, 1863-01-16

ti11ery opened upon Cox's battery to our 1ctt>
md front, and during spirited cannonading,:
sergcant:: We moved ut once Into tho posi-
tio1 sssigned us by Gen. Pa1meE, and formed
the batteries in ccheaon, supported on the left
by Col. Gross, and on tho rightly Gen. Croft's
bEgaae found 70 s osesst9m nv to
moon, when, upon receiving information that
IN artillery demonstration from the left wing
to support the right then hotly pressed, was
necessary, We commenced shclling the cne-
s tasno I'll Tine, be- eicyatIpG Tic tie Ga saase ~ ' Of
our rifles, in oricf, Il possible, to
awaken tfo epcmy's batteries. The latter
effort was successful, but nfter exchanging a
few shots, during which but one Of my men
wes wounded, the cnemy's fire was sifenced.
:. Satisfied that our position was an unfit ono
dars after dark, and wcnt into park in the
open field behind them, ,..
::tOn The morning Of tic SLIT, /. thought 1t
most IN accordance with my instructions from j,
Gen Palmer to remain fn the position where
the enemy should he turn our right: At
about s 4. 1n.,' our infantry caIne filling back
from the pine wood in this direction, when
our batteries We're swung around and brought
ut once into action The approach Of the en-
emy was parallel instead, Of perpendicular to
1I0utt AllN #AEu uN 11HA NNlAAfE4 "AtlA44
about eco yards, We opened upon his first line
and column Of reserves an entlade fire Of can
fster. The attempt to advance Wns continued
for few moments, then, an effort to change
front was followed BY feeble charge upon
the batteries. when, npon being repnlsed, the
.peared shortly afterward to our LEFT, ,but again,
'nron receiving our fire, fell back, and . por-
tion Ut our inf0ntry occupied the woods.
I then took position upon the slight e1eva-
tfon nearer tho pike in season to assist in
checking the enemy 'sadvance upon Gen -Rous-
changed front and opened dle by order Of
Gen. Palmer, upon. the brick house.
to cooperate With Col. Hazen's bri.-
gade. So soon as I believed the enemy
dislodgedxrom this position our pieces we're
moved to the front and directed upon his in-
er1y held by Gen. Cruft's brigade. The enemy
meanwhile, directed one Of lis batteriea upon
us, hut 1.did not thfnk'it proper to reply so
long "a our ammupition could be used with
better effect nponahs infantry, A. about 13
y: lust as , I had nearly given gut Of amnu-
hall to retire. -
. At about o'clock, + mored to the front By
order Of Gen. Palmer, and from the eleYation
on either side Of the raiiroad, opened upon
the enemy's Infantry. His advance
was et1ectually checked and at sun
EEk l H1A 0TQeTeu 10 feLlFG ana rest
At daylight Of January 1st, We moved toapo-
sition onaGen. Rousseau's front, where was
ordered by Gen. Rosecrans. Except for the
fire Of the. encmy's sharpshooters whom we
dispersed ut intervals By 1rsnS spherical ease,
we were not actually engaged during the day,
and at night retired to a position near the
pike, where our horses were fed and watercd.
ordered By different officers to resume my
| previous position. I was obliged to decline
obeying these orders, owing to those 1sd
received from Capt. Mendenhal1 directing me
to await his own. The position In which
was placed. from this conflict Of orders.
was exceedingly painful, but I found myself
| justified By Subsequent events.
At about o'clock In the afternoon Of the
I'd inst., after ! had been placed In position
bT Capt. Mendenhall. on an elevation near
Ncgley's division, two Of the enemies bate
ries opened upon Us fsnn our front, while 8
left..' I advanced the four rifles holding my
no~itzeEs IN reserve for tho shortest range
The batteries around HE we're s1enced far two
soon, and when my rihc ammunition w2s ex-
/ hausted, I found that some scountrel had led
of my caissonB and WINS left with only the
| two howitzers to reply to the enemies concen-
trated artillery fire: Fortunately, Capt. swal-
lows battery came up beside us, aud the crest
Of the hill was held autil our endorsements
came up, when, with the assistance Of the
Board Of Trade battery the enezny's guns were
silenced. We ceased firing when our last round
| was exhausted.
t We have not again been engaged or under
| fire. I bare to remark in this connection, that
| il through five consecutive daya, during which
| We we're thus more OF less engaged, we cx-
| pended m Unusual amount OF ammunition, it
f! must be recognized that VIC hare been longer,
| md In general, more closely. engaged than
| perhaps any other batteries Of the army, aud
| that nearly all our ammunition vas expended
| at close range.
The following are our list Of casualties, &C.:
Number Of men killed. ...:..-....-...-,.........
. -. =" wounded. ........+..1i
-: hor.oa 15f1n E191eg -
| Rounds Of ammunition nred, !, $50.
In place Of the piece disabled, the 18th Hi
nois gnye me one captured b them from the
enemy.
I do myself honor sir, In asking Jour atten.
tion to the efficient and meritorions servicea
Of Lieut.. Harry G. Cushing and Lieut.. Henrs
4 Huntington, beth Of the 4th United States
ARTILLERY.
all circumstances, and especially during the
the gallant officers discharged tleir duty With
such GOODNESS and fidelity that they deserve
my most grateful mention.
My b1are men look for their reward to the
generous appreciation which has been freely
| offered them By the troops with whom they
fought, and tho General commanding the d.
vision in which they serve.
I am, Captain, very respectfully. your obe
First Lieutenant 9Th United States Artillery
Commanding Artillery Battalion