Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[368] courageous in every duty during the day, and every officer and man was so heroic that distinctions would be invidious. Lieutenant Phillips, a most gallant officer, fell at his post of duty, and Lieut. Woodmansee was borne from the field mortally wounded.

The Forty--ninth Ohio was commanded by Lieut.-Col. Blackman, who performed his duty nobly, giving proof of his skill and courage on the field. The manoeuvres of his command under fire, as before stated, showed that firmness and discipline so essential to the glory of our army.

Major Drake occupied a most perilous position, but with unshaken courage he cheered on the extreme left under a cross-fire of infantry and shower of shell and grape.

Adjutant Charles A. Norton was constantly at his post of duty, and showed himself a soldier worthy of his position.

I herewith inclose a list of casualties in this command, which shows twenty-three killed, twelve mortally wounded, eighty-four severely wounded, and one hundred and twenty-seven slightly wounded.

Major S. W. Gross, Brigade — Surgeon, was placed in charge of a depot of wounded, and merits great praise for the skill and energy with which he treated and provided for the hundreds placed under his care.

The medical officers of the regiments were on the field, giving prompt and skilful aid to the wounded of this and other commands.

I beg leave to name Dr. Rodig, Hospital-Steward of the Fifteenth Ohio, whose industry and attention to the wounded excited general admiration, and Dr. Corey, Hospital — Steward, and John Glick, Ward--Master of the Forty-ninth Ohio, who rendered most valuable service.

To the members of the brigade-staff I am under great personal obligations for valuable suggestions on the field. Captain Henry Clay, A. A. G., ever active and prompt in the performance of duty, gave exhibitions of genius and courage worthy of his ancestors.

Lieut. W. C. Turner, Senior Aid-de-Camp, comprehended the responsibility of his position, and bore my orders to every part of the field with the greatest alacrity, and was exposed throughout the day to fearful danger.

Lieut. E. A. Olis, Junior Aid-de-Camp, though indisposed, kept the saddle, and has my warmest thanks for his activity in bearing orders, and for his valuable assistance in the midst of the hottest fire.

Accidentally in command of the brigade, as ranking officer on duty, I disclaim any credit for its brilliant success. Unfortunately Brigadier-Gen. Johnson was at home, prostrated by sickness; but to the thorough discipline and rigid study exacted by him of officers and men, we are indebted for that success and heroic bearing of the command, which has won for it an honorable page in history.

In the name of the brigade, I must thank Gen. McCook for the labor and energy he has exhibited in bringing his division to that state of discipline and skill that renders it at once an honor and an ornament to the armies of the Republic.

I am very respectfully,

sir: The regiment arrived at ten o'clock A. M., on the seventh of April, at the Landing, and marched up the hill, when I received the order of Gen. Grant to start immediately for the scene of action. The regiment marched as fast as possible, and, having received no special directions, directed its course toward the heaviest firing. Having arrived near the line of battle, General McCook ordered the regiment to form the reserve of the centre of his division, and, in case the enemy should throw our lines into confusion, to advance and charge with the bayonet. The regiment took its position about two hundred yards in the rear of the second line of battle.

About this time, neither party advancing or retreating, I asked Gen. McCook for permission to pass with the regiment to the front, and make a bayonet-charge, which was granted. The regiment passed in double column by the centre, and advanced toward the enemy, and within about two hundred yards of his line, when he retreated without stopping to receive the charge; after which the regiment was deployed in line of battle, to give them the benefit of all our rifles.

The whole division then advanced for some time, the Thirty-second Indiana regiment having formed double column by the centre again, and deployed two companies as skirmishers in advance, until Gen. Beauregard in person brought up his reserve against our forward movements, when, by bad management in our squeezed — up position, our skirmishers received fire from regiments behind, right and left, putting them in imminent danger, which caused them to hastily retreat, bringing disorder into the whole regiments for a few minutes, forcing the commander to order a retreat into a ravine, where it was soon formed again, and marched up in double column by the centre, to charge the enemy, supported by only one regiment on its left. After having advanced some time in this way, the regiment was deployed in line of battle, made a charge with the bayonet, and succeeded, after a short and heavy fire, in checking the enemy's advance until reenforcements came up, falling on both flanks of the enemy, supported by batteries, when the whole of our forces advanced again, and finally drove the enemy back — the Thirty-second Indiana regiment making this last advance with four companies deployed as skirmishers, and double column by the centre following. Then the regiment advanced on the line of retreat of the enemy for a mile, when the complete exhaustion of the men compelled me to give them some rest. Here I received orders to rejoin my division near the