The National tribune., 1900-06-07

OIlt IN lllSSS uLlSo NSso -
taken, leaving but two in the hands OF the
enemy. and pushed eXultingly. up the
main road in pursuit for several hundred
wards In order to check this sudden
movement of the enemy | ordered Morgan
to send his reserve brigade. commanded
by Brevet Brighten. Fearing, Immediately
to the point, with instructions to make an
attack. The order was promptly and
gallantly executed and had the desired
result The Major-General commanding
the wing at the same time directed. the
lines of the troops of the twentieth corps
now arriving upon the ground to be formed
in the open field a few hundred yards to the
rear, running perpendicular to the road.
Batteries were placed in position, sup
ported by these troops, and opened we'll
directed fire down the road, thus enfiladlng
Fearing's front. The enemy at this time,
about 2:30 p. m, attacked at all points and
the engagement may be said to have be
come general along my entire line.
part of Hobart's, the whole of Miles's brl-
gade, of Carlin's division, and Mitchell S
brigade, of Morgan's division, were,
during the movement above described,
thrown back SO as to conform to the dIrec-
ton of the enemy's attack and the new
line established by Fearing'S movement
The line rs now formed, and represented
by the accompanying map, drawn by
Capt Mcdowell, Typographical Engineer
of the Twentieth Corps, received and re-
with but little variation, until near night,
when, by order of the Major-General COM
manding the wing, CogswelPs brigade,
of the Twentieth Corps, arrived and re-
ported to me for duty. This brigade was
at once ordered to move into position on
the'right of Fearing'S brigade, and fill a
gap which, for want of troops, had existed
in this part of the line since the commence
ment of the action. This brigade moved
promptly into position, and subsequently,
when ordered to advance, gallanty drove
back the enemy's lines in its front after
GONE severe fighting.
The engagement closed as night set in,
the enemy having been repulsed at every
point. The enemy pushed his attacks late
in the afternoon with great vigor, parhcu-
larly against Morgans S front, and at one
time gained his rear; but was promptly
eepulsed and driven back by the steady
veterans OF this distinguished division.
No definite idea can be formed OF the
enemys loss, but il must have been very
heavy, Judging from the numbers engaged.
the severity of his assaults, and the de-
cisive repulses he received, as also the
number of his wounded and dead left with
in our lines.
GEN. MoRGAN'S REPORT.
The Second Division of the Fourteenth
Corps was commanded by Brig. Gen. Jas.
d. Morgan, who reported of the engage
ment:
March 10, moved at $50 a. NJ, fol-
lowing First Division, Second Brigade
leading, marching FIVE miles. when, just
after IL a. m, received orders to move
forward two of my brigades to the assist
ance of Gen. Carlin; arriving in rear of
his line was directed to deploy one Of my
brigades, and move TO the right, and feel
forward for the right of Gen. Carlin's
line and form thereon. The Second Rri-
gade, Gen. Mitchell commanding, was in
trusted with the execution Of this order
and was soon promptly in the position in
dicated. The Third Brigade, Gen. Fear
ing commanding, was ordered to form IN
rear of the right of the Second Brigade
in close columns of regiments. The 18th
ILL.,, of Second Brigade, was ordered for
ward as skirmishers, and q company from
125th ILL.,, Of Third Brigade, was ordered
to the rear and right across swamp near
the right flank of main line. The ad
vanced skirmishers soon reported the
enemy in front and in works, and that
they were moving to our. right. A staff
officer was at once dispatched to corps
commander with this information, and
request that l might order up the First
Brigade Qeft with the trains), which was
granted. This brigade, upon reaching the
ground, formed on the right of the Sec
ond Brigade, in two lines, its right rest
ing upon the swamp before mentioned,
and the Goth ILL.,, deployed as skirmishers,
relieving regiment of Third Brigade
Q25th ILL.,, sent previously to the right
in support of 18th Ill. This was the dis
position of my division previous to the
battle of Troublefeld's Swamp: The First
and Second Brigades deployed in two
lines, my right resting on an almost i'm
9aSsable swamp, and on that account not
refused, and Lieut.. Col. Miles, Third Bri-
gade, First Division, on my left, the
Third Brigade in reserve in two lines, the
general direction of tho limo narIv q RIGHT
angles with the Averasborough and Colds
borough road; the ground, low swamp,
impossible for artillery. l therefore did
not order forward my battery; but it did
good service on the left of the read, where
the ground was higher and more open.
Good log-works were rapidly thrown up in
front of both lines, and had much to do
with the success of my command later in
the day. About 2:30 p. m. received orders
to relieve Lieut.. Col. Miles (Thrd Bri-
gade, First DivisiOn). Before this order
could be executed firing was heard upon
my left and rear, and the corps com
mander coming up at that moment in
formed me that the center and left had
been broken, and that the emeny had
gained the rear and was moving toward
the trains, and by his order the Third
Brigade changed front TO the left, and
forming nearly parallel TO the road, NOV
ing out promptly and gallantly, was soon
lost sight of in the thick swamp. | i'm
mediately sent Capt. Wiseman, my Assist
ant Adjutant General, TO Gen. Mitchell
TO at once refuse his left and l would
send to his support his second line. This
cool and gallant officer had already antic-
ipated my order. His second line was at
once ordered TO form on and support his
left. The march of the Third Brigade be-
ing nearly perpendicular to my line every
step they took uncovered the gap between
their right and the left Of Second Brigade
The second line of the First Brigade was
then ordered TO the left and form on left
Of Second Brigade. Ny whole division
was drawn out into q single line. and the
question now was could we hold it.
"The results show that brave soldiers
do almost anything they resolve to do.
The works Of the First and Second Bri-
gades were never given up, although at
tackled in front, flank, and absolutely in
the rear. and had to fight in their own
works in reserve. The Third Brigade had
no works; their duty was, il possible, to
check the enemy; when first struck their
right gave way and some little confusion
ensued, but changing front to the rear
upon the left rallied and held their ground
firmly. Their brave commander, Brevet
Brig. Gen. Fearing, being severely
wounded, refused for a long time to leave
the field, but finally, at the earnest solici-
uon OF his officers, consented to do so,
turning the command over TO Lieut. Col.
Langley, 123th ILL.,, being the second time
this meIitorious officer has taken charge
OF this brigade in battle. Later in the