USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 18
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The regiment served in Northern Mississippi until June, 1863, when it was ordered to Vicksburg. Having been assigned to the 9th Corps, it took part in the siege of that city, sharing the hardships and dangers, which were at length rewarded by the surrender of the place (together with the grand army of Gen. Pemberton) on the ever- memorable Fourth of July, 1863. The 15th remained in Central Mississippi during the summer, and in October was sent, with the 5th Corps, to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland. It was detained in Northern Alabama until February, 1864, when a portion of the men re-enlisted, and the regiment was sent home on veteran furlough, returning to take part in Gen. Sherman's Georgia campaign in May.
After unnumbered wearisome marches and many skirm- ishes, the 15th found itself in the 5th Corps, in front of
the enemy, near Decatur, Ga. The rebels drove back the 17th Corps, which was on the left of the 5th. The 15th Michigan was ordered to take possession of an exposed position some distance from the line of its corps. On the regiments arriving near the point indicated, it was found to be in possession of the enemy. The men of Michigan did not hesitate, but moved gallantly forward, and, after a brief but sharp conflict, captured the position with seventeen rebel officers, one hundred and sixty-seven men, and three stands of colors. The loss of the 15th was only four killed and six wounded.
On the 28th of July the regiment won another vietory over an assailing force of the enemy, which was driven off with heavy loss, leaving its dead and wounded on the field. Still another triumph was gained, near Jonesboro', on the 31st of August, when the enemy attacked the fortified eamp of the 15th and was most decisively defeated.
After the surrender of Atlanta, the regiment went to Northern Alabama, to operate against the rebel Gen. Hood, but returned in time to " march to the sea" with Sherman. It also marched through the Carolinas with that general; went from Washington to Little Rock, Ark., in June and July, 1865 ; returned to Detroit in August, and was dis- charged on the 1st of September.
MEMBERS OF THE FIFTEENTIE INFANTRY FROM RRANCE COUNTY.
Rufus Kibbee, surgeon ; enl. April 9, 1862; res. Oct. 3, 1862.
Benjamin Archer, Co. A ; died in action at Shiloh, Tenu., April 6, 1862.
Chauncey Ames, Co. F; must. out Aug. 13, 1865.
John Brower, Co.A; disch. Sept. 8, 1862.
Lewis F. Bassett, Co. A : died near Atlanta, Ga., June 17, 1565.
Abner R. Beebe, Co. A ; disch, by order, July 10, 1865.
Ilevry Ballard, Co. B; must, out Aug. 13.
Oscar Bloss, Co. E; disch, by order, Sept. 11, 1865.
Daniel S. Burdick, Co. H; must, ont Ang. 13, 1865.
Jacob Beam, Co. K; must, out Ang. 13, 1865,
George Babcock, Co. K; must. ont Aug. 13, 1865.
George W. Clark, Co. A; disch. by order, Ang. 5, 1865.
Martin Cass, Co. G ; must. out Ang. 13, 1865.
Horace E. Dalton, Co. A ; disch, by order, Nov. 18, 1865.
George W. Fenton, Co. A ; disch. for disability, June 14, 1862.
Samuel Fry, Co. A; disch. by order, Oct. 18, 1863.
Edwin J. Fields, Co. A ; must, out Ang. 13, 1805. David Fox, Co. K ; must. ont Aug. 13, 1865.
Samuel A. Grice, Co. Il; disch. by order, May 31, 1865.
Miner S. Hoyt, Co. A ; died of disease at Corinth, Miss., May 25, 1862.
Lewis W. Hilton, Co. Il ; must. out Ang. 13, 1865.
James llolliday, Co. K ; must, ont Aug. 13, 1865. llenry lludson, Co. C; must. out Ang. 13, 1865. Watslip Kahout, Co. H ; must. ont Ang. 13, 1865.
Wm. 11. Lamberton, Co. [1 ; must. ont Ang. 13, 1865.
Wesley Morse, Co. A ; disch. for disability, Nov. 26, 1862.
Charles McClure, Co. A ; disch. to re-enl. in Vet. Res. Corps, Feb. 18, 1864. Willson MeClure, Co. 1 ; must, ont Ang. 13, 1865. Simon Mathews, Co. Il ; must. out Ang. 13, 1865.
Edgar Osburn, Co. K ; must, ont Ang. 13, 1865.
David Perrin, Co. I; must. out Ang. 13, 1865.
Charles Richey, Co. 1 ; must. out Aug. 13, 1865.
