The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-05

over the fence and across the road. where found
Gen. Hovey and his staff Heinformed me that he
had ordered the 3Ith lad. to charge the rebel bat
terry that was stationed on the crest of q hill i'm
medintey in front and he instructed me TO
support that charge; that the Saith would advance
on the right of the road, and that should follow
80 yards in the rear on the left side
At this time there seemed TO be general lull in
the lighting, but as went back over the fence and
ncross the road. became the mark for several
rebel sharpshouters and can well remember the
vicious "spat spat,n of the rebel bullets they
struck in the road, and the thought that flashed
IA my mind these bullets raise little clouds OF dust
Just like big drops of rain at the commencement of
a summer shower. In climbing over the last fence
bullet struck the upright stake and the dust flew
into my eyes, matchmaking me, and a Lieutenant
Moodsl came running mp 20 know II had been
hit. The men were all lying down, and as soon rs
] saw the Indiana regiment start on tn G opposite
side of the road, ordered bayoncis fixed andgave
the command Forward" Immediately in our
front was the bottom of the ravino thiclSy filled
with cane and scrubby plants, and IA IL descended
toward the right IN front of the 3ith Ind. IL was
wider, deeper and thicker than ON our side of the
road. The lines OF both regiments were broken,
aud some time was lost before we got through
this thicket: but that in our front more
easily penetrated Than that of tho Bath, were
first through. Advancing my men partly up the
hill, and seeing the Indiana men Just beginning TO
come out OF the thicSet, halted the Both Ohio 10
stralghten our line. get up some who were stray
CLING and wait for the Saith TO come mp. Hearing
some heavy muskotry 10 the left of our line, ran
rapidly there (hrug dtsmountcd, rs none but gen
eral officers were allowed to bring their horses
over ON the boats To whether tho firing came
from friend or foe. | found some of our troops. IA
part of Cars Division. believe firing at the rcb
els at our left and front. ! returned at once TO the
right Of my own regiment. aud found the Bath had
10y this time got up about on line with our forum
uon when they halted n minute or two 10 get
something like "a re imenial formation, when they
started with cheer. IL was impossible to keep
back my men; when the Bath started they went
forward at the same time When we reached the
crest of the hill the rebels broke and ran. The
right Of my regiment just passed the Virginia bat
terry. which had been abandoned. Seeing the reb-
els neelng, l pushed the 5blh forward alter them.
and II was foot race down the hill and into the
next thicket. There the rebels attempted for n
moment 10 make a stand, hut as neither their guns
or those of our men were loaded, there WINS moth
ing but few personal sUuillcs, the rebels mostly
throwing down their arms aud giving up. The flag
OF the Virginia battery carried by one of these
neeinE rebels but Private Evans oi { of my reEi-
mcnt, overlook him, and took the flag not 10 feet
from me. He turned around to me, cxClaiming,
Here i their dirty rag. Colonel : handed me the
nag, which kept, and finally sent home TO Ports
mouth, O., where it today hangs in the Council
Chamber of that city. We gathered together 2l2
enlisted men and 10 commissioned officers, every
one captured 10y the Doth Ohio, and sent them 10
the rear 10y Capt. Williams, Of Co. &, who obtained
receipt ior them from the Provost Marshal, and
who reio,ued iic regiment IN time TO take part in
The afternoon fight Our prisoners the men
who manned thc Virginia battery and an Alabama
infantry regiment that supported the battery.
The 5ith Iud. uuquestionably got possession OF
ihc gums OF the rebel battery before anyone else,
ana to that regiment and the seth Ohio belong the
credit Of the charge which resulted in It's capture.
What troops came up after the Sih had the battery
do not know, but when captured the rebels
and took tile flag there were Union troops
within 200 yards of te 55th Ohio which regiment
was that far in advance Of all the Others.
There, cumrHde, ] have given you very fun ac-
count, rs wrote IL ia my diary the next day whilc
we were lying ia Port Gibson. and l trust IL may
be satisfactory to you. 10 gives great pleasure
TO hear from conrade OF the old division; my
heart warns To him, rs it does TO all comrades but
still there Is closer aud kindcr feeling for menu
bers of the old Hoyey Division.
Yours, frateTnally, W. II. RkYNoR.
The above letter is interesting not only from
its bearing on the point in dispute, hut because
il has the ring Of true cOmradeship in every
line, and / take this my first opportunity TO
Thank the writer, also Gen. Hovey and Col.
Snman, 9th Ind, for their kindness in answer
ing all my inquiries. out of the many gem
eral and staff officers approached (outside my
own regiment) tho aforementioned are the
only ones who could lay aside their business
long enough TO answer question from a man
in the ranks, either ciyilly or otherwiso.-R
ii. MARTIN, Delphos, o.