The National tribune., 1903-07-16
WAS HOTTEST.

with the 4lst Ohio, the left of the line
resting upon the 9th Ind, and extending
to the right, TO face the advancing column.
1t was 4 place of great danger and our
losses were very heavy, including the gal
liant Col. Jones, of the oath Ohio. The
timely assistance of Parsonss Battery en-
abled us to check the enemy, the left be-
ing again saved from what appeared GER
tain annihlation.
Lieut.. Parsons. of the 4th U. S. Art,
who was in the thickest of the fight near
my position all day is deserving of the
warmest consideration of the Govern
ment."
Lossing's History:
ITO the brigade of Acting Brig.-Gen.
". B. HaZen was fully given the honor
tor saving the day for the Nationals.
Upon his gallant band the brunt of battle
fell at Il critical moment, when his 300
men, skillfully handled, kept thousands at
bay, and stayed the tide of victory for the
Confederates which had been rolling
steadily forward for hours"
A Soldiers Story:
At a Reunion of the 9th Ohio, some SO
years after the battle of Stone River,
Henry Elsing, of Co. X, related his expert
ence, as follows:
81 was wounded in the first days fight
and while sitting outside the field hospital
awaiting the Surgeons convenience to at
tend to my case, body of rebel cavalry
charged upon the defenseless position.
One of them ordered me up, saying he
wanted me. I told him l had been put
out of action; that having only one good
leg left could not be of much service to
him. Just then Parsons's Battery, on the
opposite side of the river, began throwing
shells at the cavalry. When the missiles
came hurtlinS over my head l thought
surely my time had come. l was soon
made to understand, however, that the
arti!lerymen understood their business as
every shot just cleared the top of the tent.
That rebl cavalryman left instanter,
leaving me alone in my glory, nursing my
wounded leg"
Gen. Crttenden:
'The last attack made by the enemy
was upon my extreme left, Jan. 3, and it
was disastrous to them. Van Cleve's Di-
vision, under Col. Samuel Beatty, had
crossed the river on the 1st, and Grose
and Hazen had followed with their bri-
gades on the I'd. The fight opened on Col
Beatty's line and lasted about 20 minutes
Before this battle l had been inclined to
underrate the Importance of artillery in our
war, but / never knew that arm TO rem
der such important service as at this
point. The sound judgment, bravery, and
skill of Maj. John Mendenhall, who was
my Chief of Artillery. enabled me to open
% guns almost simultaneously on Brcck-
inridge's men, and to turn a dashing
charge into a sudden retreat and rout, ir
which the enemy lost LOO or 800 men
in few moments. l witnessed the effect
of this cannonade upon the Confederate
advance. MendenhalPs guns were about
100 yards back from the river Van
Clevc's Division was retiring down the op-
posite slope, before overwhelming num-
bers of the enemy, when the guns, the
fire of which had been held till our men
should no longer be exposed to it, opened
rpon the swarming enemy. The very
forest seemed to fall before orr fire, and
not a Confederate reached the river. Men
deuhall did not receive adequate recog-
anion in the report of Gen. Rosecrans."