David Rich, Co. K; must. ont Ang. 13, 1865.
Nelson Richardson, Co. A ; diech. for disability, Feb. 28, 1863.
Elijah Ransome, Co. HI ; must. out Aug. 13, 1865.
David Shook, Co. A; disch. for disability, March 4, 1863.
Edwin J. Start, Co. A; died of disease at Shiloh, Tenn., June 13, 1862.
Edward Sawdey, Co. C; died of disease at Camp Deuison, O., March 8, 1865.
Charles Shellon, Co. G; must. out Aug. 13, 1865.
Amos Stokes, Co. II ; must. ont Aug. 13, 1865. Sylvester E. Spencer, Co. 11 ; muist. ont Aug. 13, 1865.
llenry J. Smith, Co. K; must. out Aug. 13, 1865.
John W. Stafford, Co. K; must. out Ang. 13, 1865.
Thomas Shalon, Co. K ; disch. for disability, June 25, 18 -.
James Thornton, Co. Il ; must. out Aug. 13, 1865. Jacob Il. Terry, Co. K ; must. ont Aug. 13, 1-65.
Charles Thompson, Co. K ; must, ont Ang. 1:1, 1×65.
John Watson, Co. A ; died of disease near Camp Stevenson, Ala., Dec. 15, 1863.
Isaac Walburn, Co. A; must. out Aug. 13, 1865.
Thomas C. Winters, Co. A , disch. for disability, Nov. 7, 1862.
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HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Joseph Woods, Co. B; must, out Aug. 13, 1865. Niles Whipple, Co. K ; must. out Ang. 13, 1865. John Warfield, Co. K ; disch, by order, May 30, 1865. Charles Wilkinson, Co. K ; disch. for disability, June 5, 1865. George S. Warner, Co. K; must. out Aug. 13, 1865.
SIXTEENTH INFANTRY.
The 16th barely comes within the limit we have pre- seribed as entitling a regiment to mention in these pages. It had, according to the adjutant-general's rolls, twenty-one members who were residents of Branch County, viz., one in Company A, five in C, six in E, two in F, four in G, two in H, and one in I.
It went to Virginia in September, 1861. In the spring of 1862 it moved with the Army of the Potomac to the Peninsula and was engaged in the battles of Hanover Court-House, Gaines' Mills, and Malvern Hill. At Gaines' Mills alone it had no less than forty-nine officers and sol- diers killed, one hundred and sixteen wounded, and fifty-five missing. At the second battle of Bull Run it had sixteen killed, sixty-three wounded, and seventeen missing.
At Antietam it was in reserve. At Fredericksburg it had twenty-three men killed and wounded, and at Chan- cellorsville one killed and six wounded. At Middleburg, on the 21st of June, 1863, the regiment captured a piece of artillery with nineteen officers and men, itself having nine men wounded. It was hotly engaged at Gettysburg, having twenty-four officers and soldiers killed, thirty-six wounded, and two missing.
The next battle of the 16th (which in the mean time had reorganized as a veteran regiment) was at the Wilderness, where, on the 7th of May, 1864, it was sharply and gal- lantly engaged, having thirty-five officers and men killed and wounded. The evening of the 8th, the rebels attacked the regiment while on the march, but were repulsed, and a rebel colonel and a large number of men were captured. On the 22d of May the 16th defeated the enemy's rear- guard and made another large capture of prisoners.
After numerous skirmishes and two or three serious con- fliets, it reached the lines in front of Petersburg on the 17th of June. On the 30th of September it was part of the force which stormed the works at Poplar Grove Church, its commander, Colonel Welch, being killed, and fifty-two others being killed and wounded. The regiment remained on duty before and near Petersburg until the 6th and 7th of Febru- ary, 1865, when it was engaged in the battle of Hateher's Run and suffered heavy loss. It was also engaged to some extent in the conflicts at Five Forks, Amelia Court- House, High Bridge, and the crowning glory of Appomat- tox Court-House. After being ordered to Louisville, Ky., and Jeffersonville, Ind., in June, it was finally sent to Jackson, Mich., in July, where it was paid off and dis- banded on the 25th of that mouth.
MEMBERS OF THE SIXTEENTH INFANTRY FROM BRANCHI COUNTY.
Earl M. Aikin, Co. E; died of disease in the field in Virginia, June 14, 1865. Levi Beecher, Co. E; must. out July 8, 1865.
