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We are Ilkclv to have a quiet and a mihort session. Moke Axos.SepL 9, 1802,orfoEtaxsyille, Indiana,)Sept 20, J 1Ti his Excellency, O. P. Marion, Governor of (he Stale of Indiana:Sir:—On Friday, the 15th inst.. a re- I wrt reached Evansville that Owens-1 joro, Kentucky, was iu the hands of the •chela, and th« Federal forces in the ri-smity in danger of being Ojw.4.Desiring to render all the assistance ti my power, 1 hastened U the scene of action, aud upon arriving on the banks M the river below Owensboro, I found about 200 of the Indiana Legion. waitingto be ferried over, tbia was soon accomplished and we reported ourselver forduty. • Tja, -» t fcqq gqI pon arriving in camp, 1 ascertained that Col. Xetter, 38th Kentucky Volunteers, bad been killed in the early part ofthe day, and iu eonncpieuce. confusionand consternation had seized the soldiers iu camp, who were momentarily expecting an attack, and things generally were in a critical and defenseless condition. In view of these facts 1 felt it iny duty to assume command, which 1 did by issuingan order to that effect, aud directing myattention to a more efficient organisationmicbisascC 11 PVbJftcoLWof the troops aud preparation fur defense.The troops under mv controojs under my commond consisted of two buudrod and sixty cavalry, and about four hundred militia from ii»eneer county, Indiana, with two pieces of artillery.Of this force I took two hundred and fifty of the Indiana boys aud sixty-two cavalry, with one six-pound gun, wav-iug the remainder in camp for iu protection.) With this force 1 started in pursuit of the eueiny, intendin'', if jms-sible, to surprise and capture them.Between daybreak and sunrise mi Saturday morning, we encnnrUored the rebett about eigtu miles south of Owem-boro, posted in a strong position and evidently awaitiug an attack. I immediately pushed on a small force of cavalry to engage the enemy 5 attention in front, while i threw out a company of infantry to out hunk them on their left. Our cavalry soon engaged the enemy, who opened upon them with artillery aud small arms. Bringing up our artillery—com-poacd of one old iron six-pounder. we tired three rounds, when the gun became entirely useless in consequence of the trunnion caps breaking to pieces.Advancing closer with the infantry, we soon encountered the main force of the enemy, occupying a corn field, and entirely hid from our sightHere the Indiana Legion displayed great courage and pertinacity in fighting rarely equalled and never excelled by veteran trorqia. Here was an enemy, 800 strong, occupying u, strong position, sheltered by a fence and ditch, and hid behind high corn and brush, their artillery posted on a rising ground in theirrearer * - fit- —At this point the Indiana hoys fought the rebels full one hour, and then the ammunition was in a great measure exhausted, when the order being given to charge bayonets, we crossed the fence, pushing over the d itch and into the corn driving the enemy before ua. We took the hill by storm, routing and dispersing the enemy iu the utmost confusion, hut for the want of cavalry we could not pursue them. With two good companies of cavalry we could have token them bag and baggage. *The ca.saalities on our side were three kilted and twenty three wounded. One of the wounded has since died.The easualities on the enemies sidewere 36 dead on the field aud 30 wounded. Seven of tiie wounded have since died.We took 16 prisoners besides a number of Imrsca. guns, sabres, Ac.The rebel commander acknowledges a loss of 75 or 80.CoL Crook s 4th regiment Indiana Legion and the men under his command deserve special notice, and are worthyof couuuF-ndutiou for their unliiuchingcourage in the face of superior numbers.1 have the honor to lie, Governor, Your oh’t servant,• W m P. Wbon,U Col. 1st Ind. Cavalry.
Newspaper Details
Evansville Daily Journal
Evansville, Indiana, US
Sat, Sep 27, 1862
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Taylin A.
USA 10 Jun 2018
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