, where it was originally
formed. This was in consequence of the fact that
Naught's Hill, our chosen position was mainly on
the left OF the pike. The 1O5th Ohio was still held
in reserve. and was moved to the south side of the
hill Upon the summit was one Of the " NapO-
leons," Immediately under command of Captain
Harris, while the other was planted further tr the
right, just in the road, and was put In charge Of
Lieutenant Sfackhouse. None Of these movements
were child's play and all took place under fire. al
though as yet at long range.
COLONEL poAN SENDS FOR ASSISTANCE.
After the attack was made upon the l0lst Indi-
ana, Lieutenant Colonel Doan gradually extended
and retired the right OF his line, until he came in
communication with the left Of the l23d Illinois, so
that now both regiments could he made available
for supporting the piece of artillery commanded by
Captain Harris, which was doing terrible execution
rn the rebel ranks, and which from the first th5y
manifested an ardent desire to capture. In order
the better 10 effect this, they now made desperate
effort To turn the flank of the l0lst Indiana and
were partially successful Major Steele, of that
regiment Immediately applied to Colonel Hall for
assistance, as his men now In imminent dan
ger ofbcing assailed in the rcaras well as upon the
front and flank. The application was Immediately
attended to, and part Of the S0th Illinois was h-
ried 10 the southern base OF the hill. to meet and
drive back the enemy.
THE l0lST CHANGES EASE.
During this time a desperate contest was taking
place upon the extreme left, where Colonel Doan
was gallantly coutending with the I'd and 18th Ken
tucky, the regiments Of Duke and Br,ckinridge0
and was molnenarily in danger of being over
whelmed Redoublng his fire for few minutes
and seeing the enemy temporarily rcpulsed, he in
stantly ordered the left of his regiment TO fall back
that he could form new line facing to the west
and at right angles to the l23d Illinois. This move
ment being made hastily and in the face of the en-
eny, was necessarily attended with some confusion
and caused the right wing of the regiment to bc
somewhat withdrawn, so as To leave a considerable
gap between it aud the left of the l23d This
breach was promptly repaired by Cooucl Monroe.
who extended his right, aud moved over several
companies to the left,
IN GOOD POSITION AT LAST.
Both regiments were more fully prepared for any
effort Of the enemy, and resolved at all hazards to
prevent Captain Harris piece Of cannon from falling
into their hands.
TIE S0TH ILLINOIS REPuLsE THE ATTACK UroN OUR
RIGHT.
Previous to this, however, Colonel Allen, with
the SOth Illinois, had encountered that column of
the rebel cavalry which had passed around to our
right and it left the foot of the range of
hills on that side, and emerged into the opCn fields
had poured iuto it most deadly volley of rrusket
balls which had driven ii back in utter confusion
with the exception Of u small body that galloped
past our left flank passed entirely around the south
ern base Of the hill, and actually Joined the column
under breckenridge which was assailing our left
The l'ft of the S0h, the extreme right of the l23d
and our other Napoleon under Lieutenant Stack
house had all this time fully held their own against
rebel infantry in the center.
l0jTH OHIO IN RESERVE,
Our line of battle now extended almost entirely
around the hill, the lO5th Ohio holding the south
ern face in reserve, and behaving with great cocl-
ness, although shot and shell fromthe encmy's cam
non frequently came whizzing over the summit of
the hill and dropped among them.
REBEL GRAND ASSAULT won the LEFT-lr FAILS
Il was perhaps two O'Clock, when the rebels. on
ragged beyond bounds at the havoc made among
them by Captain Harris l2-pound Napoleon, :" de
tcrmlncd to capture II II possible. Concentrating
nearly the whole of Morgan's brigade, they rushed
forward and made desperate assault upon the
right ot the lOlst Indiana and left of the l23d Iii
nnis our boys,now adyantageously posted, suffer-
ed them to come within thirty forty yards of our
line, when they opened upon them with so destruc-
tive fire that in few minutes the victOrs OF Hart
vile were retreatng in the widest confusion. leav
ing many rebel rampant and exulting but n mo-
ment before, dead, dying bleeding upon the ground
REBELS DISCOURAGED.
II was the last effort of the enemy. His troons
could no more be brought TO the charge On every
side storm of bullets greeted them. 1t was death
all around the hill
ARTILLERY FIGHT AT LONG RANGE.
Sullenly Withdrawing TO the edge of the woods
upon the ground where our troops had first formed
IN line OF battle they planted three pieces Of artil
lery, and opened drspairing, scattering and ner-
iectlve fire which did no damage whatever to the
brave men who held Vaught's Hill. Nevertheless,
Captain Harris trained his piece upon one of their
guns disabled Il after round or two and compelled
the Gunncrs to draw of One of the gumners of the
disabled piece was atterward found blown into
Fragments, with one of his arms hanging to the
limb Of Il tree
CHEER BY THE UNION TRooPS.
No reinforcemcnts had as yet come up to Colonel
Halls assistance he did not know the extent of
the terrible loss he had inflicted upon the enemy
and supposed that they might be preparing to again
attack HIM. 10 create an impression upon the
minds of the rebels that his renOrccments had ar
rived, he ordered his men to raise - shout This
they were in good hu.I0r 10 do anyhow and u
luSty cheer made Naught's Hill and the forests
around it fairy ring. At the same time, skrmish-
ers We're pushed ou' light and left The fire from
the rebel artillery redoubled for moment and then
entirely ceased.
RETREAT OF THE ENEMY,
But ali this cannonadng on the part Of the cne-
my, after their terrible repuSc upon the left was
only for the purpose of conceang and covering
heir retreat and when our skirmishers advanced
10 the town. not rebel could be found except some
who were so badly wounded that they could not be
carried off.
THE REBELS ATTEMPT To TELL WHAT HURT THEN.
As the rebels passed through Milton, they told
such otthe inhabitants as had not run away, that
hey had entirely beaten Colonel Hall, but that the
arrival OF reintOrcements, ten thousand strong TO
liS assistance, had compelled them to retire. II
vas in fact, two hours from the time the last rebel
until the head of the reinforcing col
lmn came in sight fVaughts Hill.
LOSSES OS BOTH 8IDEs.
The material results of the battle have been al
ready stated. Twenty prisoners were left in our
hands, besides the wounded. Seven rebels were
killed and Il prOportonate number wounded, by the
single volley with which the S0th Illinois repealed
the cavalry which assailed our right fwen-
ty-tivo of them were killed outright in their final
grand attack upon our left, and were buried where
they fell DR.. Keller, Surgeon Of Morgan's brig