Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-09-07
Tie Daily spmber l9zl

I Addison L. Caldwell and Isaac A.
Beaman. They were corporals,1
one lying in the front rank and
lone in the rear, immediately be-
hind the first.
BY this time OFF artillery had
I its gun in action and for quite a
while we lay there under this ar
tillery duel, but the main force of
the rebel infantry now advancing
nearer, we were ordered back a
short distance to position In an
open woods pasture on the other
side of the pike Our line was
formed Immediately parallel with
and behind rail fence, Our bat
Etery taking position in our rear
and on higher ground, and firing
lover Our heads.
The rebel lines, now plainly
visible, were advancing with
| rather vicious yell and their line
of musketry was a blaze of fire
along their entire front, while
we used the fence as sort of
| breastworks and also as a rest
i from which to fire our Enfield
rifles. The rebel artillery played
over our heads, being seemingly
directed at our battery, and did
not do us any great damage, but
heir lines of infantry came closer
and closer. their musketry fire
more intense and the rebel yelP'
more exu1tant and threatening
and when our right wing was be-
ing fanked and doubled back and
it became evident that we were
not only being f1anked but over
ipoweringly outnumbered. in the
front our lines began to WAIVER
and finally broke in confusion as
an attempt was made to~change
our position to protect our flank
under a whitening and deadly fire.
| Pushed in front and flank a
I general retreat now set in. We
had not gone very far. however.
when we were met by General
Mason and staff, who came up at
a gallop, waving their hats and
swords and calling on the disor-
| ganized and retreating forces to
about face and go forward again
to meet the oncoming foe. With
out any regular formation or
alignment the retreating host re-
| sponded with deafening cheers
about faced and followed our
leaders at double quick back,
and met and fought for time
with the exultant and victorious
columns of the enemy We were
tstill in the woods pasture and be-
sides the deadly ball of the enc
my 1nusketry we were under the
fire of their artillery whose shot
and shells cut many limbs from
1.-THE trees overhead, which fell
among us, adding still more to
the perils of cur situation. But
we could not long withstand the
lpressure of the overpoWerme
numbers that now assaulted us II
front and were fast surrounding
our demoralized and disorganizeC
forces and soon the retreat be
came a ro,,t, the bulk of the
army turning into the pike lead
ling back through the town ane
and on to Lexington, which roae
by this time was crowded with
artillery, infantry, cavalry, army
wagons, ambulances and all the
: accompanying accessories ans
campfollowers that are usually
found with an army, large OF
small. All senpblance of organi
: fzation was lost and it became {
case of every man for himself.
u Part of our artillery and many
!, of the infantry had already beer
lcaptured but our retreating fore
y es were rallied again and again
: only to give way finally to thu
: force of superior numbers already
flushed with victory. Genera
NELSON, who was in nominal com
, mand of our army, but who hat
+ , remained in Lexington, met thu
r (retreating forces and made des
+ Iperate effort to turn back the t1d'
' but in vain, the day was lost.
v All of our. artillery and NOR
), than half of the 55th and othe
Regiments engaged had now bee1
q captured and as night approached
f the enemy's forces seemingly sat
e listed with their victory, drew OF
e from the pursuit and our brokeI
i and now meager columns pro
dtceeded on their way to IeXing