The National tribune., 1909-08-05

had been fought to a standstill, It was
near the railroad track and consider
ably to the left Of the troops then en-
gagged. 1t was hurried by the right
flank under a hot fire along a shallow
depression in the field. and took posi-
ton about 500 yards in front of the
rebel line of works. The men were
ordered to pile knapsacks and fix bayo-
nets, but to reserve their fire until the
works We're reached, where it was ex-
pected some hot stuff would be dealt
out The brigade was formed in two
lines. the 74th Ind. on the right and
front, with the 10th KY. within close
supporting distance, the 3Sth and 14th
Ohio occupying the same relative posi-
tons on the left.
The ground in front sloped gradually
upward for about 800 yards to fringe
Of scrub oak, with larger timber inter-
mingled which here extended clear to
the line of Confederate breastworks.
This scrub oak had been slashed and
thrown in an ineXtricable tapgle, max
ing progress thru it but slow under the
most favorable conditions.
While these hurried preparations
were going on the fire from the front
had almost ceased, each side apparently
nerving itself for the encounter which
every man knew instinctiyeiy was about
| to come
When the signal to charge was given
the liiie rushed forward in magnificent
order until near the timber line, when
it received the first. v0lley from the
front. This did comparatively little
execution, as the rebels evidently aimed
little high in order to clear the top
of the distractions in their front. Then
came the struggle thru the tangled
brushwood, and before half the dis
tance had been gained second volley
tnta Qf clnn nnrf
range, which cut down fully half the
front line and staggered it for the mo-
ment, but the 14th Ohio, which had also
lost heavily by this volley, came up and
mixed in with the 3Sth, thus forming q
new line, which fought its way to and
over the works. Before this was ac-
complished, however the men, forget
ting their orders to withhold their fire,
began retaliating with lead, loading and
firing as they clambered thru the brush.
In the meanwhile the brigade was
subjected not only to front and direct
fire, but also from q heavy enfilading
one, as the Confederate line of works
extended some distance beyond the left
of the charging column, from which q
very CALLING fire was directed. 1t was
at this juncture that Gen. Este called
upon Col. Grower, of the 18th N. Y,
for aid, and that regiment gallantly
went in on our left, doing noble work,
and making it possible for the men to
actually pick more prisoners out of the
rebel works than there was left of the
brigade when the battle was. over.
| The SSth Ohio had four color-bearers
shot down, and the fifth one, Charley
| DonZie. now a prominent business man
| of Lima, o.. took the colors over the
| works Col Choate received his death
wound at the works. while the regi-
ment did not have sufficient number
of line officers left to command the
companies for some time afterwards,
and the 18th Ohio suffered about as
| severely.
At no time during the action did
either the 14th or 3sth Ohio regiments
give back one foot of ground, but
| fought their way slowly and steadily
onward thru all this obstruction and
| under the most whitening fire that
troops were ever called upon to endure.
| Neither did they receive any support
thru II all other than that heretofore
mentioned, which was only continua-
| tion Of the line to the left, and not re-
enforcement for troops that had given
| back. There are yet scores of the sur
vivors of those two regiments who no
doubt will confirm these statements.
| The right of the brigade struck an
| angle of the works near a two-gun bat
| terry, which was speedily captured, and
this angle being much nearer the open
| field. there was comparatively little
brush to encounter, which is sufficient
reason for that portion of the line ac-
complishing its work little in advance
of the left.
This is about the way this battle was
viewed by those who were there, and
who were painfully alert as to what
was going on at the time.-Lee III. Rudi-
sille, Co. H, 3Sth Ohio. White Oaks,
IN NJ