March 21,
1865.
We moved out
this morning just before daylight and got within 50 yards of the Rebel skirmish
line, but nothing going forward on our right or left, we returned to our
original position. Had one man in Company H slightly wounded. We could have
held our advanced line just as well as not. I think our right must rest on the
river. Some 35,000 or 40,000 Rebels are reported here under Johnston. Some
prisoners report Lee. I would like to see them whaled, but would like to wait
until we refit. You see that too much of a good thing gets old, and
one don't enjoy even campaigning after 50 or 60 days of it together. I believe
I am surfeited with oven bread — (“death balls” our cook calls them), biscuit,
and pork. I feel finely; wet from head to foot, has rained since noon hard most
of the time. About 1 p. m. the main line moved out on our skirmish line, and as
quick as they get their works up (about one-half hour), our regiment deployed
as skirmishers on our brigade front, and our whole corps skirmish line moved
forward. I think the 17th drove the enemy on our right at the same time. We
took their skirmish pits along the whole front of our division, but they were
very close to their main line and we did have a very interesting time holding
them, I assure you. I don't think it was more than 75 yards to the main line of
the Rebel works, and they in plain sight, only a straggling scrub oak
undergrowth and a few large pines intervening. The Rebels came out of their
works twice to retake their pits.
The first
time the left of our regiment had to fall back, the brigade on our left giving
way and exposing our flank, but we all rallied in a minute and made the
Johnnies fairly fly back. The next time our brigade again broke, but our men
held their pits, and the 26th Illinois, which was just coming out to relieve
our regiment, faced its left wing for the pits occupied by the enemy, and went
for them with a first-class yell. You should have seen the Rebels run. It did
me a power of good. The other brigade then came back to their position, the
26th relieved me, and we are now ready for bed. We have been wonderfully fortunate
to-day, only 10 wounded and none killed. The pride of the regiment, Frank
Lermond, had his arm broken by a ball, but a resection operation will leave him
a tolerably good arm. I think this has been as exciting and lively a p. m. as
ever I saw. Terry's 24th Army Corps has come up, and lays about six miles back
of us to-night.
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