Year: 1863




the raise we had occupied, and within


one hundred and fifty yards yelling like


so many savages, it sent terror among
our already broken ranks, then there was
skedaddling on our part, the rebels were


coming down on us five columns deep,


with their dirty colors Haunting in our
faces, yelling and firing volley after vol


ley, and our men not able to check them,


there was no alternative, we must run or


be taken prisoners. Many were wounded
and taken prisoners, some gave out and


were taken. All were trying to get out


of the way as best they could. our Lieut..


Colonel was wounded at the first fire and
also our Major. The Colonel had not


time to get on his horse, he got lost from
the main tcdy Of the regiment. No Cen
eral, no Colonel What could we do?
Several times the officers partly succeed.
ed In rallying the scattered forces, but
after vollcy, would break again. these


things continued till we reached the
Nashville Pike, here we were met by re.
Inducements, posted behind a crest or
ridge on the right of the Pike. +, Nc Cook
seeing this was the last and only chance


to stop them, and went personally, as the
rebels came on the ridge, and by his
presence and encouragement, succeeded
in checking the enemy and driving them


back with great slaughter. Cheer after
cheer arose; the dispirated troops catch
ing it up and began to rally. The day
was ours if we could hold them. Our
men still drove them. Our Batteries
making sad havoc among their ranks.
we regained half mile Of lost ground,
and night set in, our men still holding
what they had gained.


Col. Wallace Joined us on our retreat
but could not rally the men. After the
rebels were checked our division was Or
dered back to reorganize and get am
munition. We then went to the support
of they other division in front, this ended
the doubtful day, / had some Is Or 90
men left with me. In the evening our
Brigade was moved back and to the right
to protect the flank.


January the LIST, all quiet till 9 o'clock;
the rebels came down ON our center with
tremendous foroo. Con. Bose er"ns had
taken the precaution to mask his batteries
in the center, so that they could play on
both flanks as well as the center. The
rebels came out from the woods in front.
Division after division, seemingly in over
whelming numbers. Our men were lay
ing behind their breast works, cool and
determined. The batteries were doubled
shotted with grape and canister. On came
the columns of rebels determined if posi-
BILE to break our cen er, until within range
of our batteries; when all of sudden the
ground trembled under our feet. Four
batteries belched fourth; and in = second
others chimed in, till it made one feel as
if heaven had opened and all her artillery
was let loose; such roaring for half an
hour or more, was never exceeded on this
Continent. On came the rebels, deter
mined to take the batteries. Once, twice
they made the attempt, and were met with
a shower of balls from our infantry, that
made them quail and fall back under COW
er of the woods, leaving the ground GOV.
cred with dead and wounded.


Heavy skirmishing was kept up along
the whole line, the rest of that day, but
the rebels did not try to turn any point.
After their failure on the center Jan. I'd,
a few shots were fired along the lines by
the sharp-shooters. Our brigade was
moved to the front and held in reserve
ready for action. A good many of the
boys had come in the day and night be-
fore. Nothing of moment trauspired to-
day, till about 4 o'clock P. M. when the
rebels made dash on our extreme left,
driving our men back across the river
from where they were. The conflict
became dreadful. Both armies went into
the work as though this should be the
last trial (and so it proved our men
fell back to ridge on the south side Of
the river, and made their final stand
On came the rebels, through the river
and began to ascend the hill. Our men
now opened a deadly fire literally cutting
them to pieces. They turned, and our
men taking advantage of the panic, pur-
sued them driving them back across the
river, and retaking tie ground lost,
when within a half mile more. during this
time our batteries had done their work;
it far exceeded that of the day before,
while the rebels were advancing the lst
brigad, (that's ours) was called on to
make the final charge, every man seem
ed anxious to redeem something Of what
we had lost on Wednesday, and as we
started you might see in the countenance
of the men a determination to do or die,
as our column reached our front lines.
a cheer went up, and was continued til!