The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-26
the mud and water We are making our way
through the dense forest.

ed by his staff and escort. Says 10 me: will
take your guide; hurry on; you can follow our
trail A hundred horsemen moving rapidly
by twos over such ground left trial that we
had no difficulty in following. Heavy as the
marching is the men do their best TO hurry ON
no stop at the end Of the hour; no tagging be-
hind; all the men are eager to comply with the
wish OF their brave impetuous general: rough
at times, but always takes good care of the men
under his command, and they have full con-
fidenee in his skill to direct their movements
in battle and to extricate them, If necessary,
in good order, &c. The sound of the guns is
more distinct; Imagination hears the shout of
the combatants; the field Of strife is much
nearer. Some distance in front of the head of
the column courier at full speed meets, halts,
and says: Colonel Ammen, the general sends
his compliments, to hurry up or all will be lost;
the enemy is driving our men,. How far
to the river?' A mile and half or two
miles Return and tell the general we are
coming as fast as possible l ordered my
staff officers to continue in front and stop cou-
riers if any more came; not TO let such news
get TO the troops in column. ] rode TO the side
and let the troops file by, asking them if they
could march faster without too much fatigue,
as they were needed. %, yes, Colonel; we are
not tired. Do YOU think the fight will be over
before we get there? My answer, i hope So
if it goes right They answer, You have
seen the elephant often; we want to see him
once, anyhow The 36th Indiana and 9th
Ohio volunteer infantry were eager for the
fight The oath Ohio volunteer infantry had
seen the elephant several times, and did not
care about seeing him again unless necessary.
All three regiments were cheerful; consider
ably excited, yet cool.
IN SIGHT OF THE RIVER.
"Our pace was accelerated, and was again
at the head of the column, when another cou-
riar came with MESA ua of the same imuort
as the first, and soon another. Both were sent
back, and the head of the column emerged
from the dense forest into a field that bordered
on the Tennessee River. Now, at intervals,
the shouts Of men could be heard, the steam
whistle, discharge of all kinds of arms-a con-
fused noise. In we went TO point opposite
the landing at Pittsburg. The pioneers were
put to work to cut road down the bank to
enable men and horses to get on the boats.
The northeast bank is low, the opposite bank
is high-100 feet or more. The space between
the top of the bank and the river, up and
down half mile or more, was crowded with
men; the river was full of boats with steam
up and these boats had many soldiers on them;
men in uniform on the boats and under the
river bank 10000 TO 10000 demoralized. Sig
mails urging us to hurry over, which / could
not understand, as there were so many on the
boats and under the bank not engaged-of the
reserve, as l supposed then.
THE BOTH INDIANA THE FIRST TO CROSS
General Nelson went over on the first boat
with part of the Seth Indiana Colonel Grose).
General Nelson ordered me TO remain and see
my brigade over and give orders TO the com
manders of the other brigades (Colonels Hazen
and Bruce to bring their brigades after the
10th. j instructed Colonel Grose to be certain
to keep guides at the river to conduct all our
command TO the same point on their arrival by
] boat Part of the 10th had been sent over; or
ders had been given 10 Colonies Hazen and
Bruce, and / crossed half of the 10TH On each
side the boats were crowded with demoralized
soldiers, so that only three or four companies
could cross on boat. On our passage over
they said their regiments were cut to pieces,
&C., and that we would meet the same fate. &c.
The yagabonds under the bank told the same
story, and yet MY new troops pressed through
1 the crowd without showing any signs of fear.
la crossing the river some of nay men called
my attention TO men with uniforms, even
/ shOulder-straps making their way across the
stream on logs, aud wished TO shoot the cow
ards. Such looks of terror, such confusion /
never saw before, and do not wish to see again
SCENE AT THE LANDING.
"On top Of the banks, near some buildings,
found the Both Indiana partly formed in line
persons running from the front passing through
the line and breaking it. Here, too, were Gen
erals Grant, Buell., and Nelson, all of them cool
and calm. General Grant directed me to sup
port battery about sixty TO one hundred yards
TO the left of the road. which was done as soon
as the line coald be formed, probably in three
or four minntes,-Generals Buell. and Nelson
assisting. The 35th Indiana and part of the
9th OHIO volunteer infantry were placed in DO
sition behind the crest of the hill, near the
battery, the left protected by deep ravine par
allel to the river and having water in it; the
right about 800 yards from the landing. Gen
prn9 hat al an fin -haaG ed cold
selected the position, and was with US when
/ the rebels reached the crest of the HILL re-
ceiyed our fire, were shaken, fell back, adj
vanced again, &c. The assaults of the enemy
were met by our troops and successfully re-
sisted
COLONEL GRosE N ACTION
About FIVE minutes after we were in posi-
! ton the rebels made the first attack, and kept
1 on a quarter to half hour dusk when they
withdrew Our loss was only one man killed
We were down the slope Of the hill, and the
enemy firing before they depressed their pieces
+ the balls went over our heads. Our men, in
the hurry, fired in the same way. The balls
/ followed the slope Of the ground and were
/ destructive. III The extreme left Of the
4 line Of battle which we occupied and where
we repelled the attacks of the enemy had not
one soldier on it when we took position-open
for the advance of the enemy. Lieutenant r.
/ L. Wheeler, of my staff, and some men of my
1 escort were detailed TO watch the boats and
bring the troops of the 10th brigade to us as
they arrived. The remainder of the 9Th was
/ formed in rear Of our line of battle, but the
oath Ohio volunteer infantry was ordered about
half mile to our right, where the enemy was
| making desperate attack. Their position was
watched and reported TO me by some men of
my escort. The night was soon very dark and
slight rain at first, then heavy at times. The
other brigades Of the 4th division were over or
crossing. Ammunition was brought TO large
tree close to our lines, the cartridge-boxes were
filed and twenty additional rounds given to
every man TO carry on his person. This done.
/ General Buell. directed me to send scouts to the
front and ascertain If the enemy was near our
front and if possible, advance our line Of bat
tie several hundred yards and as near the deep
bayou that was reported in our front as practi-
cable One company Of the Both Indiana and
one company Of the 9th Ohio volunteer in
fantry were deployed as skirmishers on our
front and ordered TO advance cautiously and in
order, but not to bring on an engagement-to
advance TO the opposite bank of the bayou
and halt, sending back couriers to report from
time TO time: These companies moved eau
( tiousy and promptly, taking into account the
darkness of the night and the difficulties of the
ground, found no force between us and the
bayou, and remained as our picket line until
morning.
FORCING LINE OF BATTLE
About 10 at night we commenced forming
our new line Of battle beyond the crest Of the
/ hill. In advance Of orr line ahnut onn xyardc