. . . up and ready
for battle at an early hour, and, after day-light, were allowed to build small
fires.
Under the dense fog,
no demonstration was made on either side until a late hour in the morning, and
the opportunity was improved by our generals to make a better disposition of
their forces than had existed on the preceding day. Gregg's Brigade was moved
to the right, where the heaviest fighting had been, and was expected to take
place again. It formed the second line, of which there were three, and was not
expected to make the first charge. As soon as the fog cleared away, the battle
opened on the extreme right and gradually came on down to the left, the
artillery firing being much heavier than it was the day before. Between 10 and
11 o'clock, the enemy's batteries at one point opened and shelled us furiously
for some time, our line lying down and taking it easy until the command
"Forward" was given, when it advanced steadily and in splendid order
until it overtook the brigade in front, which, after capturing the first line
of works, had halted in the face of a terrible fire of artillery and musketry
from across a field. There were said to be sixteen pieces disputing our advance
here, supported by lines of infantry. The brigade in our front being sheltered
by a shallow ravine, seemed loth to quit its vantage-ground, and Colonel Sugg,
commanding Gregg's Brigade, asked permission of its commander to pass over it,
which was granted. We sprang forward at the word with loud yells, and in a few
seconds were under the play of the enemy's batteries in an open stubble-field.
Our line made no halt or waver, but dashed ahead, and in a brief time had
captured the guns, shooting down some of the gunners and clubbing others as
they stood at their posts. The second line of fortifications, just in rear, was
carried by the same assault-the infantry flying in disorder before us. This
brigade being now ahead of every thing, was halted to allow other parts of the
line to come up, when, if it had been pushed forward a couple of hundred yards,
it could have captured, almost without resistance, a large train of wagons and
ordnance. Its advanced position created some apprehension of a flank-fire,
and, to meet this contingency, it was filed to the right, and skirmishers were
thrown out to find out the situation. I was again called upon for this duty,
though very tired and thirsty. We advanced, cautiously, from tree to tree, and
sprang the game a half mile off, posted in a strong position among the hills.
While on this duty, a solitary horseman came dashing through the woods from the
front, and, not knowing our whereabouts, found himself in unexpected range of
our rifles. Every man in the line fired upon him except myself. He looked so
fine, on his gray charger, with fancy trappings, that I hadn't the heart to do
so. Only one shot took effect, and this was fired by John Jobe, just as he was
in the act of escaping over the hill. Moving forward to the top of a ridge, we
found the enemy's skirmishers on the other side, but Captain Feeney's Company
soon drove them back on the main body. The brigade now came on, and took
position on the ridge, and waited for the enemy's attack, which, from the signs
at the front, was momentarily expected. It had not long to wait. With a feeble
cheer, a heavy force advanced through the woods and opened a furious fire. The
brigade to our right—the same over whose heads we had charged at the
opening-gave way and left us exposed to a heavy cross-fire. The colonel now
ordered us to retire a short distance, until the other brigade could be
rallied, when we moved forward again. Now ensued the hardest and closest
engagement we ever had, the enemy being in heavy force; but, notwithstanding
that our line was thinned by the casualties of battle already, we held our
ground against the odds for two hours before reinforcements came to our help.
These came under the same withering fire to which we were exposed, and suffered
heavily. The fire was kept up obstinately by both sides, and it was not until a
little before sunset that the enemy showed signs of weakening, when we made a
charge, driving them over the hill, which they contested to the last inch.
Again they rallied, but this time for a few minutes only, when they gave way
and quit the field in disorder. Night and the tired condition of our troops
prevented any further pursuit. Just before the enemy retreated, and as I was in
the act of ramming down the last out of sixty cartridges, I was struck in the
hip and rendered hors du combat.
Our loss this day
was heavy, both in officers and men, though my company was comparatively
favored. Doc. Conway had his shoulder shattered; Robert Fulton, flesh wound in
arm, which proved fatal; Charley Bagley, in the shoulder; Billie Hill, in
the shoulder, severe; and Tom Pinkerton, in the chest. Other companies in the
regiment lost heavily, and other regiments in the brigade lost more than ours.
Colonel Tillman was wounded in the shoulder; Major Robinson, in the groin;
Colonel Beaumont was killed; Captain Wm. March, of the Forty-first, fell while
leading his men in a charge. I was carried off the field, after the fight, by
Lieutenant Chafin and Mathew Hathcock, and reached the Field Hospital during
the night.
The hospitals were
all crowded with our own and the enemy's wounded, and the surgeons could not
attend to half of them. I remained there nearly a week, when I was so much
improved that I could assist my friends who were worse hurt. Thos. Halbert was
wounded in his good arm, but I don't think he will lose it. Doc. Conway is
badly hurt, but we are keeping his arm cool with water, and hope to save it. We
came to this place (Empire Hospital) last Tuesday, and are comfortably
situated. I intend returning to my command to-morrow.
SOURCE: Edwin L.
Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History,
Vol. 1, pp. 366-8
No comments:
Post a Comment