The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-01-19

no man whs heard IL can ever forget. But
Steve danced TO the tune soon after when q
minnie ball hit him In the limb, for he wa,
wounded at Harisville, December 7th, 1862
We seized our muskets with firm grip
Maybe our cheek. lost some of their rudy
glow, and IL mus not be put down TO our
dlscredit If our fingers were little shaky
and our hands trembling IL was but weak
ness or mental may be n physical, sensation
The blanched cheeks and quivering limbs
were not signs Of cowardice Al that moment
We were simply gong through the struggle,
that every soldier experienced, between his
moral aud physical natures, and what old
soldier does not know it, too? To fully sub
due this feeling by the power OF the viii
vas not as easy matter as miglt i'm
aglned by those who have never been ealted
upon to - face the music We had never
seen battle. We had heard and thought
about II, AMI we thought we were prepared
for it and ready to meet John Morgan, and
we thought only OF the excitement AID the
glory Of great deeds for our country. We
mad enlisted to be soldiers and felt that ii
was essential to a iull idealzdtlOn OF pa
irlotism that We must DO some fighting Ii
sc had ever drawn the picture AT all, At fell
view il for the scene Of batJle neither pen
nor pencil can portray. The valley that
reaps liz ghastly harvest the charge amidst
shouts of wild eXcitemenl; the desperate
struggle of brave meu-lhese, when every
nerve and fiber of mind aud body is strung
to it's utmost tension, bring no such cruel
trial as the throboiuS emotions that inn
me lately proceed the clash OF arms. There
is 10 hilnrily about battle.
The brigade was instantly brought into
line, the lO4th Ill & compsnies) IN the
lett; the Tooth and lOSth ONO on their
right. There were no earth works, although
there should have been, for we reached
Ilarlsvile on Dec. LIST, and being in u timber
with plenty Of tools, ready hands
with willing hearts to have a good line
built, with the right resting ON Hartsvllle
and the left on the Cumberland river, We
would have been in u strong position; but
we had not learned the trade of war ct, 50
we suffered the result
We were formed on the top Of the hill, the
best position we could take. The rebels at
once charged on US, when our battery open
ed fire with grape aud canister, and with
good effect. Col lIapeman gave the COM
nand to fire and we obeyed at once, and
firing by rank as we lay on the
sod ground We would rise on one knee
,nd take good aim. There we're about two
inches of snow on the ground and having
been awakened from our warm hunks about
o'clock in the morning, we were somewhat
and cold but we were giving it
o the Jonnies in good shape, when their
artillery disabled one Of the guns in our
battery. The rebsls made charge, when
he l06th and l0Sth Ohio iO.l back, lesving
he 10th H. alone on the line. We repuls'
ed the attack of their iul4ntry and were
holding our own ground when Morgan 5
Cavalry ,dismounted and commanded by Gen.
Duke, attacked US on tue right flank and
almost in our rear. BY this time the Tooth
md l0Sth Ohio had gaveup, and, in fact, had
stacked their arms and were prisoners of
war.
The rebels gave one grand rebel yell and
made another charge, when we were com
1elled to fall back The writer cannot say
whether the command was given to retreat
IT not, but No were actually pushed back by
orce. SO back We went, officers and men
like, and through our camp and in the rear
If our quarters and tried to form on the
bank Of the Cumberland river; but we were
surrounded and were obliged to
surrender The rebels were within few
yards of US when Colonel Moore took from
lis side coat pocket white handkerchief
md waved it in the air and gave the signal
or surrender. The Colonel was then to the
eft of the regiment, the Major to the right
md Lieut.. Colonel at the right center, The
writer saw the Colonel when he drew the
handkerchief from his coat pocket. Ii fell
% the ground. but he Immediately picked it
up, and the rebels ceased firing A few
moments before that Major Wilmer could
,e seen swinging his sword and firing his
'evolver with his left hand, urging the boys
lot to give up. Lieut.. Colonel Hapeman,
said, was to the right center; the writer
vas about ten feet to the right of him. and
light or ten feet to the rear, So the posi-.
ion there gave me some view of the regimen.
al officers when the surrender occurred.
,ol Hapeman was urging the men TO rally
N the celors and we were making grand
fort to obey. Col, Hapeman stood with
lcawn sword, his face flushed with manly
,ride and anxiety and true bravery, urging
he boys to give them the bayOnet, can see
lin when the surrender was given and firing
eased, when an officer, captain, think