3 a.m.—Less
rain. General Nelson, that energetic and wide-awake officer, is at my
headquarters, near a large tree, and issues his orders to me verbally: “Colonel
Ammen, you will put the Tenth Brigade in motion, as soon as you can see to
move, at dawn; find the enemy and whip him.” He went towards the Nineteenth
Brigade. The Tenth Brigade is in line, ready to meet an attack, and preparing
the best possible breakfast that their haversacks, culinary advantages,
&c., will afford; the skirmish line strengthened and advanced several
hundred yards beyond the bayou in our front, and the brigade commences the
march through the undergrowth, crosses the bayou, ascends the steep, high bank;
first line advances far enough to let the second cross, halts, adjusts
alignment, &c., the skirmishers advancing slowly and cautiously in the mean
time. Our left is to rest on the marsh or Tennessee River, and our line of
march is to be up the river. It is now light, and we are again in motion
through the wet undergrowth and forest. Rain has ceased. An occasional shot is
fired by our skirmishers, and now we are at a clearing, and some cabins and
tents are standing, from which our troops were driven yesterday. We cross the
open space and halt in the forest. The battle has commenced miles to the right.
The fire is extending along the line, and has been coming nearer and nearer,
and now we hear the shouts of the distant combatants. The Tenth is again in
motion. Our skirmish line has some work, but the enemy falls back; does not
advance on our front in force. The advance is slow and cautious; the position
of our left flank is examined carefully and is near a swamp; cannot be easily
turned. The undergrowth, the forest, and the clearing a short distance in front
are favorable to us. About a mile from our position this morning; our advance
has not been interrupted. The confidence of the men increased, if I may judge
from their cheerful salutes and happy countenances as I pass along the Nines.
The roar of artillery and small-arms is extending to our left rapidly. The
brigade on our right is engaged furiously. A battery is brought to the support
of the Nineteenth, and the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry is taken from my front
line to support the battery. The Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry takes
position in the front line.
No sooner is our
line formed than the enemy assault fiercely, but the brave men and officers of
the Tenth Brigade stand cool and firm, and hurl the foe back again and again,
as often as he reaches the crest of the small rise immediately in our front.
The attacks of the enemy are frequent and desperate, but our new troops have
the coolness of veterans. Captain Mendenhall's battery, Fourth U.S. Artillery,
comes to our support when we need assistance. Right good service did Captain
Mendenhall and his well-drilled and efficient battery perform. The troops on
our right are hard up to hold their position, and are not able to dislodge the
enemy in their front. We of the Tenth have our hands full. The enemy is massing
in our front, apparently determined to carry our left flank. The Tenth is
placed on the best ground for defense, concealed as far as practicable, and
ready to receive the attack of superior numbers. On the rebels come with loud
shouts, and when they are at the proper place the men of the Tenth rise, the
front rank fires, loads; the rear rank fires, &c. The rebels find the aim
too accurate and the balls to numerous to continue the advance; they fall back,
renew the attack repeatedly, but are each time repulsed by the brave men and
officers under my command. Generals Buell and Nelson come along; call my
attention to the great force in my front, which we had seen and been fighting
some time. They were uneasy for the safety of the left, but when they witnessed
the fierce assault of the rebels and the cool and determined courage of the men
and officers of the Tenth and the decided repulse of the rebels, their
expressed their admiration and promised me re-enforcements. Captain
Mendenhall's battery was taken to another part of the line of battle which was
sorely pressed. The battle rages with us; no cessation; no diminution of
numbers in our front; no appearance of retreat, but evident signs of another
attack. They come, but cannot move our line; another effort without success;
our left baffles all their courage and skill. We have fought long against
superior numbers; the men are weary; ammunition is nearly exhausted. Our brave
and noble Generals (Buell and Nelson) have taken good care of their troops.
Ammunition is close to our line; the boxes are taken to the line; the cartridge
boxes are filled and each man has 20 more cartridges on his person. The gallant
Captain Terrill, with his battery, Fifth U.S. Artillery, dashes in and takes
position at the right of our line; opens fire on the enemy just at the decisive
moment; dismounts several pieces of one of their batteries in our front. The
fire of the infantry is also constant and protracted. The line of battle was
more than 4 miles long; a partial cessation; distant firing suddenly all along
the line; an incessant roar of fire-arms; shouts of men, &c. The left of
our line and the right of the rebels are as busy, as determined, and as anxious
as at any other part of the line of battle. The fire is terrible on both sides.
The Tenth Brigade advances slowly, but is gaining ground. The rebels fall back
slowly, stubbornly, but they are losing ground. Terrill's battery helps us
greatly. We advance more rapidly; push the rebels across the field; pass the
tents deserted by our troops early Sunday. The rebels take ammunition from the
boxes as they tarry among the tents, where they made a stand for some minutes.
Our troops rout the rebels, and also replenish their cartridge boxes from the
ammunition at this camp. We pursue a short distance; the rebels are
re-enforced; are too strong for us, and we in turn fall back slowly in good
order to the forest we left an hour or more before. The fight continues, but
our position is strong; we could not be driven from it. Re-enforcements were
sent to me by the generals; the left advanced; the rebels fell back. The troops
under my command made a charge; the rebels retreated in haste; disappeared in
the forest, and the battle was at an end for that day about 3.30 p.m. Parties
were sent in pursuit, but there was no fighting except slight skirmishing. The
troops bivouacked about 2 miles in advance of our starting point this morning.
General Nelson goes to the gunboats and leaves the division under my command.
General Buell comes to prepare for to-morrow's fight; I accompany him; he
selects line of battle; orders me where and how to form division; accompany him
to Crittenden's division, &c.; get back about midnight. General Buell is
indefatigable, careful of his men, cool in battle, labors hard to get the best
positions, and sees and examines for himself. Rains hard. General Thomas division
arrived on boats at 11 a.m.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A
Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies,
Series I, Volume 10, Part 1 (Serial No. 10), p. 335-6
