USA > Iowa > History of the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, from October, 1861, to August, 1865, when disbanded at the end of the war > Part 28
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Our casualties were three enlisted men killed and three officers (Lieutenants McArthur, Gebhart and Scheevers) and forty-five enlisted men wounded. A list of the same is inclosed herewith.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. W. BELKNAP, Col. 15th Iowa Vet. Vol. Infantry .
LIST OF THE KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING IN THE ABOVE CHARGE.
Killed: D Company, Ist Sergeant Richard M. Wilson; E Company, Corporal Christopher Orm. Privates: Albert A. Bean, Augustus Smith.
Wounded: Non Commissioner Staff, Sergeant Major James W. Henry, face; Drum Major, Henry Metz, left groin ( rupture) ; A Company : Sergeant James Bird, shoulder. Privates: William H. Davis, head; Daniel McKinster, left foot; Andrew Mefford, head, severely. B Company : Privates, Alfred Broadstone, arm severe- ly: Isaac D. Hubbard, mortally (since dead); Thomas Rayger, arm; Levi Wells, mortally. C Company: Privates, A. C. Hen- derson, right arm severely; S. E. Hawkins, left hand severely; Eden Hunt, right thigh severely. D. Company: 2d Lieutenant Emanuel M. Gebhart, leg. Privates, Peter Hoover, concussion from shell; Andrew McConnell, hand. E Company: Sergeant
327
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
James N. Roberts, mortally; Corporals, Abijah H. Johnson, head and side severely; Solomon Holcomb, head. Privates, John W. Bowen, left breast and shoulder severely; J. W. Cheney, leg sev- erely; Howard Elmore, head; J. J. Henderson, left leg severely ; C. W. Jamison, head severely ; J. F. Orm, leg; R. Orm, left hand; O. E. Stuart, left hand severely; B. T. Thomas, thigh severely ; J. S. Vantreese, ankle; Thomas Wright, mortally (since dead) . F Company: Privates, Wm. Fitzgerald, left leg severely ; J. W. Carter, rupture right side; John Rowe, left arm severely. * H Company: Ist Lieutenant H. C. McArthur, left hip severely ; Color Corporal J. H. Forgeus, right groin. Privates, John Cox, left shoulder severely; J. H. Esley, left arm severely; J. D. Ful- lenwider, mortally; P. Murphy, head and shoulder; S. A. Van- arsdall. I Company: 2d Lieutenant H. Scheevers, foot severely ; Corporal J. Davenport, mortally ; Privates, H. Southan, mortally; J. White, side; C. Wolorvous, back. K Company: Sergeant Wm. B. McDowell, breast severely ; Corporal J. H. Wood, back severely. Private Wm. H. Walker, side severely.
NOTE-Two men in A Company and one in D Company were reported after the above was made.
RECAPITULATION.
Killed.
Mortally.
Wounded
Wounded
Total
Wounded.
Aggregate
Non-Commissioned Staff
2
2
2
" A" Company .
6
6
6
" B" Company
2
2
4
4
"C" Company
.3
3
3
" D" Company
1
4
4
5
"E" Company .
3 2
.12
14
17
"F " Company
.3
3
3
"H" Company
1
.. 6
7
7
" I " Company
2
3
5
5
" K" Company
3
3
.3
Tot ?1.
4
7
. . 44
.51
. . 55
*G Co was detailed on the 20th as a guard for the 4th Division Supply train and was not in this engagement,
328
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
Headquarters 3d Brigade, 4th Div., 17th Army Corps, Near Atlanta. Ga., July 21st, 1864.
Captain C. Cadle, Jr., A. A. Gen., 4th Div., 17th A. C.