George W. Catliu, Co. C; died of disease near Sharpsburg, Va., Oct. 26, 1862. John W. Croft, Co. I; disch. by order, June 16, 1865. William Dillon, Co. A; must. out July 8, 1865. Leonard Dean, Co. E; must, out July 8, 1865.
Levi Dicey, Co. E; must out July 8, 1865. Evelin Earl, Co. E; must, out July 8, 1865. Jolin C. Geedy, Co. E; must, out July 8, 1865.
Benj. F. Hanford, Co. C; must. ont July 8, 1865. Adam Hower, Co, G ; minst. out July 8, 1865. Rob't llerot, C'o. G; must. out July 8, 1865. Abram Mosier, Co. C.
Alonzo Meyers, Co. C; died of disease at Davis hosp., N. Y., May 21, 1865. Jesse Mann, Co 11 ; must. out July 8, 1865.
James HI. Nye, Co. G ; omst. ont July 8, 1865. Lawrence MI Nye, Co. H ; must. out July 8, 1865. Joseph Rounge, Co. G; disch. by order, June 13, 1865.
Joseph Webb, Co. C ; must. out July 8, 1865.
John II. Warren, Co. F; must. out July 8, 1865. Silliman Woodard, Co. F; died of disease at City Point, Va., April 21, 1865.
SEVENTEENTHI INFANTRY.
Recruiting for the different companies composing the 17th Infantry was commenced in the spring and early part of the summer of 1862. Branch County contributed nearly fifty men to the ranks of the regiment during its service, viz., about twenty each to companies C and H, and a few to A, B, E, and G. Company C had for its first com- mander Capt. Henry B. Androus, of Coldwater, and the first captain of Company H was Charles A. Edmonds, of Quincy. The regimental rendezvous was at Detroit.
The 17th was the first regiment which left the State under the President's call of July 2, 1862, for three hun- dred thousand volunteers, the date of its departure from Detroit being Aug. 27, 1862, at the time when the hosts of the enemy were almost in sight of the dome of the capitol. At Washington the regiment was at once assigned to duty in the army of Gen. MeClellan, and moved with that army into Maryland, in the campaign of Antietam. On the 14th of September, only eighteen days after its departure from Detroit, it took part in the fieree battle of South Mountain, where it sustained a loss of one hundred and forty-one in killed and wounded. On the 17th, only three days after South Mountain, the regiment fought again, and with equal gallantry, in the desparate struggle of Antietam, where its loss in killed and wounded was one hundred and five. On the 1st day of November, just five weeks after it left Michigan, the 17th had lost in killed and wounded and deaths by disease the remarkable number of two hundred and sixty-six men.
From Maryland the regiment crossed into Virginia, and marched by way of Warrenton to Falmouth, on the Rap- pahannock River, where its eamp was pitched on the 18th of November. During the operations against Fredericks- burg, December 12 to 14, it performed some service in skirmishing, and crossed the river with the army, but was not engaged in the great battle of the 13th. It embarked at Aquia Creek on the 14th of February, 1863, proceeded to Newport News, Va., remained there till March 19, and then moved by transport to Baltimore, and thence by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Ohio River to Louis- ville, Ky. From that point its movements were as follows : March 28, to Bardstown, Ky .; April 3, to Lebanon ; April 29, to Columbia, and thence to Jamestown, which was reached on the 31st of May. From Jamestown, June 4, it moved to Louisville, thence to Cairo, Ill., and from there, by the Mississippi, to the Yazoo River, eneamping near Haynes' Bluffs, Miss. It proceeded to Milldale Church, June 22, and thence, on the 4th of July, it moved with the column advancing on Jackson, Miss. The regiment arrived there July 10, having had some slight skirmishing, but no general engagement.
73
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Again ( Aug. 3) it embarked and proceeded by river to Louisville, and thenee by land to Crab Orchard, Ky., moving from that point with the Army of the Ohio into East Tennessee. From Knoxville it went to Blue Springs, Tenn., and then back to Knoxville, arriving there Oct. 14. Six days later it marched, by way of Loudon, to Lenoir Station, remaining there until November 14, when it marched to the Tennessee River below Loudun to oppose the forces of Longstreet, who was then moving towards Knoxville. From this position it was compelled to retreat ; and while marching with the brigade, as rear-guard of the column, it was severely engaged at Turkey Creek, losing twenty-six killed and wounded. Returning to Knoxville, it took an active part in the defense of that place during the siege operations from Nov. 17 to Dee. 5, 1863, suffer- ing much from lack of sufficient and proper rations. Upon the raising of the siege and retreat of the enemy, the 17th moved in pursuit to Rutledge, Blain's Cross-Roads, and other points as far up the valley as Morristown.
