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two things that could he done—viz., tightWll^°ut delay, Hod depend on thechance of Blunt's hearing me and comingup, or rettvat ititf lo3e my whole train. Itrequired no time to make a decision, ami sending back for the Second Division to close up, [ took a look over the ground. At the regular crossing of the creek, 1 ordered two guns over to feel the enemy’s position, hit having felt father too hard they opened on us with two full batteries. Myself and staff made a very narrow escape here, as we v«.re Standing by the side of our pieces, wh* n they directed the fire of all their guns on us. For about ten minutes the solid shot and shell flew thick, several passing within a f ot oi me. I withdrew my pieces from this position, satisfied that we couldn't cross at thatplace. There was a place fin ther down thecreek that I found we could cross, hut it required a road cut through the timber to g» t at it. This was quickly done, and gettirg one full battery over and divided, posting three pieces in each of two places, so as to nlako them believe it was two batteries, I sent orders for the other three batteries with thG infantry to cross the crick as soon as tl e 15* battery opened fire. At ten o'clock a 1 Whs ready, and [ gave the order to open Oi * course the enemy directed their* tiring at the battery in position, and before they could ‘ change any of their pieces, I had fourteen J guns more across the creek, and bard atvWC¥k. Undercover of these guns I crossed afl Ihe infantry, anti thus formed iny line of' s tttttta in the midst of a terrific artillery fir . The firing on our side was elegant, both foirapidity and accuracy, and excelled anythingI had ever witnessed. Seeing that all wa- j working well I commenced advancing th I batteries towards the enemy’s lines, follow-! ing up close with the infantry. Our skirin ishers soon became engaged with those of th enemy, and indeed in but very few minxtis the whole left wing was engaged.The enemy then commenced moving his troops from right, on to my left to force my position. There was but one thing to do, and sending forwaid I ordered the 19th Iowa* and 20th Wisconsin to charge. It was a glorious sight, and witnessed by me just as plain as I could see a company mam uver in the street while standing on the sidewalk.-They charged up a hill, capturing a battery of four guns on the crest, and driving tin rebels a thousand yards, hut were unable to hold the ground, and were in turn driven back. These two regiments lost fifty tm n each killed in this chatge. The fighting wj s desperate beyond description. Having driven our men from the hid, the enemy tried to charge our batteries, coming up to within two hundred yards of them, but they couldn't face the music. Such firing as Foust's and Backofs guns put in just then could not hr withstood, and they broke, our men pouring volley after volley of musketry into them while retreating. Our loss during th s fighting was heavy, but their’s was aWful. Again the enemy commenced massing troops on my left to drive me back, and I saw the charge must be repeated. I ordered Col. Iluston, commanding 2d Division, to take the 20th Indiana and 37th Illinois, and try them again which he did, leading the troops in person. It was a repetition of the first desperate charge.I
Newspaper Details
Cedar Falls Gazette
Cedar Falls, Iowa, US
Fri, Jan 02, 1863
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 09 Nov 2020
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