The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-07-13
Battle of GAINESVILLE.

Sineteenth Indiana bore IT, from Fsasasss Fa1 al
Hoaor'' II Is sufficient realization of the matsnan
assaults cf the unTntigatei scoandrel who spouted
out the fogr columns OF li.h thas appeared in last
weeks Broad1re against Gen. MgsEnfTH. There's no
neesi branding iron. with which 70 place the
forehead author Of that four column production,
nalieions sfanderer Of brave soldier Il i a
rron7irer1r and indeiisy fixed there the mark
Of Gaia We shall publish several other extracts from
this work. as we find space They sufficient
answer, 10 the base charge that Gen. N. Is "a cen
tenptIbe failure destitute alike of hanor courage or
capacity that No oae but unconditional BLACKBOARD
aud villain, would dare bring up against him, IN the
face of historical facts
august twenty fourth the first division
fell back. the Ninetceth marching to
Warrenton. where 1t remained until the
morning Of the twenty sixth Going
from thence u sulphur Springs, il sup
ported battery which played upon the
rebels for twenty four hours. While
these events were transpirin1, Jackson
marched through ThorourIfare Gap.
laid Manassas Junction-immediate
il the rear OF Popt-in ashes One di
vision had attacked, and been routed by
Hooker,s corps, near Catletts. Stuart
had attacked many of our wagon trains
among them the train OF the Nineteenth
which was saved by tile bravery of the
guard and teamsters. The army was
cut OF from its base, and only one corps
OF the promised aid from McClellen had
arrived.
McDowelrs corps retreated on War
renton and Centreville pike. leaving
Sulphur Springs, and marching through
Warrenton on the twenty seventh day of
August, At ten, z. NJ. near New Balti-
moro. the regiment lay down to sleep
Many OF these brave men, who, in the
prime Of life, and manly yigor. wrapped
their blankets around them tFaat night
and clay down to quiet slumber, were
destined soon to sleep their last, long
sleep. Early next morning the column
again marched. Near GAINESVILLE, per
fectly unconscious of their proximity
the regiment halted, the men were sup
piled with fresh meat butchered on the
ground, and towards sunset the regiment
/ fled on to the pixies towards Centreyilie
One mile was marched, when reports of
cannon gave unmistakahle evidence of
an attack Two or three times during
the day the column was fired upon by
masked batteries. This was supposed
to be but section of flying artillery,
which had annoyed the march that day.
The brigade to which the Nineteenth be-
longed had reached point opposite that
from which this last gun had been fired
when it was opened upon by several guns
at short range The brigade was imme-
diately put in battle order The unearthlv
sound of these fearful missiles struck
! terror to the stoutest heart; vet cool and
collected stood that line. obeving with
alacrity every command, and waiting
/ impatiently for the order to advance
The order was given, shell burst in front,
above, and behind, crushed through the
branches of the trees, plowed up the
ground. and yelled demoniacly through
the air, yet steadily forward pressed the
line. Soon the cannon ceased: a dead
silence prevailed. Up gradual rise,
for three or four hundred yards, at
double quick, the column pressed, when,
on reaching the summit of the ridge the
line was halted
The tall Colonel of the Nineteenth
rode along the Hnc-'Boys," said he,
don't forget that YOU are Hoosiers,
and above all, remember the glorious
flag of our country. II sesesh tenders
her currency, show them that Indiana is
willing to take stock" The determine
ton Of each to stand by the flag, was
indexed in the conntenance. A moments
silence ensued-a calm preceding storm
lowed by yells from thousand throats
The Nineteenth had received its first
volley from infantry The reply was
quickly eiven-gun answering gun
flame answering 1ame-yell cchoing to
yell. Indiana was taking stock. The
dcmoniac wells of the belligerants, the
piercing screams of the wounded, and
the deep groans of the dying, conld be
heard above the din of battle Men in
the agonics of death and men already
dead. lay thick along the line. The brave
and gallant Major May, beloved by his
regiment, received mortal wound. and
was carried from the field. Artillery was
opened upon the line hundred yards
from the rebel right, and grape, canister
and she'll whistled through and screamed
above it. One hour and twenty minutes
the battle ragged Twilight had deepen
ed into darkness, and for the Inst half of
this time the men were guided IN their
aim By the flash of the enemys guns
At last tired of the carnival of death. /
a. if by mutual consent, the firing ceased /
Each withdrew y short distance, and es-
tablished pickets.
The following extracts are taken form
Col. Meredith report Of the battle:
The officers and men Of my command
neHateu with great gdifiiitih- W Hti
the ranks were thinned out by the deadly
fire of the enemy, they were closed up
with as much promptness as if on drill.
The battle was fought at range Of about
seventh five yards. It was terrific from
beginning to end.
| am informed. by what | consid-
er reliable authority, that the Nineteenth
Indiana had TO contend against four regi-
rnaptS- tha col ebrat0fl StonpvaIf EriCa1a
THEIR colors were shot down twice da-
ring the engagement
..Of the number, four hundred and
twenty three, who went into the battle.
fortv-two were killed, one hundred aud
forty five wounded, and thirty three
missing, an aggregate loss of two hun
drel and twenty.
During the engagement my horse was
shot, and fell on me, severely injuring
me for time. The command then fell
upca Lieut. Col BackInan, until ] recoy-