About the middle of March, 1864, the 9th Corps, to which the 17th was attached, received orders to report at Annapolis, Md. Under this order the regiment marched from Knoxville on the 22d, crossed the Cumberland Moun- tains to Nicholasville, Ky. (one hundred and eighty-six miles), from which place it proeceded east by railroad to the point of destination. From Annapolis, where it re- ceived about two hundred recruits, the regiment marched with its corps, by way of Washington, to Warrenton June- tion, Va., and became a part of the grand army of Geu. Grant, with which it moved through the bloody campaign of 1864, from the Rapidan River to Petersburg. It was hotly engaged in the battles of the Wilderness, at Ny River, May 9, and at Spottsylvania Court-House on the 10th, 11th, and 12th. On the day last mentioned its Joss in a single charge was twenty-three killed, seventy-three wounded, and ninety-three taken prisoners, out of a total of two hundred and twenty-five mien engaged.
Reduced in numbers to a mere handful, the remnant of the regiment was detailed on the 16th of May to act with the engineers. In that duty it was with the corps in all its movements to and across the James River and through the siege of l'etersburg. It was engaged and did good service in the repulse of the rebel attack on Fort Steadman, March 25, 1865, where it took sixty-five prisoners. It participated in the final assault on Petersburg, and, with its division, entered the city upon its evacuation.
On the 23d of April the 17th moved to City Point, and ou the 25th embarked on transports for Alexandria, from which place it marched to Washington, and thence to Ten- allytown, Md., remaining there until May 22, when it moved back to Washington, and took its place in the great review of the Army of the Potomac on the 23d. It then returned to eamp, and remained till June 3, when it was mustered out of service. On the 4th it started for Mich- igan, arriving on the 7th at Detroit, where it was paid and disbanded.
MEMBERS OF THE SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY FROM BRANCH COUNTY.
Henry B. Androus, Coldwater, capt., Co. (; enl. June 17, 1862 ; captured ut Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1861 ; escaped, Jan. 6, 1865 ; must. out with regt., June 3, 1865.
10
Charles A. Edmonds, Quincy ; pro. to capt., Co. 11, June 17, 1862, from Ist lieut., Bat, A, Ist Lt. Art., May 28, 1861 ; wounded in action at South Moun- tain, Sept. 14, 1862; honorably disch. for wounds, Jan. 16, 1863.
Benjamin F. Clark, Quincy, 2d liont., Co. I ; enl. June 17, 1862; wounded in battle of South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862; honorably disch. for wounds, Jan. 16, 1863.
Daniel Holway, Coldwater, 2d lieut., Co. C; enl. Feb. 24, 1863; pro, to Ist lieut., Sept. 19, 1863; pro. to capt., Jau. 6, 1865; bvt .- maj., April 2, 1865; must. out with regt., June 3, 1865.
Josiah Billingshy, Coldwater, 2d lient. ; enl. July 4, 1863; pro. to Ist lient., Oct. 10, 1863 ; killed in a skirmish near Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 20, 1863.
Joseph Bailey, Co. C: died in action at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1861.
Charles Barber, Co. 11; must. ont June 3, 1865.
John Cory, Co. II ; must. out June 3, 1865.
Charles R. Cory, Co. H ; must. ont June 3, 1865.
Lyman [. Colby, Co. Il ; must. out June 3, 1865.
Jesse D. Clitchfield, Co. Il ; disch. for disability, Feh, 4, 1863.
Richard C. Chamberlain, Co. C ; disch. for disability, Jan. 5, 1861.
Burr Clark, Co. C; must out by order, June 17, 1865.
George M. Dalley, Co. Il ; died in action at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 18G1.
John F. Evans, Co. G; died of disease at Washington, D. C., Feb. 22, 1863.
Mito Greenfield, Co. C; must. ont June 3, 1×65.
Frisbie Hutchinson, Co. C; disch. by order, June 10, 1865.
Jamos Heller, Co. II; died in action at South Mountain, Mil., Sept. 14, 1862.
Andrew J. Hnwse, Co. II ; disch. for disability, Dec. 29, 1862.
Samuel Harmon, Co. HI ; disch. for disability, Feb. 6, 1863.
Daniel Heller, Co. Il; must. out June 3, 1865.
