Jackson.—We took
position in the ditches early in the morning of the 9th, and have been here
ever since, under fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, and occasionally of their
batteries. The opening shots of the second siege of Jackson were heard on the
Clinton road on the morning of the 9th, where Jackson's Cavalry were disputing
the advance of Grant's army, and in the course of the day the firing grew
nearer. A number of citizens abandoned their homes for a place of safety, and
we had free access to their houses. The regiment was posted in a yard under
fine shade trees, and nearly every man had a book, while some were seated in
rosewood chairs. At ten o'clock General Johnston and staff rode along the
trenches, and seemed in fine spirits. We drew crackers and bacon, and had our
water hauled to us. Early on the morning of the 10th, it was reported that the
enemy was advancing to storm our works, and at eight o'clock skirmishing and
canonading were lively at the center. At 4 P. M. firing began on our wing, (the
right). Several prisoners were brought in during the afternoon, and it was
reported that a Louisiana regiment had charged a battery, and captured two of
its pieces. After nightfall several fine residences, outside of the lines, were
set on fire to prevent the enemy's sharpshooters from taking shelter behind
them, and the vicinity was soon brilliantly lit up. Sharpshooting was kept up
until late at night. At daylight on the morning of the 11th, the Yanks opened
fire on our front from a clump of trees on a slight eminence, and their long-range
guns enabled them to keep us in hot water, while very few of our guns could
reach them. The firing was pretty constant all along the lines during the
morning. Private Estes, of Captain Cunningham's Company, was wounded in the
temple, while looking over our breastworks, and another (name unknown) wounded
in the hand. A call for fifty volunteers from the regiment, to act as
sharpshooters, was promptly responded to. While on this service, in a
cornfield, Private Renegar, of Captain Little's Company, was killed, and
Corporal W. C. Gracy, of Captain Feeney's Company, severely wounded. This
evening the Yanks made two vigorous charges on our right wing, and were badly
repulsed. At 6 P. M. the artillery firing on the extreme left was very heavy.
The Forty-first was ordered on picket, to remain twenty-four hours.
At 5 A. M., on the
morning of the 12th, heavy skirmishing began along the entire line, and
continued until nine o'clock, when the artillery opened, and rained on our
works a terrible shower of shot and shell for the space of an hour. Our
skirmishers were driven in by this fire, and we fully expected a charge to
follow, but were doomed to disappointment. Throughout the day shells came at
regular intervals, our guns replying slowly. About 9:30 A. M. fifty skirmishers
from each regiment went out to recover the lost ground, which they succeeded in
doing after a sharp battle. At 11 o'clock heavy firing was heard on the left,
and news soon came that Breckenridge's Division had signally repulsed the enemy
with heavy loss to them in killed, wounded and prisoners, besides two stands of
colors. This was soon confirmed by the appearance of the captured flags, which
were borne along the entire line of our works. The casualties in the
Forty-first, in this day's operations, were three men wounded. On July 13th skirmishing
began in front of Gregg's Brigade before daylight, and continued briskly all
day. Barrett and Robinson, of Captain Cunningham's Company, came in off picket
and said they had killed a Yank. Some of the boys afterwards went to the spot
they pointed out, and brought off the body, when it proved to be a member of
the Third Tennessee. He was in advance of the line, and hence this mistake.
On the 14th there
was very little change in the state of affairs. At one o'clock a truce of three
hours was held, to enable the enemy to bury his dead. There was quite a
mingling of the Gray and the Blue during the cessation of hostilities on this
part of the line. Two or three casualties occurred in the regiment during the
day, among them Private Goodrum, wounded in the head, while seated at the
bottom of the ditch.
SOURCE: Edwin L.
Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western
History, Vol. 1, p. 217-9
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