Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-27

basty breakfast Of crackers and fitch,
we're ordered to the front to support
Shows Maryland battery posted south
Of the road running west from New
Market There we remained, with the
exception Of a few manegvers to eoun-
teract those Of the enemy Ia front, until
after II o. clock, NJ, when We were
pressed back by overpowering numbers
Of the enemy. a short time vas oceu-
pied in getting our batteries and troops
in position after we were forced back. .
In half an hour, however, the graz
backs came charging down the valley IN
our front Again was the 1st Virginia
infantry destined to hold the post Of
honor and, | may add, the post of
danger. We were stretched across an
open field directly in front Of the charg-
ing column of rebels; va we're hidden
from the yiew Of the enemy By q shght
rise in the ground so that they could NOS
see our position until within twenty
PAGES Of us. In this position We lay in
breathless suspense, every trigger press
ed by a steady finger, until the gray
mass were but one hundred yards from,
when the order, charge, boysF ran
along the line, and then came the shock.
We raised up and charged forward,
answering the enemy yell for yell and
/ bullet for bullet, as far as three hundred
and fifty men could answer three thous-
and Infatuated demons incarnate Our
sudden dash checked the mass for an
instant only, when they came on again
with redoubled fury. Now came the
final shock, for as we fell back on line
with the balance Of our infantry force,
/ two thousand mnskets belehed forth a
shower of led from our side OF the field,
spreading death and carnage IN the rebel
ranks. Our batteries, too, moved them
down 10 swatks, but all was in vain, for
on came the charging foe, needless Of
the destruction of life and limb in their
midst Oar line was forced from lie or
ganization bat for a few minutes, and
then closed up and fell back slowly and
In good order, defying the enemy in his
angry attempts 20 roGt Il
At Rudes Hill we made s atand, and
beld our position until everything had
been safely crossed over the river. At
the bridge the lst Virginia Infantry was
detained 10 ACT IN the capacity OF rear
guard, and TO guard the Pioneer Corps
while engaged in destroying the bridge.
Der work here was finished by eleven
o clock +. d., when We started on the
backward march down the valley Al
daylight on the 10th inst we halted al
Edinaburg TO get breakfast while the
bridge over stony Greek vas being De.
siroyed, when we renewed our fnarch
aud arrived at our present position in
the evening Of the 10th would not
forget 20 mention that en- the 18th inst
Major +. W. Stephens commanded our
regiment, and to his GOODNESS, caution
and military skill, Is owing TO great
extent the success Of this days opera
tons In the hands Of less capable
msn all would have been lost The Ma.
ior deserves much credit for bis conduct
on the occasion. On the morning Of this
18th Lieut. Col Weddel arrived and asi
sumed command Of the battalion, and
managed it with his usual courage and
tact u is useless TO say that Col Tho
burn did bis duty. Oar color sergeant
William X. Ross, Of company c, carried
the old flag through the battle, and al
though the banner is F.ddled and tori
with shot and she'll, not bullet touched
the bearer As Tor the other Fegimentl
IN the battle | can only say they die
their part like men and soldiers, as thl
record Of casualties will show.
The aith Massachusetts, termed o.
our right, the 54th Pennsylgauia on on
left and rear, the 18th Western Yirginil
Infantry. and the I23d Ohio on our RICH
and rear, and the 18th Connecticut serv
ed as skirmishers All these regiment
lost many heroes Carlin's Wheeling
; battery, and Shows battery, each d.
excellent work The soldiers in thi
command are highly pleased with tn
! general commanding, and all seem glal
! Of an opportunity TO eight init Sigel
. The soldiers in this army are not de
moralzed over their late defeat, as the
we're not tshipped, but overpowered b
numberss the enemys force being tsl
or twelve thousand, while the entir
force engaged on our side did not e1ces'
four thousand men. The officers and mel
. alike deserve the gratitude Of the natiol
for their conduct, their suffering an
perile in this eventful expedition.