Moses E. Langhlin, Co. Il ; taken prisoner in action at Knoxville, Tenn .; died at Andersonville, Aug. 17, 1864.
William Hillman, Co. HI ; missing in action at Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 29, 1863. Leonard E. Minor, Co. C; died Dec. 26, 1862, of wonmls, at Antiel.im.
Alfred Milnes, Co. C; disch, for disability, June 3, 1565.
Henry McNall, Co. A ; disch. for disability, March 4, 1565.
James K. P. Meddangh, Co. H; disch, by order, June 5, 1865.
Jolın Nepass, Co. 11; must. out June 3, 1865.
George Otis, Co. II ; disch. for disability, Feb. 4, 1863.
John Petch, Co. C; died in action at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864.
David S. Piatt, Co. C; died of disease at Frederickville, MJ., Dec. 12, 1862.
Charles F. Potter, Cu. HI ; must. out June 3, 1865.
David Rapp, Cu. C; must. out June 3, 1865.
Charles Rapp, Co. C; dishonorably disch, by order, July 15, 1863.
Andrew P. Smith, Co. E ; died at Andersonville, Ga.
William Sprague, Co. G; trans. to 2d Mich. Inf.
Heury E. Sisson, Co. 11 ; must. out June 3, 1865.
Alfred J. Teachout, Co. C; di-ch. for lisability, Jan. 1, 1863.
Julius M. Tompkins, Co. C; died in action at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864.
Anson M. Vicory, Co. ('; disch. by order, Feb. 23, 1863.
Wallace Weller, Co. C; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Feb. 15, 1864.
Charles Weller, Co. C; must. out June 3, 1865. Paris C. Whiting, Co. C; most. ont June 3, 1865.
William S. Wood, Co. C; must. out June 3, 1865.
George Whitten, Co. C; trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, May 15, 1864.
Garrett C. Whitesides, Co. IL ; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Feb. 15, 1864.
Aaron V. Waterlmry, Co. H; killed by explosion of Steamer " Sultana," on Mississippi River, April 28, 1863
Ellis W. Vates, Co. B; died of disease at Coup N .Ison, Ky., March 30, 1861.
CHAPTER XVI.
NINETEENTH INFANTRY.
Its First Colonel from Branch County-Companies C and Il from that County-Their First Officers-The Regiment in the Army of the Cumberland-Hard Fight at Thompson's Station-Four Regi- ments Surrounded by Six Briga les-The Surrender-Exchanged and Reorganized-On Duty under Rosecrans in 1863-Company D-Again Captured-to the Georgia Campaign in 1564-Desper- a'e and Victorious Fight at Resaca-Col. Gilbert Killed-Other Battles-The March to the Sea -Through the Carolinas-To Wash- ington-Home-List of Officers and Soldiers.
THE Nineteenth Regiment of Michigan Infantry was raised from the counties of Branch, St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, Cass, Berrien, Van Buren and Allegan, in the summer of 1862, under the President's call of July 2, for three hundred thousand men. Its rendezvous for recruitment and organization was at Dowagiac. Brauch County was represented in the regiment by Companies C and II, and some fifty or sixty more men from the county served in its
74
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
other companies. The first commanding officer of the 19th was a citizen of Coldwater, Col. llenry C. Gilbert, who fell, mortally wounded, while bravely leading his command in a charge at the battle of Resaca, Ga., in the eampaign of Atlanta. The adjutant of the regiment, Lieut. Hamlet B. Adams, and its chaplain, Rev. Isaae Coggeshall, were also of Coldwater. The Branch County companies were officered from the county as follows :
Company C .- Charles P. Lincoln of Coldwater, cap- tain ; Smith W. Fisk, of Coldwater, first lientenant ; Lucius M. Wing, of Coldwater, second lieutenant.
Company II .- George H. White, of Coldwater, captain ; James A. Shoeeraft, of Coldwater, second lieutenant.
The 19th broke eamp at the rendezvous, on the 14th of September, 1862, proceeded by rail to Cincinnati, Ohio, thence to Nicholasville, Ky., and later, towards the close of the year, to Danville, Ky. It had been assigned to duty with the 4th Brigade of the 1st Division of the Army of Kentucky, which, on the formation of the Department and Army of the Cumberland, was transferred to that army, as a " Reserve Corps." As a part of that corps, the regiment moved from Danville early in February, and reached Nash- ville on the 7th, proceeding thenee to Franklin, Tenn.
