People's voice., 1895-10-17

reaction and wavering again unsettled
the men as they trod the ground once
more. The battle meanwhile had CEN
tered its fiercest energies around the
church, and fire swept the field like
tornado In the midst Of it all Colonel
Which stopped the firing Of his men,
and holding them to attention as coolly
as if on the parade ground drilled them
in the manual Of arms until their hands
became steady and they could point the
rifles with the frmness and accuracy Of
the hunter. After that they marched on
with the victorious line Of battle which
swept the field Of Confederates.
Colonel Which became a brigade
commander before the next battle Of
his Germans, Stone River, and their
behavior in the most trying crisis Of the
field showed that the colonel was not
the regiment, because he was not even
present as brigade leader. The Thirty
second occupied the extreme right flank
Of McOook's corps, which was suddenly
surprised the morning Of Dec. 81. At
dawn Which ordered the men to make
coffee and went himself TO consult with
the division general at headquarters. In
short time the enemy advanced in
four lines Of battle, literally overrun-
ming and trampling down the slender
ranks Of defenders. Seven companies Of
the Germans were in bivouac and three
On picket The pickets we're ordered in,
Which was sent for, and the seven
companies formed line Of battle. In
Etantly battery, with frightened horses
plunging and uncontrolled, burst
through the ranks, fairly sweeping the
men from their feet. In the effort 10
reach his brigade Which was dismount-
cd by a shot that killed his horse under
him and Immediately seized by the
swarming Confederates, A gun Of the
retreating battery moved to the rear
along with the Germans, who to the
number Of 200 kept good line Of bat
tie. Several attempts by the Confeder-
ates to take the gun were repulsed by
the brave phalan1, who, true to their
traditions, formed a square around it
and drove of the assailants with bsyo-
nets. After retreating a mile in battle
order the regiment joined the division
line and fought gallantly for an hour.
The battle resulted in q tactical defeat
Of the Union army. That night new
and shortened defensive line was taken
up, the enemy pressing upon it on all
sides except the rear. On Jan. 2 the
ConfederateS charged desperately in a
forlorn attempt to win the field. The
effort failed, but it gave the Germans a
chance to retaliate for the surprise and
disaster Of two days before. During an
advance Of the brigade across the field
General Palmer discovered the enemy
in force clinging to piece Of woods on
the right flank Of the column. Riding
up to Colonel Erdelmeyer Of the Thirty
second, be ordered him to clear the
woods. The Germans quickly changed
front and charged. Two Confederate
regiments met them in the woods, but
the heroic fellows rushed on with bayo-
nets leveled and drove the enemy across
Stone river. The Thirty second lost %
killed and 10 wounded at Stone River.
The loss fell upon about 200 men. Over
100 became prisoners without the chance
Of firing shot.
At Chickamauga General Which led
his Germans personally in some of the
most desperate fighting on Thomas line.
In the first days fight the regiment
stood alone in repelling a Confederate
charge upon Thomas. Next day, when
the assault was directed wholly against
Thomas line, Which led the regiment
out, as he had done at Shiloh, to clear
the front Of the enemy. The charge was
brilliantly executed and the Confeder-
ates driven a mile and half. At that
point Which changed direction to the
left and swept around in rear of the ene-
my to the position Of his brigade. On
the return charge force Of cavalry was
encountered and driven off by the favor