Year: 1863

y


the pike (betWeen the pike and the rail


road in the edge Of a little wood. Thi


we did, and then the 41st changed from


to rear on the tenth company with as mucl


eoolness and precision as uron the drill


ground. This brought us face to face will


the enemy. CoekerilPs battery, on tn,


keen run took its position and wheeled in,


to line on a crest just to the left of our reg


iment.


The 9th Kentucky was on a line with US


to our right the 10th Ill. and 9th Ind. in


reserve.-0ur line was formed, and every


officer and soldier was at his post On


they came, banners flying, while the demo


MAC yells Of powdered whisky rent the


air, and their officers urged them on, but


not to victory. Now O'Clock. We with


held our fire until they were within forty


rods of US, when Col Wiley, coolly, but in


stentorian tones gave the order, 4" fire by


battalion : battalion ready, ain, FIRE and


We poured Yolley into their ranks that


halted them, and told them we were ready.


Not a man hinched. Each stood at his post,
| while shell and ball and leaden hail fell
| thick and fast about him. " Load and fire


at lviI came from the Colonel, and with


a 1giH did the gallant listers execute the


order. On every side loved comrades
/ we're falling killed and wounded, but it is
no time now to shed tears or express re-
! grets. Here it was the noble Hart fell,
struck by ball in the hip. From associa-


tiOn he was to me a brother almost, and
the tear Of regret over his untimely fate


has filed the eve Of many soldier friend.


Peace to his ashes. He sleeps the sleep
Of the brave The battle ragged, but the
18th brigade wavered not Twenty rounds
Of our ammunition had been exhausted,
when it was discovered the enemy were
faltering. Colonel Wiley, who during the
whole action sat coolly on his horse close
10 the center Of the regiment, the missiles
Of death flying all around him, noticed IT,
and swinging his hat in the air started
cheer which his regiment took up and re-
peated till the rattle Of musketry was
drowned in the shouts that filled the air.
To the work Of death again fell the 4Ist,
and until we had consumed fifty rounds of
cartridge 1--WE had but sixty we held our
position without waYering an iota. Our
ammunition about exhausted, Colonel na-
zen ordered up the 9th Indiana TO relieve
us. As this gallant regiment moved up
and passed over us, 1--WE lay DOWN again
the patriotic shouts and vociferous cheers
re5oUnded through the air, that told how
beat the pulse Of those noble souls. In
good order we retired about ten rods, Law
down and replenished our boxes with car
tridges. Just as we lay down, proud of
what We had done, Colonel Wiley waved
his hat in the air, while a glow Of earnest
ness and enthusiasm tinged his cheek, and
shouted: " Soldiers Of the 4lst Ohio, you're
the bravest set of men God ever let h7el
and if we get close upon the enemy and
are ordered to charge, l want you to charge
as though You were the very demons Of
hellP' Said he: "Ill not ask you to 20
where I dare not lead you" and he did
not, and again cheers went up that ex-
pressed more fully than words can do how
proud were we Of our commander.


In this position we lay for about half
an hour, when the order was sent Colonel
Wiley to move his regiment to the right
across the pike, as our line there was fall
ing back. As Colonel Wiley received the
order he raised himself in his stirrups and
shouted, "FORTY-FIRsr Ono RISE UPF'-
There was magic in his words, that came
from heart of desperate yet cool deter
minstion, and with g bound each one
sprang 70 his feet, and upon each animat-
ed countenanee was pictured resolution
to avenge the death of fallen comrades or
die in the attempt. We moved by flank
to the right lying down with our left rest
ing near the pike.


A heavy battery lay to our right, and
it was evident that the conflict was chang
ing into on artillery fight Our shot, shell,
grape and canister we're too much for in
fantry, and they fell back. Thick and
fast came the shot and shell, pouring upon
our battery, until every regiment had
been ordered back to a new position, out
Of artillery range, and to avoid the rico
chet (bounding) Of solid ball, we lay in
our position, ssluted only by a few scat
tering musket shots, but under a terrible
artillery FIRE. Presently we heard q in re-
treat marchl' and then it was the 41st
rose up, and there was wailing and gnash-
ing Of teeth, for this order cut to the quick.
Bvt it was necessary to fall back or to be
cut TO pieces, and the order must be obeyed.
We had faced about and were falling back
in good order, when just as l had stepped
upon the pike an ounce musket ball struck
me in the back near the right shoulder,
passing through my right lung and lOdg-
ing in my breast. I was helped to the
hospital, and the regiment moved to its
new position. But it was impossible to
avoid the shots Of the enemy's artillery,
who were pouring in e CALLING and tre-
mendous fire upon our batteries.


The regiment again lay down, but in
front Of section of our artillery, with a
section each on its right and left. here
they were exposed to q murderous FIRE, and
here il was a cannon ball mereilessly tore
off the foot Of our gallant friend Noleott,
the same ball cutting off both legs of Ser
geant Orr, Company &, who died shortly
after wards. Lieutenant Wolcott did his
duty nobly. His foot has been amputateyi,
and he is here doing we'll While in this
same position a shell burst in Company Il,
killing one and WoUnding six or seven,
and Eve Of Company E. The regiment
had been under IRE for five hours, and in
obedience to orders from General Palmer.
was taken out of action. The casualties
Of the regiment in this battle all occurred
upon the 3lst, but my means Of informa-
ton here are so limited, l know not even
the number Of killed and wounded 1t
would be invidious for me to attempt to
single out those conspicuous for deeds Of
heroism and valor. So far as my obser-
vation extended, officers and soldiers did
their duty, and stood up nObly to their
work.


"As I have intimated, Colonel Wiley
was ever present in the tbickest of the
fight, cheering US on by his presence and
words. He seemed TO have charmed life. !
and passed through the battle unharmed. |
Colonel Hazen, commanding the brigade. |
was ever on the alert, watching his regi- !
ment with ths most intense interest. Rid |
ing from one point to another through the
storm Of leaden hail, shot and shell, he
gave his orders with the utmost coolness,
and again exhibited his capacity to COM
mRnd and nnntrnl q large hnAr nf trnnns |