On the 4th of March, 1863, the brigade,-composed of the 19th Michigan, the 33d and 85th Indiana, and the 22d Wisconsin Regiments,-numbering one thousand five hundred and eighty-seven men, strengthened by two hun- dred men of the 124th Ohio, with detachments of three regiments of cavalry, about six hundred strong, and a full battery of artillery, all under command of Col. Coburn, moved out from Franklin on a reconnaissance in foree. After a mareh of about four miles, the enemy's outposts were encountered, but they retired before the Union skir- mishers, and the brigade bivouacked there for the night.
Resuming the march on the following day, they found the enemy in foree and strongly posted at Thompson's Station, nine miles from Franklin. At the point where the turnpike crosses the railroad, the enemy opened fire on the forces of Col. Coburn, who immediately formed his men, and ordered a section of the battery to occupy a hill on the left of the road, sending the 19th Michigan and 22d Wis- eonsin to support it. The 33d and 85th Indiana, with the other guns of the battery, took position on a hill on the right. The enemy had two batteries posted on a range of hills, three-fourths of a mile in front and south of the position of the Union troops. The 33d and 85th Indiana made a demonstration on the left of the enemy, to draw him out or charge his batteries, as circumstances might dictate. This movement was made under a most galling fire from the enemy's batteries, and when the station was reached, two entire brigades of dismounted rebel cavalry were disclosed, strongly posted behind stone walls and other del'enses.
As it was found impossible to advanee farther under the severe and incessant fire, the regiments were ordered to retire to their former position on the hill, supported by a squadron of cavalry ; but, for some unexplained reason, the cavalry failed to occupy the supporting position as intended. No sooner had the two regiments commenced to fall back than they were pursued by two rebel regiments, firing rapid
volleys into the retiring Union foree, which was at the same time under fire from the enemy's batteries. But as soon as they reached the hill the Indiana regiments turned upon the rebel pursners and drove them back at double-quick, killing Col. Earle, of Arkansas. The enemy rallied and charged desperately, and were handsomely repulsed ; but it soon became evident that the command of Col. Coburn had here encountered the entire cavalry foree of Bragg's army, consisting of six brigades, respectively commanded by the rebel generals Forrest, Wheeler, French, Armstrong, Jackson, and Martin,-numbering in all at least twelve thousand men, under the command of Gen. Van Dorn.
On the left the enemy, under Gen. Forrest, advanced on the position occupied by the 19th Michigan and its eom- panion regiment, the 22d Wisconsin. At the time the attack was made, the section of artillery posted with these two regiments hurriedly left its position, and at the same time Lient .- Col. Bloodgood, of the Wisconsin regiment, with three companies, left the field without orders, moving off by the left flank, and joining the retreating Union cav- alry and artillery ; but the 19th and the remainder of the 22d Wisconsin bravely poured in their fire and held the assaulters at bay l'or fully twenty minutes. Forrest, cheeked in his advance, made a circuit with his whole force beyond the ground occupied by Col. Coburn, to the east, with the intention of turning his left flank. The 19th and 22d were then moved to the west side of the turnpike, leaving the 33d and 85th Indiana to protect the southern aeelivity of the hill. The four regiments had scarcely formed in line behind the crest when Armstrong's rebel brigade charged from the east and the Texans from the south. The fighting now became terrifie. Three times the enemy charged gallantly up the hill, and thrice were they forced back with severe loss. In one of these charges the colors of the 4th Mississippi were captured by the 19th Michigan.
The fighting became desperate. The enemy, having gained possession of the hill on the east of the road, were sweeping the Northern ranks with canister, and, bravely as the Union troops fought, it soon became evident that the struggle was hopeless. Their ammunition was nearly ex- hausted, and Forrest, who had already eut them off from Franklin, was advaneing on their rear. Col. Coburn faced his command to the north to meet and repel this new dan- ger, and thus Forrest was held in cheek until the Union men had expended their last round of ammunition. Then the brave band fixed bayonets, determined to charge through the enemy's lines and escape ; but just then it was diseov- ered that still another line lay in reserve and still another battery opened on them from an unexpected quarter. Eseape was now hopeless, and, to avoid a further and use- less loss of life, the command surrendered, having lost one hundred and thirteen in killed and wounded. Col. Gilbert had had his horse shot under him in the early part of the engagement, and throughout all the fierce engagement had borne himself most gallantly. When he offered his sword to the Confederate commander, the latter declined to re- ecive it, with the remark that " so brave an officer, eom- manding so gallant a regiment, deserves to retain his arms."
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