The National tribune., 1883-11-08
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
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Tue ttatA4t VI hifHns HARr-tHA-tgAs
TO the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Wednesday, May p, 1852, the weather was
warm and pleasant. Companies A, Z, @ and
X. Fourteenth Missouri volunteers, and West
err sharpsho0iers, Captain Vim. s. Boyd, of
company A. commanding, at 8 a. III. left Camp
C. i. Smith, near Park House, Miss, marched
from Bridge Creek, and at n m. advanced as
skirmisheFs and soon met the rebel skIrmish-
ers OF the Thirty-first Mississippi, and engaged
them, driving them back on their reserves,
when the Johnny nehs opened on US with a
fonr-eun battery, shelling Us, but doing us no
harm While this was going on, General Tbos.
A. Davies advanced the Second division of Gen
eral George IL. Thomas grand center division
of HalIceE's army; the Second brigade, Colo
mel john McArthur, of the Twelfth Illinois, In
command; the Fourteenth Missouri sharp
shooters in advance, with the Ninth and
Twelfth Illinois, Thirteenth Missouri, and
Eighty-fiIst Ohio in line of battle. The Skin
mishing by this time vas hot and lively, and
the rebels we're holding their own on the high
ridge bordering on Phillips Creek and Ia the
thick weods-they having cever-while the
old Second brigade had 10 charge through an
open field. under heavy fire of the Thirty
first Mississippi rifles; but our men advanced
lust as if on a parade, when the rebels opened
briskly. and, with a harrah, the old Second
bricsde drove them ont Of their rife-pits and
on their main line. when we were met by Gen
eral Braxton Bragg's division of veterans from
Santa Rosa Island and Shiloh fame. Bat Gen
eral It. A. Davies was equal TO the veteran
Bragg, by bringing up the whole of the Second
division Seventh. tiIueth. tlfty-secOnd and
Fifty-seventh Illinois, and the battle became
general The First and Third hrigades coming
up the gaslaut bows OF IOga-SecoBd, Seventh
and Foarteenth-came in on a charge and hur-
rah. and the rebels fed in confusion from their
flfe-pits leaving behind them their camp
eauipage and the ground streWn with guns and
knaps2cks; we captured some 500 guns aud
seventy-six prisoners Of war. In this engage
mcni the Western sharTsshOoters, Fourteenth
Missouri or SiKty-sixril Illinois veteran yolun-
ieer infantry, were IN the fight in the front
line from the beginning TO the end, and held
the front line OF the Second brigade during the
siege Of Gorinth Miss. In this engagement
the rebels had General Bragg's veteran troops
from Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola and Shiloh
fame. consisting Of the First and Thirteenth
Arkansas, Ninth Teas Fifth, Sixth, Ninth,
Nineteenth and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth
Tennessee volunteer infantry; Fifteenth,
Twenty second and ThiTty-frst Mississippi
First Louisiana, Seventeenth, Twenty first and
Twenty second Alabama. We held the high
ridge OF Phillips Greek and were lar in ad-
vance Of the rest OF the army OF General IL.
W Halleck beSieging Corinfh, Miss. In the
afternoon the rebels recharged the Second bri-
gade, s)ut were again driven back across PHll-
lips Creek. The writer, who was member OF
company G. was slightly wounded in the en-
gapement
Here is what the New York Tribune, of May
q, 1862, said Of the fight at Phillips Greek:
BE-FoEE CoRIETH Miss May - Is62-The Sec
ond division of General Hss1eek's army, COM
manded BY Brfgadier-General Thomas A. Davies
received orders move 81 a. Pnnctual TO the
time designated, the fne of bsstie formed ten
regiments 'front.' to occupy the ridge north of Phil
lips Creek. The line was halted and formed on
the first ridge beyend Bridge Creek. ana the artil-
lery brought UPS section between each two regi-
ments. account Of the density OF the timber.
The pickets, who occupied the ridge and slope in
advance Of the whole front line. then opened
brisk fire the four regiments and The skirnis
line Of the enemy concealed ia the thick under
brUsh Phillips Creek. which they heartily re-
turned Under the noise which eusued. the IN
falltry lIlte advanced behind the Of the ridge
formed IL line Of hattie and the artillery was again
brought M. Our whole picket line was then with
drawn NJ dOubie-gulck time. which the enemy
took for retreat. and followed As soon ouI
pickles feli back upon the Infantry line the rSli-
lery opened with twc-sec0nd fuses then with
three aud four. and the csieInys Advance sud-
denly changed 10 a retreat. ending IN a complete
roHt. The firing ceased and the pleSets Of The
Western EtHrElslROOtGrS again advanced 81
doubls-nicI, and occupied al the ground desira-
bic 20 hos.s Some 9FlSoaers were taken. The en-
envy leff behind them guns, caHieeas. blankets
and kllsslasaezs. and such Ike, which oar advanc
ing plci-ets secured. The division line
trencilei about three hours after and the pick.
els re-eIsorced- The enemy made dash al they
in the afternoon bat held their ground
and now lie division occupies Phillips Creek
None our side were killed. and DEt tirCs
wounded This division now Occupies the advaEes
lime OF column and il within Smelling dssancs
III the enemy intrenchnaents-
CHARLES F. KndsGEI-
Company q, Goth Illinois Inf