The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-09-26
MAN OF RESOURCE
Continued hom first pagc.j

fight continued with unabated fury until
our ammunition was almost expended /;
but by this time the enemy had almost
disappeared from our front, although it
was evident he was massing his troops
on the left for the purpose of turning
our flank.
"About .D.s time regiment OF Col.
Mowers Brigade relieved the SD ILL.,,
which was out of ammunition and an
order being received from Gen. Davies
few minutes after to fall back, we
retired in good order and took up a
position on the right of Fort Robinett.
1t was now p. m., and a fresh supply
of ammunition was here distributed to
the troops.
"I will now skip over my operations
until the fight commences the next day.
After shifting around from one place to
another during the night, | finally took
up my position in the northern suburbs
of the town, forming my line-ofbattle
on the Purdy road, facing the west; a
redan with four pieces of artillery
the 1st Mo. l.. A.-on my right, and
two pieces in the interval between the
SD III. and I'd Iowa. A brigade of
Hamilton's Division was posted ON the
right of tlss redan, with an Ohio bat
terry.
Hes, the brigade stacked arms in
line-oiE-s<ss2e and bivouacked till day
break. From early dawn until s a. m.
a brisk fire was kept up between our
batteries and those of the enemy until
the latter were silenced or captured.
About this time / received orders to send
out regiment from my brigade to the
support of Col. Burke's sharpshooters,
who were then sharply engaged with the
enemy in the woods to the right and
front of my position.
"The 7th Iowa was detached for this
purpose, but had scarcely been deployed
when it was recalled. / also ordered in
two companies sent out the night before
to guard the Purdy road on our right.
AN oMINoUs SILENCE
took place for a few moments, when
sharp rafting of musketry was heard,
accompanied by heavy volleys, and the
enemy's columns burst from the woods |
in front and to the right, driving the
sharpshooters before them and following
close upon their heels.
"Col. Burke's regiment fought like
heroes. and disputed every inch of
ground as they fell back ON my position.
l cautioned my men, who were lying on
the ground, to reserve their fire until the
enemy got within point blank range, and
then fire low and keep perfectly cool.
1t was terribly beautiful sight to see
the enemy's columns advance, despite ola
perfect storm of grape and canister, shell
and rifle ball still, on they marched and
fired, though their ranks we're percept-
IDLY thinned at every step.
"The brigade stood firm as a rock,
and the men loaded and fired with the
coolness and precision of veterans, when
all of sudden the troops on the right
of the redan Ca brigade of Hamilton's
Division) gave way and broke. The 1st
Mo. Art, in the redan, and two pieces on
the left of the SD, limbered up and gal
loped off in wild confusion through our
killing several of our men and
scattering the rest. My line remained
still unbroken, pouring deadly volleys
into the enemy's ranks, who, taking ad-
vantage of the panic on the right, moved
their columns obliquely in that direction
and charged up to the redan.
Unfortunately, the officer in COM
mand of the SD ILL.,, Lieut. Col. Wilcox,
instead of meeting the enemy boldly,
ordered the regiment, without authority,
to fall back, and before l could halt it
it broke.
"The Union Brigade gave way stimuli
taneously with the SD, but portions of
the I'd and 7th Iowa still held their
ground and kept the enemy in check
until the rest of my brigade was rallied,
when | ordered the colors of the I'd and
7th Iowa to fall back and form their
regiments on the side hill, out of range
of the enemy's fire, which they did al
most Immediately. / now ordered the
line to charge on the enemy, who had
by this time gained the crest of the hill
in our front. With shout that was
heard through our whole lines the men
Of the First Brigade
RUSHED UPON THE ENEMY.
Those who had given way short time
before, being evidently ashamed of the
panic that had seized them,
seemed determined to wipe out the stain
upon their courage by their reckless
daring. The foe, reluctant to abandon
the advantage he had gained, fought
for q while, but finally was
to give way, retreating in
great confusion through the swamps and
abatis through the woods, hotly pursued
by our men.
"Here stopped the pursuit until
The batteries on the hill to our left and
rear should cease firing, as they shelled
The ground directly in front of us. 1
sent an order to that effect to the officer
IN command of the battery, and the
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