SIR :- I have the honor to submit my report of the part taken by this brigade in the action with the enemy on this day :
The 4th division, commanded by Brigadier-General Gresham, took position on the evening of the 20th inst., in front of a strong line of the enemy's works, and at a distance of about six hundred yards therefrom: the 1st brigade on the right, the 3d brigade on the left, and Brigadier-General Force's brigade of the 3d division on the left and in refuse of the 3d brigade. In a short time after this position was taken General Gresham was severely wounded, and Colonel Hall, of the 11th Iowa, commanding brigade, assumed command of the division, and turned over the command of the 3d brigade to the undersigned. Immediately in front of General Force's brigade, and to the front and left of this brigade, was an eminence occupied by the enemy with infantry and artillery, with which they enfiladed our whole brigade front, rendering the pos- session of the enemy's position at that point of the last importance to us. General Force was ordered to advance and take the hill, and I was ordered to advance my lines in connection with his, and in the event that he met with serious resistance, I was ordered to make a strong demonstration against the whole line of the enemy in my front. In the meantime Brigadier-General Giles A. Smith arrived on the ground, assumed command of the 4th division, and directed the subsequent movements.
At 8 o'clock A. M. of the 21st, General Force moved on the ene- my, and my lines were accordingly promptly advanced. The 13th Iowa Infantry, commanded by Major Walker, and the 15th Iowa Infantry, commanded by Colonel Belknap, in front; and the 11th Iowa Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Abercrombie, and the 16th Iowa Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Sanders, in the rear. It soon became apparent that General Force was meeting with a stubborn resist-
*
JOHN SHANE. COL.13!" IOWA YOLS.
329
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
ance, making the result in that quarter doubtful, when I received orders from General Smith to advance on the enemy's works, which movement was at once commenced ; but arriving on the crest of the hill, and within one hundred yards of the enemy's works, and observing that General Force's command held the eminence contested for, and that the enemy had fallen back to a strong line of works, powerfully manned with an abundance of artillery, cov- ering the whole space upon which we were deployed, and over which our further advance lay, and being without support, the com- mand was ordered to retire to its original position, which was done in good order, the object of the advance having been entirely ac- complished. The loss to the brigade during the action, which did not last more than thirty minutes, was very severe, principally fall- ing on the 13th, 15th and 16th Iowa Infantry; the 11th, not being from the nature of the ground in its front so much exposed to the enemy's fire, suffered but little.
I cannot speak in too high terms of praise of the conduct of both officers and men of the brigade during the brief but bloody conflict. The advance line was particularly exposed to a terrible fire of grape, canister and musketry from the moment the movement commenced. The 13th lowa, in that brief space of time, lost one-fourth of its men; the 15th and 16th in nearly the same proportion; but, although thus suffering, and their comrades being momentarily cut down, every man acted the hero and veteran, that he was, until the emi- nence had been gained and secured from danger of being retaken. The commanding officers and men of the several regiments of the brigade I have every reason to thank for their hearty co-operation in carrying out all orders preparatory to and during the conflict. Although but accidentally placed in command of the brigade, the evening before, which command terminated with the termination of the conflict by the appearance of Colonel Hall on the field, yet
25
330
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
officers and men obeyed every order as though emanating from some long-tried and much-esteemed commander.
I have the honor to be, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN SHANE, Colonel Commanding Brigade.
In the evening of July 21st the 4th division marched to the left of the 3d division, the 3d brigade on the left of its division, and the regiments of the brigade in the following order: 15th Iowa, ex- treme left; 13th Iowa, on its right; 16th Iowa, in front of the 13th; the 11th Iowa on the right of the 16th; each command to fortify its line.
Meanwhile, the command of the rebel forces at and around At- lanta, having been changed from the hands of General Johnston into those of General Hood, the latter at once inaugurated a change in the strategy and tactics of the war. He adopted the offensive, when our troops were in process of formation on a new line, and before that line could be well fortified. Thus he attacked the Cumberland Army on July 18th in its new position along the Peach Tree creek, with a view of turning its flanks before the ar- rival of other corps.
The same aggressive policy did not allow him to leave the 17th Corps in the possession of the important ridge of elevated ground taken by the corps on the morning of July 21st, that being the key to his position southeast of Atlanta, only two miles distant from the city .
BATTLE OF ATLANTA, JULY 22, 1864.
Headquarters 15th Regiment Iowa Infantry Vet. Vols, In the Field near Atlanta, Ga., July 23, 1864. 5 LIEUT. O. D. KINSMAN, A. A. A. General 3d Brigade, 4th Di- vision, 17th Corps :
SIR :- I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of this Regiment in the action of July 22d :
-
331
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
On the afternoon of the 21st, the brigade moved to the left of the line occupied by the 17th Army Corps, on the left flank of the army ; the 15th being placed on the extreme left, with its right resting upon the left of the 13th Iowa.
