Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-07-19

q full vOlley from Hayes men. Bu
successful resistance was impossible
and even the attempt to resist seemed
like madness. In a moment NOR,
the force which had struck ThorburI
was closing upon Hayes flank and
rear, and there was no alternative bH
retreat or capture. In the face o1
imminent peril the division withdrew
with steady lines, and from this to the
close of the terrible ordeal of surprise
and retreat, maintained its organiza.
ton unbroken, not losing SO much as
a tin plate. Colonel Hayes directed
its movement with the utmost. intro.
pidity. leading it backward in good
order and from one hill top to anotli-
or and making energetic resistance at
every possible point. His superior
GOODNESS and courage in the midst Of
the frightful rout and confusion act
ing like magic upon his men, and the
example of his division, checking
each rebel onset with its firm and
steady lines, terminated the broken
regiments and fired them with its de-
tcrmined spirit Of resistance.
BADLY BRUISED. BUT STILL FIGHTING
Overpowered and driven from its
advanced position, Crooks command
now endeavored to form OH the left
Of the Sixth Corps, which itself in
turn was soon obliged to fall back
While this movement was going on,
the trains were all rapidly moving off
though imminently exposed to cap.
ture. Shcridan's headquarters train
was particularly in peril, and des.
perate effort to save iu was made,
which proved successful. just as the
enemy's triumphant lines were sweep.
ing down upon the train, Col. Hayes
brought his division to halt and
met them with q firm resistance.
Some of his regiments wavering i'm.
der the, terrible fire, Col. Hayes gal.
lOped forward to rally his men, and
mounting a slight declivity was con-
fronted at less than q hundred yards
by the enemy's infantry, which in
stantly delivered a volley of bullets
and yells. Hayes horse fell dead be-
meath him, pierced by many bullets,
and by the suddenness of its fail
while at full speed, flung its rider vi
olently out of the saddle. Colonel
Hayes was terribly bruised and his
foot and ankle badly wrenched. i'm
being disengaged from the stirrup.
For a moment the soldiers OH both
sides supposed him to be killed, as
he lay upon the ground benumbed
with pain, and scarcely able to move.
Recovering himself, however, he
sprang to his feet, and in the midst of
a perfect storm of bullets from the
rebels, who were now almost upon
him, ran back to his division, which
he regained without further injury.
Meanwhile the headquarters train
had escaped, and the division being
no longer supported on rear or flank,
resumed its backward movement.
The fighting now grew more stub
born on the Union side, the enemy,
wearied with marching and fighting,
and tempted with camp plumber,
more and more relaxed his pursuit
and at last, in position of their own
selection, were brought to a dead
halt. The enemy seemed to content
himself with shelling them, and for
the time being made no further de-
monstration. General Comfy, then
commanding the Twenty third Ohio
of Hayes division, thus described the
scene and what followed: .a
.'General Crook lay q couple, ol
rods away from the line, in q place
which seemed to be more particular
ly exposed than any other part of thu
line. Col. Hayes lay close by, badly
bruised from his fall, and bitterly
complaining because his troops die
not charge the enemy's line instead o
waiting to be charged. Suddenl,
there is a dust in the rear, on thu
Winchester pike, and almost before
they are aware, young man, in full
Major Generals uniform, and riding
| furiously magnificent black horse
literally flecked with foam, reins M
and springs off at Gen. Crooks side
There is q perfect roar, as everybod,
recognized Sheridan. He talks witt
Crook little while, cutting away a
the tops of the weeds with his ridin:
whip. Gen. Crook speaks a hal
dozen sentences that sound like tn
crack Of a whip, and by that tim
some of the staff are up. They ar
sent flying in different directions
Sheridan and Crook lie down an,
seem to be talking, and all is quie
again, except the vicious shells of th'
different batteries. and the roar o
ARTILLERY along the line. After
while Col. Forsythe comes down il
front and shouts to the General
sThe Nineteenth Corps is nearly III
SIR" Sheridan jumps up, gives on
more cut with his whip, whirls him
self around once, jumps on his hors,
and starts up the line. just as h
starts he says to his men: "We ar
going to have good thing on ther
now, boys" and so he rode off. Ion
wave of yells rolling up to the rigf
with him. The men took their post
the line moves forward, and the ba
ance Of the day is household wor
over the whole nation
The advance here described bega
at 3 p. NJ, the men moving steadil
and confidently forward over til
. wooded and broken ground, til
scream of shells and rattle of muske
ry at the same time swelling into
furious chorus along the whole lin
Quickly the enemy's front line W:
! carried by brilliant charge, and h
left decidedly turned, Gordon's divi
ion, which led the attack in the morl
ing, having been outfanked an
, broken. Then came pause in Il
advance, but not in the fight, as Il
enemy opened with his full force
, artillery, now largely strcngthcne
/ by his captures. The different divi
ions were adjusted to the new att
tude of the enemy, and then followt
q another charge, more determined Al
more overwhelming than the fir
5 breaking the rebel line at all poin
. and forcing back its flying fragmen
i upon the turnpike, a frantic, hopele
q mob. Into this bowling mass, bloc