The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-10-01
frise, wAich resembled somewhat an


works received a whitening storm of
grape and canister, which severely
wounded our colonel and laid low sew
eral officers and men. Staggered but
not repulsed, we rushed down the bank
and across the bottom, UP the other side
and to the top, back from which about
fifty feet lay the enemy's main works.
AS our column came into view another
fierce fire was poured into our ranks,
which literally swept us off our feet and
sent us Keeling to the bottom Of the
ravine, leaving several of our poor fell
lows dead behind us. Rallying at the
and only halted when the opposite side
was reached. Here we were below the
range of the enemy, the bullets and
shells singing war music just above our
heads. Here we had n breathing spell
and counted noses. Three officers and
about seventy-fve men were oil that
were left, all that came out of that hell
Of powder, lead and iron the remainder
being either killed, wounded or missing.
| never knew their fate.
"At this time the sergeant of another
company, whose name 1 never knew.
startsd to cross the ravine, saying he
was going into the enemy's works, If
he had to go alone, because our colonel
had boosted to the aide before we made
the first charge that his regiment would
carry out the orders to capture the Con-
federate works if a man was left alive
to DO it. Hold on, sergeant said |
to him, and we Will all go with you
The only other captain besides myself
who came out of that storm of shot and
shell alive outranked me and assumed
command OF the shattered regiment,
and we moved toward the enemy. Slow
ly and in perfect order we climbed the
opposite bank. reached the top, where
after short breathing spell, we sprang
forward with Michigan yell, charged
like 4 whirlwind into the Confederate
defe;ses, over them and I'm among the
astonished 'Johnnies.' who only had
time to send one volley into our ranks
as we rushed forward. 1t was quick
and admirable work, and after short
resistance with dubbed muskets the
Confederates threw down their arms
and surrendered. We quickly sent them
over the breastworks under guard to
cur main line. the prisoners actually
line.
Shortly after this the captain COM
handing our company-one of the BRAY
est men | ever knew-was seriously
wounded in the arm. and the command
devolved upon myself. l sent two men
with the wounded captain to the rear,
and then carefully examined the situa-
ton. We had captured portion of the
works, perhaps about 200 feet, lying
between n river that ran through both
lines of defense and a tanker. On the
opposite side of this Tanker and across
the river were the Confederates, who
poured into us an enfilading fire when
ever they ventured to raise their heads
above the breastworks. which generally
resulted seriously TO themselves. Twice
the Confederates endeavosed to re-
capture what they had lost, but each
attack was blOdily repulsed. Once a
line of Johnnies. shielded by decoys,
who begged us not to fire rs they de-
sired to surrender, nearly reached the
earthworks behind which we lay.
Captain cried one of my men. there
are some Confeds. with guns behind
them out there | sprang upon the
works, shining mark for the enemy in
front. and took In the situation at a
glance. Leaping down, without injury,
| ordered my men to pour in a volley
on the men who wanted to surrender
and the fifty muskets left in the com
pany seemed TO speak with one voice.
When the smoke cleared away nothing
was TO be seen of the Confederates
They had vanished as silently as they
had approached. The stubborn resist
ance made by our little force did net
suit the enemy at all, and the next at
tack was Overwhelmingly Irresistible
forced us to leave our position ami
make break for the rear. Some of the
men didn't seem to care to run, for yot
know. colonel, that getting back undel
fire is as dangerous as making charge.
and some of the boys apparently pre-
ferred remaining where they were anf
being captured than to take the risk -
getting bullet in the back
IAN affecting incident occurred viii g
we were In the works captured from Il >
Confederates. AS | passed down The
line giving instructions to the men /
came to our color-bearer, Sergt. William
+. Wixey, who stood erect holding aloft
the flag which 1t had but recently be
come his duty to carry, and who had
performed that duty most fearlesslly
and bravely. | said to him: Sergeant.
| guess you may take the flag back to
our breastworks.' Don't do that, cap
tain; for Gods sake. don't do that the
tears streaming down his cheeks; let
me stay with the boys No, sergeant.
/ replied. we have lost two stands of
colors already during this cruel war
We are now In n tight place. and am
afraid 1t means death or capture for us
ALL You must go, sergeant Crying
like n little child he crawled over the
earthwOrks and was gone. We fought
the remainder of that battle without n
flag. The name of the wounded cap
tain / have alluded to, which | ascer-
tanned at later date. was James S.
Deland, of Jackson, Mich"
What was the name of this regi-
ment, and where did the fight take
placer" | inquired when the major
had concluded his story.
"Well, here is something that has
been written about the affair."" he re-
piled, handing me thick volume open
t..