On the same evening Company B, commanded by 1st Lieuten- ant Muir, of Company E, and Companies C and E, were sent out on picket and as skirmishers. At about 12 o'clock, sharp firing was heard and the skirmishers in front fell back; the line of skir- mishers on the right having fallen back, and leaving them unsup- ported. They at once, however, re-advanced, but were soon driven back and the enemy was upon us in heavy force. The men fought gallantly, repulsing their charges and preventing their ad- vance beyond the timber. Our left, however, was unsupported. A part of the 53d Indiana was thrown on our left as flankers, to- gether with a company of the 13th Iowa; but the enemy in strong force and overwhelming numbers easily turned our left flank, and driving back the flankers, compelled us to fall back and take a new position, which was in a corn field on the right of the main road, where the 15th was placed on the extreme right of the new line, with the 13th on its left. Here, by orders from the brigade com- mander, Company A, under Captain Whitenack, was sent out as skirmishers to protect the right flank and the front of the regiment and to develop the enemy. This company advanced gallantly into a point of woods on the right, but soon fell back, being attacked by the enemy in line of battle, and losing in killed, wounded and captured in a moment twelve of its men.
The whole line again fell back, pressed by superior numbers, and soon took a position in the main road, occupying the outside line of breastworks, erected for the protection of the 3d division on the advance to Atlanta, and facing to the rear. Here we awaited the advance of the enemy. Flushed with previous suc- cesses they came confidently. My men were ordered not to fire until each had marked his man, and the number of men of the 45th
332
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
Alabama and 38th Tennessee in front of the position occupied by this regiment, is evidence the order was obeyed. No men of the 15th were lost here.
The enemy fought bravely and obstinately, and many of them were shot down fighting at the muzzles of our guns. The 45th Alabama, led by Colonel Lampley and Major Freeman advanced on, our line, but was instantly repulsed, every man within view being killed or captured. The 15th Iowa captured two field offi- cers, a captain and many men of this regiment, and the Lieutenant Colonel (Gwynn) of the 3Sth Tennessee; the bearer of the regi- mental battle-flag of the 45th Alabama was shot down by Private Crowder, Company C, and the colors claimed by him; and the commanding officer of this regiment had the satisfaction of per- sonally capturing Colonel Lampley, commanding officer of the 45th Alabama. The enemy being entirely repulsed from this point, we were ordered to occupy another position, and the fight- ing of the division was over for the day. Our loss was heavy, mostly occurring early in the action, and when the regiment was without support on the left. I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the officers and men of the Regiment, all of whom be- haved, as far as my observation went, with great gallantry; but I may be permitted to especially mention Lieutenant Colonel Hed- rick; always brave and gallant, he on this day cheered on the men by his presence and words, and gave to those around him his own unconsciousness of danger.
The Regiment mourns the loss of its gallant dead. Veterans and recruits fought side by side, and testified their bravery and devotion. Lamenting their loss, their comrades know that they cherish the memories of men who did not falter when the time of trial came. Lieutenant E. M. Gebhart, Company D, was the only officer killed. Wounded severely at Shiloh, captured there, and a prisoner for months, he returned to the Regiment, bravely
333
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
did his duty, and died a soldier's death. The army has in its ranks no braver man.
My thanks are due Adjutant E. H. King and all the officers and men of the Regiment for their gallantry, which contributed so eminently to the success of the day .
We had 380 men in line, 131 of whom were killed, wounded or captured, a list of which is inclosed herewith.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. W. BELKNAP,
Col. Commanding 15th Iowa Infantry, Vet. Vols.
LIST OF KILLED, WOUNDED AND
MISSING IN
THE ABOVE ACTION.
Killed: A Company: Private Patrick Norton; B Company : Sergeant John A. Tovey; Private John C. Lovejoy. D Company : 2d Lieutenant Emanuel M. Gebhart. G Company: Corporal Charles B. Vinton; Privates, Harrison Morris, James P. Moss. H Company : Privates, Erastus Coleman, Edward S. Julien. K Company: 1st Sergeant Stephen H. Gillespie; Corporals, Joshua P. Davis, Benjamin F. Momyer.
