Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-02
~, 80. npt br,lIen and scattered in ccnfasio.l:


his infantry supports to keep from leaving
the field I'll was in the midst of this des-
tructive FIRE Of the enemy, and while Capt
| Hamilton W, g urging the infantry to main
tain their lie, and at the same time giving.
! orders to tho battery, he was struck in the
| arm by n1ssket ball, and shortly after was
againshit in the thigh. To add to the mis-
/ fortune, all OF his officers-four 10 number.
were wounded. Col Chas w Fribley, OF
the 9Th United States, was also mortally
wounded on this portion OF the field. lie
/ did not cease for moment, Z, encourage
/ and rally his men, and by his gallant beIsr
/ yiour proved himself to be an officer OF no
ordinary merit. Capt. Hamilton kept his
pieces at work until it was evident it would:
be sure loss to. fire another round. and then
gave orders to withdraw them Horses
I were attached to only four pieces, the horses
to the other two had been shot, consequently
/ two guns fell into possession of the enemy
! On the right of Hamilton the 9Th Connects
| cut and the 9TH New Hampshire were doing
/ fearful execution The 9TH Connecticut
especially were standing their ground with
marked valor. Every voIley from their
guns told splendidly onthe rebel line. But
1 between the two forces a wide difference ex-
/ sted-the rebels outnumbered us five toonel
This crushing superiority give the two reg
iments little chance for victory. After losing
one-fourth of their number they We're COM
PEELED to retire TO. the rear. At the same
moment Col Bartons brigade, the 18th,
48tL and 18th New York regiments took
the field, coming up in line en- echelon. On
the right was Elders battery, and on the
| left Iangdof's and one section OF the I'd
Rhode Island. The enemy had four pieces
OF artillery. On railroad car he had
mounted heavy gun, supposed to be 81
FOUNDER, and with this he kept up regular
/ fire. but not destructive, as the shells passed
over the heads of our men. There can be
no doubt concerning the fighting qualities
of Barton S brigade On this occasion they
fought like tigers, but the same difficulty
which opposed Hawley''s brigade, presented
itself to them, viz the mass of the enemy
The last regiments to enter the fieldwere
the LIST North Carolina and 54th Massachu
sets, (colored,) of Montgomery's brigade.
They took bold position at the front, and
maintained their ground with commendable
pertinacity. For three and halfsuccessive
hours did our brave regiments combat the
enemy before them The instances of per-
sonal daridg that occurred in the meantime
are numerous. Never before did the troops
in this departments have such al. opportuni-
| ty for displaying then. vaior, and ON no pre-
vious occasion have they exhibited such a
| high degree Of bravery. If the enemy had
presented an equal force with our own, Or
| even if Ill had been only doubles no doubt
| could have been felt as to the final result of
the contest. As it was, the enemy resisted
| -
times that of our own, which, taken together
with the circumstances of the long and te-
dious march and the ill condition OF the
men, it would be hardly reasonable to sup
pose that success would be on our side. The
effect of our fire, both of musketry and ar
tillery, was fearful. At every discharge,
down went body of rebels. The gallant
Langdon on the left, made an impression on
the rebel lines that will go far to offset the
misfortune that ultimately overlook us. The
fight was by no 7meansga trivial encounter
it was q battle hotly contested. fought at
close range, face to face and foot to foot
The commanding officers Of the various reg
iments are entitled to unlimited credit for
the heroic manner in Which they led their
mengEsg AeT rTk-scHgB
/ Gen. Seymour was not away from the
ground for. nlinstant. q AT first on the right
and then on the left, he seemed to be every
where at one and the same moment. His
aim was apparently tofbe in the thickest Of
the fight, and at the front of his troops.
AT 5 p. NJ the fire slackened on both sides;
on ours. in consequence of the ammunition
giving out, and on the enemys becaus. we
did not press him. "A demonstration by the
rebels to capture Langdon's Battery at
about the middle stage of the fight, was
prevented by Langdon, who poured into
their line a quick and deadly fire. But in
coming from the field he was obliged to leave
to the enemy three of his pieces, not because
/ the enemy charged upon them, but for the
reason that he did not have horses to draw
them off At 81 o'clock the heavy firing
| had ceased The cessation was simultaneous
on both sides We held eur ground till :
o'clock, and then the order came from Gen
Seymour TO gradually 1890
RETIRE.
The retreat was conducted leisurely and
orderly There was no confusion, no panic
nothing that Indicated hurry. Col Henry
with his cavalry, brought up the rear. Al
o'clock Sunday morning, our troops were
at BARRIERS. The enemy followed closely
4 but did not press A few of their cavalry
II only kert web up to the rear of Henry
column At BARRIERS, our men rested till
A. NJ, and then again took up the line of re
treat, reaching Baldwin at about P. NJ
They halted here a short time, and ther
went on toward Jacksonville, arriving at The
camping ground six miles out, on Monday
. afternoon. On the way down many Of Tho
: poor fellows could hardly drag one foot after
the other. .,.s4. -s;..s, 49,
OUR LOSS.
To estimate our loss is indeed an unpleas
, ant task. but, nevertheless, one which must
be performed in giving the record of The
!. DAYS events. In. killed, wounded, and mis-
! sing, / give the number one thousand two
! hundred All our killed and the severely
wounded, that is, those who were unable tc
: walk from the field unassisted, fell into the
: hands Of the enemy. Last night. at /:
Of al 11ar