Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[587] Major Arnold being detained at Bridgeport by an attack of illness, which rendered him unable to take the field, there is no occasion to make special mention of any officer or man of my command, for every one engaged seemed to perform his whole duty.

No one faltered — there were no stragglers. All are alike entitled to credit — all alike should receive the commendation of their superior officers, the gratitude of their country, and the friends of all may well feel proud of the bravery and gallantry which was exhibited.

Our casualties, it affords me pleasure to say, are slight, our loss being only two killed and four wounded. This exemption from disaster is due to the steepness of the hill up which we charged, the bullets from the enemy's rifles passing harmlessly over our heads. The casualties happened after we reached the crest. We captured five prisoners and forty rifles left on the field by the retreating enemy.

I have the honor to be, Captain, Respectfully yours, etc.,

General orders:

The Colonel Commanding, in adding to the testimony of others to the valor of his troops, renews his thanks to the officers and men of his command for their heroic conduct on the afternoon of October twenty-eighth and the morning of the twenty-ninth. The splendid deeds of that memorable morning need not to be recounted. The glory of the living and the dead is complete and sufficient for the most ambitious. To those brave comrades of all grades who so gallantly responded when called to breast the wall of fire from two thousand muskets, he cannot be too grateful. Yours is the credit — yours is the fame. Let its brilliant lustre never be tarnished either upon the battle-field or in the more quiet routine of duty. You are above jealousy of others or sinister discussions about the appropriation of praise. Your greatest satisfaction will be derived from the consciousness of a perilous duty heroically done.

You have won the title of gallant soldiers — add to it that of honorable and upright men, and your fame shall be perfect, and the most precious legacy you can bequeath to your loved ones at home.

Let us sympathize with the suffering wounded, and cherish the memory of our fallen comrades.

General orders:

The General Commanding division desires to express to his troops his appreciation of the valor shown by them in the action of the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth instant.

This division formed the advance during the march from Bridgeport to this place — the First brigade, under Colonel A. Buschbeck, leading.

Their movements were marked by calmness and resolution. Whatever resistance was made by the enemy was quickly borne down.

During the night of the twenty-eighth to the twenty-ninth instant the rebels made a fierce attack upon the command of General Geary. Our corps was ordered out for his support. The division moved forward on the double-quick, the Second brigade, under Colonel O. Smith, in advance. On the left of the road by which the division must pass to support General Geary, a hill commanding the way was found occupied by two rebel brigades. The Second brigade was ordered to take and hold this position. The Seventy-third Ohio and Thirty-third Massachusetts formed line of battle, and with the greatest determination scaled the precipitous slope, moving over almost impassable ground in the face of rapid volleys.

The One Hundred and Thirty-sixth New-York was now ordered to support the left of the two advancing regiments, and advanced with heroic bravery, as did the Fifty-fifth Ohio, which was to support the right. On the crest a fierce hand-tohand contest ensued. The enemy, although well fortified in a position almost impregnable by nature, could not withstand this most extraordinary bayonet attack, and were forced to inglorious flight, leaving many arms and intrenching tools behind their parapet.

The storming of this hill against such stupendous odds is a brilliant episode of the war, a feat of arms rarely surpassed in history.

Officers and soldiers! by your courage you have gained your badge, a proud distinction. Let your valor preserve unsullied the honor of the White Crescent. By command of

General orders, no. 5.

It is with extreme pleasure that the Major-General Commanding communicates to the troops composing the Eleventh corps, and to the Second division of the Twelfth corps, the subjoined letter from the Major-General commanding the army of the Cumberland, expressive of his appreciation of your distinguished services on the night of the twenty-eighth ultimo.

It is a noble tribute to your good conduct from a brave and devoted soldier.

The General hopes that it will inspire as much satisfaction in the hearts of his officers and men as it has in his own, and that we may all be stimulated by it to renewed efforts to secure the good opinion of our commander, while we also emulate the courage and valor of our companions in arms.