Wounded: Lieutenant Colonel John M. Hedrick, left hip and arm severely.
A Company : 2d Lieutenant John F. Evans, right thigh sev- erely; Sergeants, James Bird, head severely; Andrew Mitchell, foot; Corporals, John Mara, -; James Primrose, -; Wil- liam Majors, -; Marinus Rhynsburger, left arm severely ; Drummer William H. Bole, left leg severely. Privates, William H. Davis, --; Benjamin F. Gebhart, -; James Getty, -; Napoleon B. Kindred, right hand; William W. Moore. mortally; Samuel P. Reed, -; Elihu Smith, mortally.
B Company : Corporal Josephus A. Waldo, right wrist; Pri- vates, George T. Hughes, side severely ; Benjamin F. Lovejoy, right leg severely.
334
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
C Company : Corporal John Stackley, hand; Privates, Jason R. Lathrop, left arm severely; Jacob T. Timbrel, left arm severely; Henry VanCleave, left leg severely .
D Company; Privates, Lycurgus F. Bird, -; Squire Marts, right arm severely; Francis M. Phillips, shoulder; George J . Reynolds, left arm severely; George Trump, head.
E Company : Corporal William H. Sellers, left hand; Privates Silas W . Grove, knee; Robert Wilson, left arm severely .
F Company : Corporals, Jacob Slonaker, -; Orson A. War- ner, left wrist severely; Privates, John W. Cox, right wrist sev- erely; Thomas J. Morris, left shoulder severely; John L. Tresler, shoulder severely.
G Company : Sergeant John Harger, right hand severely; Pri- vate Elias M. Reid, left arm severely .
H Company : 2d Lieutenant Logan Crawford, left lung sev- erely; Sergeant Warren W. Rose, head severely; Privates, Al- fred C. Barnes, mortally; Benjamin Esley, right foot severely; Henry Frantz, left arm severely; Joshua D. Gilbert, head.
I Company. Sergeant William L. Watson, hand; Corporal Isaac M. Christy, hand; Privates, Joseph Ballenger, left arm severely; Benjamin F. Breman, right shoulder; Elkana D. Chan- dler, thigh; Solsberry Davis, shoulder; George Haner, back sev- erely; Isaac Haner, arm; William Morrow, left arm severely; Cornelius Woolorvous, right arm severely .
K Company: Captain Thomas H. Hedrick, right arm and shoulder severely; Privates, Frederick Buckmaster, mortally; William A. Gibson, thigh; Francis M. Scholar, -; Mathias W. Stalcop, mortally; Hazael Wycoff, side.
Captured: Non Commissioned Staff: Sergeant Major James W. Henry.
A Company: Sergeants, Charles R. Hawley, James Bird, ( wounded ), Color Corporal John F. Gunning; Corporals, John A. Kimbrough, John Mara, ( wounded ), James Primrose, ( wounded ) ;
335
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
Privates William H. Davis, ( wounded ), Warren Dye, Amos W. Ferguson, Benjamin F. Gebhart, (wounded), James Getty, Daniel W. Largent, William W. Moore, (wounded mortally ), Samuel P. Reed, ( wounded ), Elihu Smith, ( wounded mortally ), Ellis Smith, Samuel Wilson . .
B Company : Sergeant Amos Overmier; Corporal Edward D. Lunt; Privates, William A. Boudinot, Thomas Fennessy, Colum- bus P. Fox.
C Company: Ist Sergeant William S. Winters, Corporal Joseph W. Hawkins; Privates, James Hawkins, Catlett V. Hiler, Charles Johnson, Seth Knowles, Joseph Little, John C. Rea.
D Company: Sergeant Joseph Heckart, Corporal Wilson S. McLain; Privates Lycurgus F. Bird, ( wounded), George H. Crouch, Philip Deford, George W. Farlin, Peter Hoover, Wil- liam Maserva, Andrew McConnell, Marion Rayburn, Stephen Stevens, Albert Vanvoast.
E Company: 1st Lieutenant William P. L. Muir, (commanding B Company ); Private William H. Rhamey .
F Company: Privates Phillip Benner, Watson Cooper, Felix Pool.
G Company : Private Byron South.
