, 1864-06-06

ssentn GVtPe me4e b"u tluSes VIII su$n
tween them and the rebel redoubts afforded
IN excellent cover to the troops which wer
masEed In 1t, and was made safer and stronger
BY three lines Of well constructed rife pits
Between the ridge ind the line Of the Fif
teenth Corps, tho ground vas an opel
field, slOping to the southwest, afford
ing but little cover. Near the woods in
which our troops Lay was q creek not fortlab1e.
Gen. Logan directed the assault to be made
by one brigade from each OF the first nnd
SECOND divisions. Gen: Chas. R. Woods
a. Smiths brigade OF the I'd division, were
selected. The important and perflous charge
could not have been entrusted to better men,
The remaider Of the divisions were put in
position 20 give such immediate support tu
the brigades as circumstances might require,
while the whole Of the right wing that vas
In front acted as the principal reserve.
Generals Logan and Morgan L. Smith were
In front, busy along the line. It being very
difficult to cross the creek, the troops were
passed over singly to tie opposite bank On
logs and In any way they best could, under
The bt1gade Of Gen. Giles A. Smith con-
sisted at the time Of the 9Th NO., Col Van
Duzen, 1l1th III, Col. Martin, 127th ILL.,, Col.
Curtis, 51th Ohio, Col. Rice, and l1Gth Ill,
Col. froman.
At aix the line Of skirmlshers was advanc-
cd to the foot of the hill, diving the rebels.
At the order the brigades spranS up from the
! ployed md marched forward ut a double
quick. The rebel main line occupied rifle
pit along the crest Of the bill, ut the foot Of
which ran sluggish creek some three or
four feet in depth: Across this creek aud
up the hill into the rilie~pit they had been
driven By the sEirmishers. The distance
from the lines where the two brigades la
ployed to the riae-pit Of the enemy was $50
yards. Acrr es this space, exposed to severe
tire Of mueketry, our line advanced with
tralled arme, f0rded the creek, and reached
and carried the rebel rifle pit without y shot
nidcent]y done The shouts Of the men
were ans wered by the: cheers of their COM
| rades Of the corps that we're heard for miles.
The position had been carried, the problem
now was to hold it. Gen. Woods brigade
was on the left md Gen. Giles A. Smith on
! doubts the rebels formed d column to retake
| the hill Very soon strong force, display
ing seven regimenta1 colors, was discovered
! moving to the attack In column, By regi-
ments. From the Aill, where Generals Nc
Pherson and Logan stood, the attacking col
the two brigades was dep1oyed in trout The
rebel column would strike In a few minutes,
Il it broke our line position was goue, and
the brigades lost. Logan hurried along the
front It seemed but an instant when the
whole rebel force made its assault upon the
right OF Giles Smiths brigade. The 11Gth
Illinois, which was deployed as skirm1shers,
lsll back, forming On the right mud left OF
the 51th Ohio. Col. Froman bad been wound
ed in crossing the creek. The rebel column,
portion Of Hardee's corps, came boldly and
steadily on. Col Rice reserved his fire until
the rebels we're within sixty yards, when he
delivered 4 terrible fire straight in their faces
At the same time the 111th 1llinois md the
right Of Gen. Woods brigade changed front
little towards the right, and the i37th ILL
nois on tue extreme right changed direction
to tie left, md both wings poured in terrif
tic ob1ique fire on both sides of the
rebel column. It staggered and fcl
back, but instantly reformed and
renewed the assault and were peafu renulsed
They massed and assaulted Woods brigade
ing In their direct assaults, they attempted
to turn the right Of our line, In their last
assault, the obliouc fire of the 197t} 7yns in
creased by a part Of Lightburu's brigada.
These ASSAULTS were rapidly and boldly Rade.
Reintorcemt nts were on their way to 1he
ed Gen. Logan. But 5tilI the main heaVy
blows Of the rebel assaults were recrivad on1
repulgcd by Woods und Giles A. Smiths
brjgude5 before they re .ched them Tie last
encl1 flank n tha thev az Wcre 1 M, hy tha
supporting Ofir0 les, anu REFUSED with SE-
yere loss-our loss Wus less thau three hun
dred. The rebel loss Of coarse was very
much greater. They admitted a loss Of
1000 during the dav on their left This
charge and the engagement which ensued
lasted until after dark, and was one Of the
best fights ever made within my experience
by Federal troops. They were led by Gems.
hrignle co1ntnanders in the fleld. The men
behaved with the .grcatest coolness and
courage while receiving the assaults Of the
rebel columns, the 5Itn Ohio against which
the attack vas directed, fired and loaded BY
front and rear rank at the command The
1S5th Illinois loaded md tired at the word.
Inc rGbel Colonel stanton was Killed, an
Aid de camp to AaFdee was Killed, and Gen.
Haroee's morse k1!ea under hlm: l nave
seen an ATLANTA 1afeatgenee' OF the 18th,
when clalms q victory IN tne 9att!e On the
eenter-and . s1ates tnat tne 2attae IN Una
their losses heavy-but claiuls that they fin
ally 1epu!sed p" the 1ankee Ghafges
1t would be unjust to omit to make record
OF the universal testimony Of Officers ard
men to the conduct OF Col Rice; Win Inc
utmost 1ntrepidlty ana coolhess ne renamed
asslst1nE the assaaie san, an ana handling hls men
as st9aoHy ana Win 'ne precision ot dress
paTnug, n"e;n Aha os,o,oor . f,rca u,.,, . non
foon fratn had heen mnre5 to tha fsrrv