The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-07-29
The Fighting Was Hard.

One Hundred and Forty-ninth, One
Hundred and Fiftieth and One Hun.
dred and Fifty-irst, l think, writes
Maj. Earl NJ. Rogers Of ViroGua, Wis,
in National Tribune.
At midnight Wadsworth sent an aid
back to Warren, notifying him that
She density of the woods and darkness
prevented further advance and re
quested orders. The aid returned with
instructions to move forward at 4:30r
and report to Hancock. Captain Mon
teith was semitic the ammunition train
to bring up cartridges. He reached
the train, awoke Sergeant WatrOus,
who had mules packed and they made
their way to the line at the hour to
move It was but a short march,
where connection was made with Han.
cock. The confederate left flank be.
ing exposed, they withdrew during the
night to a distance that relieved their
flank.
General Hancock moved his troops
to the left, with his right on the
Plank road, and directed General
Wadsworth to make a change of front
with left on the Plank road, and In
line with the Secords corps. In exc
cutting this change Of front Wads
worth's line became disconnected
forming gaps, owing to the density Of
the wilderness. A perfect division
alignment or even brigade connection
seemed impossible A forward move.
line fell back The fighting was hard
Limbs and small trees fell from mus.
ket firing which added more confusion
to the battle The difficulty of a mount,
ed officer riding in the woods led
General Wadsworth to rein to the
ditch on the right side of the Plank
road, where his horse was shot. The
general mounted a led horse, kept in
the ditch, and only went few yards
when the second horse was killed.
Mounting third horse, he was eau,
toned of the danger, and reined few
feet to the right of the Plank road in
the thick timber. The battle up to
this time was well with Hancock's
command
There was a lull; then the confed.
crates pushed hard and fought fierce.
ly. General Wadsworth had received
troops from the Ninth corps. Word
came to Hancock to look out for his
left, as the~Second corps was going
away The confederates were passing
off left when he tried to wheel the
troops to the left, when he was close
onto an Alabama brigade, which
charged and overlapped Wadsworth's
right.
The Union line went back in much
confusion General Wadsworth did not
rein in his horse to the rear for an
instant. His staff, save the writer,
were away trying to save the line and
when the general did rein his horse to
the rear every man was making in
that direction His last view was his
retreating division. 1t flashed through
my mind, 1.-TWO cannot live; one must
so!" when a ball went through the
generals brain and splashed my coat.
Then my horse fell.
The confederates could mot have
been more than 30 feet. The general
fell on his back He had an outside
pocket in which he carried his watch,
which l reached to take, but rife
balls and unpleasant yells halted me.
l ran back short distance, where
found the generals horse with the
rein caught on a snag. vaulted into
the saddle, and was soon with the
Sixth Wisconsin.
l then rode to General Warren at
the Lacy house, notified him of Wade
worth's death, which is reported r.
the Rebellion Reports of the Wilder
ness, and for which service l was
bravetted captain, and later at Peters,
burg as major-twice for gallant and
service.
General Cutler then took Wads- |
worth's division, and Colonel Bragg, of |
the Sixth Wisconsin, was assigned to |
the Pennsylvania brigade, with me as |
his aid. The Pennsylvanians fought |
nobly
NaoR nF ry,,,S ,nd R,,.,,