H Company: 2d Lieutenant Logan Crawford, ( wounded), Ser- geant Sephas C. Harris, Color Corporal John H. Forgeus, (wounded 21st ) ; Privates, Alfred C. Barnes, ( wounded mortally ), Levi Jack LaFlesh, T. H. Benton Marshall, Patrick Murphy, Levi T. Streeter.
I Company: Sergeants, James C. Bonar, Daniel Verrips; Cor- porals, Benjamin F. Keck, Garret W. Colenbrander, Luther B. Thomas; Privates Robert Brisbin, John W. Cramer, Charles M. Elrick, George Haner, ( wounded ), Albert Homewood, Henry Kirby, Simon Niermyer, Loren Rowell, William H. Rowell, Samuel C. Thomas, Isaiah White, Cornelius Woolorvous, ( wounded ), Samuel F. Zarnes.
336
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
K Company: Sergeants John G. Davis, Cyrus I. Momyer; Corporal John Riley; Privates Frederick Buckmaster, (wounded mortally ), John S. Clearwaters, Marion Conroy, David Elson, Albert Horn, William A. Mathis, Hiram D. Pope, James C. Ran- kin, Milton M. Young.
RECAPITULATION.
Killed.
Mortally Wounded.
Wounded.
Total
Wounded.
Captured.
Aggregate.
Field and Staff.
1
1
1
2
A Company
1
2
13
15
1º
33
B Company
2
3
3
5
10
C Company
1
5
5
12
18
E Company
3
8
2
5
F Company.
5
5
3
8
G Company
3
2
2
1
6
H Company .
2
1
5
6
8
16
I Company .
10
10
18
28
K Company
3
2
4
6
12
21
Totals, .
12
5|
55
60
87:
159
4
4
8
12
· D Company
General Hood, on the 22d, massed his best troops ( Hardee's corps, than whom there was no better in the Southern army.) against the line of the 17th Corps; attacking the same first, in the rear of its left flank.
Just then, however, part of General G. M. Dodge's 16th Corps was already moving to the rear of the 17th Corps, and in one in- stant the advance was stopped; in the next moment it fiercely opposed its noble lines, supported by a battery of eight guns just arriving upon the spot, to the rebel assaulting columns and checked their further advance. The engagement scarcely commenced at this point, when an almost simultaneous attack was made further to the rear and left from the direction of Decatur, where Colonel Sprague's brigade bravely opposed the further progress of the enemy. Thus, the enemy in both places finding sufficient force to check their further advance upon the immediate rear of the lines
337
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
of the 17th Corps, the left flank of the same (still over half a mile from Dodge's right) became the next object.
The skirmishers of the 3d brigade being soon driven in, the sev- eral regiments in the same position to which they had been assigned the evening before, fought the advancing enemy with the deter- mination and gallantry of veterans.
The gap, however, between the left of the 15th Iowa and the right of the 16th Corps, (already engaged for two hours) remain- ed half a mile wide, and being mostly covered with timber, the enemy was enabled to bring up heavy masses upon the left flank and rear of the 4th Division, 17th Corps, without being detained in any way, except by the bravery and. stern determination of the officers and men of the entire command, to fight it out against a half circle of surrounding enemy .
After a half hour's magnificent fight, the flankers, (part of the 53d Indiana and 3d Iowa), having been forced back by overwhelm- ing numbers, the left flank of the 3d brigade (the 15th) became entirely exposed and turned, and in a short time the regiment and brigade lost severely. Nearly all of the 15th Iowa, who were dis- abled, Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Hedrick, Captain T. H. Hedrick, of Company K, and scores of others, while nobly and gallantly discharging the duties of their respective positions, were wounded by the enemy deploying and advancing upon the unprotected left flank and rear of the regiment.
The brigade being ordered to a new position on the right of the old McDonough road, in a corn-field, where the 15th became the extreme right of what was remaining of the brigade, the 16th Iowa almost entirely, and large numbers of the 11th, 13th and 15th hav- ing been enveloped in first position and captured. Pressed by overwhelming numbers, the brigade soon took a third position in the road, occupying the breast-works built by the 3d division the day before, and after awaiting some time in the rain for the enemy to appear from the woods in the direction of Atlanta, and perceiv-
338
History of the Fifteenth Regiment
ing another rebel command advancing from the rear, the regiment jumped to the outside of the works, and the enemy (45th Alabama) was met with surpassing bravery and repulsed with great slaughter, leaving many of their dead and wounded on the field, and captured prisoners in the hands of the men of the regiment. About 4 P. M. the right of the division and of the corps, having signally repulsed the fierce attacks in their front, the enemy gave way and left the field, exhausting the remainder of their rage beyond the right of the 17th corps and upon the divisions of the 15th corps.
