The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-06-06
EVANSVILLE, IND, SATURDAY MORNING,

QOWn Jne ROAD, towards the 'front.' and
middle of my line, l met Capt Klauss,
1st Indiana battery, who had been gal
lantly fighting the rebel batteries The
field around him, and one disabled gun,
testified to the nature of the conflict
He at once pointed out the position of
the rebel battery, the guns of which,
with line of rebels heads in their rear,
were plainly visible Immediately rode
down, under cover of the brow of the
ravine, to the head of the I'd brigade,
where Colonel Slack, and Cameron of
the 34th Indiana, were standing Lieu
tenant Colonel Raynor, of the 56th Ohio,
who had been supporting Capt Klauss's
battery, here Joined us. Here l attempt
ed to communicate with General McGin-
mis-, who was in the rear of his brigade,
but the ground was impassable for my
Aids on horseback, and my voice could
not be heard on account of the noise
around him. pointed out the battery,
first to Col. Cameron, and told him it
must be taken.
Col Slack claimed the honor for his
command, but l settled the matter by
directing Col Cameron of the 34th Ind,
to make the charge, and Lieut. Colonel
Raynor, of the 56th Ohio, TO support it.
/ alse directed Col. Slack to hold his
brigade ready to move forward at any
instant The distance of the rebel bat
terry from the point of my attack could
not have exceeded $50 yards Upon re-
ceiving the order to charge, Col Came
ron commanded his battalion to leap the
fence, which, with the 56th Ohio, rushed
with fixed bayonets and loud shouts to-
wards the battery. Their advance was
met with grape from the rebel battery,
and shower of ball from the rebel lines.
The fire became intense and concentra-
ted, and both regiments, to shield them
selves, fell to the ground, willis: the fire
continued for two or three minutes longer
on both sides. At this juncture l gave
the command forward as loud as l
could, and had the qualification of see
ing the 34th and 56th spring to their
feet, and, with two companies Of the 1Ith
Indiana, which l knew by their dress,
and several other companies from my
division, which l could not then distin-
guish, rush forward the charge Again
the bright bayonets of the 18th division
were glittering in the sun; again wild
shout, shout of triumph, reverberated
through the hills. The enemy were
beaten hack -hetwean two and thraa hnn-
dred taken prisoners, and one stand Of
colors, two tweive-pound howitZers, three
caissons, and three six mule teams load
ed with ammunition were the reward of
this chivalrie action. The particular
x.zi,fN ea,1nI .,
took the guns and turned them on the
enemy, surrounded o..d UOvh sl.O t,.I.,O
ers, cannot tell, as in the hot contest of
the moment nothing but daguerrean
sketches could have fixed the facts.
One thing is certain, the honor of the
charge belongs 10 the 18th Division. /
gave the command-my men obeyed,
and made the charge-manned the guns
discharged them at the enemy-took
the prisoners, and have the battlefag of
the battery, now in possession of the
gallant Colonel Raynor That other
gallant men were there, after the incep-
ton of the charge, and sustained it, may
| be so, as officers and men of this corps
are not only ready, but more than willing
to do their duty, but that any organized
body of troops from any other division,
participated in the capture, is, ! think,
contrary to the position of the corps at
the time, and the truth of history"
Immediately after the charge was
made, several regiments formed on the
same ridge in line of battle, and the
widest enthusiasm prevailed, as Major
General Grant and Major General Nc
Clernand rode down our lines. General
Grant and Gen. McClernand, command
ded me to press the whole line forward,
and drive the enemy from the field, be-
fore they could be reinforced. l gave
the command to the brigades of my own
division, and to the gallant Colonel VIM.
Landrum. commanding the I'd Brigade
10th Division, who, with my division
Immediately marched across a ravine in
the direction that the enemy had taken
On reaching the plateau or ridge beyond
our line again received the enemy's fire
from a long woody ravine which lay a
the base of the ridge Skirmishers al
different points opened a fire upon the
enemy, for several minutes. Passing
Colonel Slack formed the. 4Ttn InuIaiIs
and 56th Ohio in line of battle, and
F opened fire on the enemy. Being severel,
pressed he was subsequently rein
forced by the Oath Indiana regiment
Colonel W. I. Spicely commanding, ant
the 29th Wisconsin, Colonel Gill, and al
, ter hot and spirited contest of an hou
: and a half, with about equal numbers
: they forced the enemy to retire befor
, them. Here these gallant regiment
: met with severe loss. During that cor
{ test, and when passing down our lines t
the right, met General McGinnis, VIII
9 informed me that the enemy were MOI
!. ing on our right with the probable inter
/. tion of thanking Us, He had previousl
r sent to the right three companies of ski
q mishers from the 1lth and Oath Indian;
!. and Col. Cameron, with the 34th Indian;
r As we passed down the line. my Ait
Lieutenant J. P. Pope, discovered
r. rebel battery moving in the same dire
r ton, supported by large force of reb
It infantry, hidden by the woody ravine
Al plainly saw their heavy column advan
d ing. In few minutes the rebel batter
h opened on our lines, firing shell and sh
le from "a FOUNDER and II FOUNDER ho'
A. itzers. The she'll and shot picked up {
e. the field demonstrated the calibre.
tn my infantry were already in close su
K porting distance 1 massed my four b;