The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-17

Miss. On the morning Of the 18th we led the
advance on jackson, my regiment being in the
lead. Before noon we found the enemy strongly
posted On a wooded crest. behind light earth
works They consisted of the 9th S. c., two
Georgia and one Florida regiments, with ar
tillery, and had just arrived from the Army
Of Virginia, having been engaged in numer-
Gus battles there since the first battle of Bull
run. To con front these veteran troops we only
had three regiments and our battery, the seth
Ill. having been detached some time previous.
Col. s. A. Holmes, of the 10th No. command
ing brigade. ordered Col. ID. j. Hills, 18th
Iowa. to form his regiment On the left of the
main (Jackson) road, while the s0th Ohio and
10th Mo- took position on the right with the
9th Wis battery occupying the main road
And now was to take place memorable con-
test for the old Charging Brigade" The day
was most unfavorable one for battle, for the
boys were fatigued their strength almost ex-
hausted, their haversacks entirely empty, and
the rain coming down in torrents Life seemed
to have no charms aud death no horrors.
Skirmishing had been going on in our front,
but this soon gave way as we advanced to fierce
rafting volleys of mnsketry, aud for short
time nothing could be heard but the bursting
Of shell and the whizziDg Of bullets.
Col. Holmes, with his staff, sat upon their
horses at the right of my regiment and near
the battery. Finally he ordered a charge
With shout of defiance the infantry, led by
their officers. dashed forward. The battery
charged with the infantry on the main road
between the 18th Iowa and S0th Ohio. To say
that we met with stubborn resistance would be
putting it lightly. Never did lead rain upon
charging columns as upon these, and the ground
we passed over was covered with our dead and
wounded, but we reached the crest and slowly
the enemy retreated in the direction of Jack
son.
Capt l.. w. Houston, of my regiment after
having his sword arm shattered knocked down
the rife Of Sergeant belonging to the 9th
S. C., who still stood his ground firing saying
to him, What are you doing?"
He answered, Fighting"
why. you are whipped"
1--WE have never been whipped before he
again answered. He was the only man we took
prisoner.
The 9th Wis. battery charged on the road
and outran the infantry. Reaching the top of
the hill the cannoneers engaged the enemy
with their sabers Seeing this the infantry
cheered and rushed to their support. The guns
were unlimbered aud pouring shot into the re-
treating foe before they were 10 rods from the
guns On the right of the road was a large
white house surrounded by paling fence.
The enemy took refuge behind this and poured
Calling fire into the 6Oth Ohio. When the
s0th reached the fence never saw pickets fly
faster; the fence was demolished and the
IloTiuH ttoopS iOrceu TO ny.
My regiment took into action 327 men and
lost Is killed and GA wounded. Co. A, in which
l was serving at that time as Lieutenant, lost
four killed and 16 wounded.
The officers killed or badly wounded were
Capt J. L. Walden. Acting Major; Capts. C. P.
johnson. j.. w. Houston, and l.. T. Hicks:
i.ients j. +. SHELTON, j. II. Browne, J. NJ In
skeep, G. w. Woodrow, and j. A. Speilman. The
average loss in the whole command was 25 per
cent.
After resting about 20 minutes Col Hills
was ordered to send forward skirmsiers Mt
double-qnick, to investigate the brush in our
front. Capt. ID. II. Craig with his company
lH), was detailed for this duty. He pressed
forward with such energy that he soon found
himself at the enemy's works in jackson. Not
withstanding the fact that he had only 30 men,
he scaled the Notifications, and fortunately for
his command, found the enemy had retreaied
In great confusion, leaving camp aud garrison
equipage and four pieces of artillery in our
Immediate front. These Capt. Craig took pos.
session OF. and on that occasion was the first
Federal soldier in Jackson.-H. NJ KENpER-
DINE, Major, 18th Iowa, Carthage, Mo.