Thus the important ridge of elevated ground, and the valuable position (afterwards Leggett's Bald hill) and the good name of the corps were saved. The day would awaken the proudest and most glorious reminiscences of the 17th Army Corps, were they not coupled with the death of its oldest and best beloved chief. Gen- eral James B. McPherson was killed in the rear of the left of the 15th Iowa at the commencement of the bloody carnage of the day.
With the fourth position, the fight of the regiment was ended for the day, although it afterwards changed that position, "jumping " again to the east side of the breast-works, there to receive a rebel force emerging from the timber beyond the corn-field; that force, however, was soon driven back into the timber and disappeared. While the regiment was in the fifth position. another rebel force opened its batteries upon it from the breast-works formerly occupied by the brigade at noon. The regiment and brigade were then or- dered to a position near the ravine on its right and rear, and finally in the evening occupied the position it held the day before. The officers and men of the regiment present in the several successive engagements have done their duty nobly, and have eminently con- tributed towards achieving the glorious result of the day.
Colonel Wm. W. Belknap, in command of the regiment, dis- · played his usual gallantry and ability in extricating his command before it was entirely enveloped by superior numbers in the first position. While in the fourth position, (same as the third, only on
339
Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
the outside of the breast-works), he had the satisfaction of captur- ing Colonel Lampley, 45th Alabama, and in the lead of the same, when they charged upon the 15th. Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Hedrick imparted his coolness and contempt of danger to the men of the command. He was severely wounded in his arm and hip in the first position. There Captain Thomas H. Hedrick was also severely wounded while discharging his duty with great gallantry ; there the brave Lieutenant E. M. Gebhart laid down his life, a sacrifice for the cause of his country ; there nine-tenths of the cas- ualties in the regiment were sustained, including the large number captured. Captain James M. Reid, of Company 1, always brave and reliable on the battle-field, while in the second position in the corn-field, became at once the extreme left of the line of officers, as others on the left of his company were either captured or wounded in the first position, or were detailed as pickets or on train guard, (Captain Hanks, with Company G), * and not yet returned. Besides his Company I, he continued in command of what returned of Company C from the picket line, and of Company H. He cap- tured alone seven men, delivering them to the Provost Marshal of
*Company G was detailed July 20th as Guard to the 4th Division supply train back to the Chattahoochie river, Captain Hanks commanding. That night we camped about two miles from the river. On 21st we loaded the train and then marched until 9 P. M. and camped in Decatur. On July 22d were ordered out at 6 A. M. to headquarters of 4th Division, south of the railroad and about 3 miles from Atlanta. On arriving, we commenced unloading the wagons, and rations were being issued to the troops. We were then ordered lo re-load wagons as quickly as possible, which was done, and the train moved a mile and was then coralled and a guard posted. We learned then that the enemy were attempting to flank and turn the left and capture our trains, as soon as brisk skirmishing commenced. The train was ordered 10 the rear and we were relieved and ordered to our regiment. We now were near a field a half mile to the left and rear of our lines of breast works. A division was crossing the field on a double quick and forming line on our left. I suggested to Captain Hanks that we form with one of the regiments and fight there. He replied he was ordered to the regiment and would go. He led the company on a blind road through the timber, which was very dense for a quarter of a mile; then halted and came to a front. He went in advance some distance to re- connoitre and returned ; hearing a line advancing in our front, the Captain said our men are falling back. When within a few rods of us We saw they were rebels, the Captain gave the order to About face, double quick march. Before obeying the boys fired a volley into the rebel ranks, which they returned. We retreated until we came to some breast.works and there made a stand and held them in check, unsupported by any other troops. At times on one side of the works, then on the other, advancing or retreating as best we could, in this way most of the day, lay on our arms all night, and reached the regiment on the 23d. (Casual- ties, see list of same). E. P. BYE.
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