Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

At this period of the action the fire on Manning's battery and the Indiana regiment under command, of Captain Noblet, was very close and severe — so much so that Manning's battery was compelled to fall back, which it did with considerable confusion, leaving one piece and caisson, the horses having either been killed or disabled. First Lieut. Whitcomb, Thirtieth Massachusetts, gallantly dashed through the smoke of the enemy's musketry and succeeded in bringing off the caisson. The fearless Indianians secured the piece, and both were turned over to the battery on the field. Capt. Manning quickly rallied his men and went into battery on the right of the Indiana Twenty-first, well supported on the right by the Vermont Seventh, Lieut.-Colonel Callum, (Colonel Roberts having been mortally wounded.) Here this battery did good service. In the mean time the enemy appeared in strong force directly in front of the Indiana Twenty-first, Vermont Seventh, and Massachusetts Thirtieth. At one time these three brave regiments stood face to face with the enemy, within forty yards of each other. For full one hour the contest for this piece of woods was fierce. At one moment the rebel Tennesseeans would seem to have success on their side; the tide would then turn, and the brave Twenty-first Indiana and Thirtieth Massachusetts would exchange a yell with each other, quickly advance and drive the enemy back to the fence and into the corn-field. While this brisk work was going on directly in front, the undaunted Trull, with his battery, was hotly engaged on the right with a full battery of the enemy that had cut its way through a belt of thick timber and approached within one hundred and fifty yards. (This is supposed to have been Symms's celebrated battery.) The Sixth Michigan, under Capt. Clarke, Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, moved up to the support of Nim's battery in elegant order. Its assistance came most fortunately, for it was clear the enemy intended to outflank us at this point. Nobly did Col. Clarke and his command discharge their duty here, as their list of killed and wounded show. This regiment did good service on more than one occasion this day. For individual acts of gallantry I refer the commanding officer to Col. Clarke's report. At this juncture of the contest I ordered Lieut. Trull to fire his three left pieces across the fronts of the Indiana Twenty-first, Massachusetts Thirtieth, and Seventh Vermont. This was the turning point on the right wing. This galling fire of canister, with the terrible discharge of the regiments of musketry, effectually silenced the enemy's fire, and they withdrew again to the fields in the rear. For the valuable aid given by Lieut. Brown and his pieces of artillery on the right in the early part of the engagement, which prevented our being outflanked on the right, I refer to Acting Lieut.-Gol. Clarke's report.

To the report of First Sergeant William Corruth, commanding Everett's battery, marked G, I respectfully solicit the Colonel Commanding's attention. His battery did not form part of my command in the morning, but from the fact one section was sent to me afterwards, and the other fact of its having been supported by troops from the right wing, (Twenty-first Indiana,) accounts for his sending it through me. The number of dead in front of his position indicates the valuable aid his battery rendered on the left. There was very many acts of bravery which could not come under my own observation, therefore I respectfully solicit a careful perusal of the several reports made by the several commanders of regiments and batteries.

I cannot close this report without noticing the conduct of Capt. Kelty, of the Thirtieth regiment, who fell at the head of his brave and active company of Zouaves; once before he had been sent forward to reconnoitre the position of the enemy, drew their fire, fell back with the same coolness and precision that he ever exhibited at drills. He was killed within fifty yards of the enemy's lines. His loss I feel specially and personally. Lieut. Gardener, company K, Thirtieth Massachusetts volunteers, fell wounded severely, yet requested to be left on the field. The command of the Thirtieth Massachusetts fell on Major Whittemore, by its Colonel being assigned to the command of the right wing, and most honorably did he acquit himself of his responsible duties. He was probably more frequently under my eye than any other officer in the wing, and circumstances requiring me to move his regiment more often, he displayed coolness, tact, and military knowledge throughout the day, which well fitted him to command in the field. As for the conduct of the officers and men of his regiment, I refer you to his minute and correct report.

I am specially indebted to the following officers, who served on my staff during the day: Lieut. Tenney, who made a reconnaissance by my order at the commencement of the action, was detailed to serve on the Commanding General's staff. He fell severely wounded by the General's side in ten minutes after. Lieut. Howe, my Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, also fell mortally wounded. Both of these officers were shot in the very thickest of the engagement.

First Lieut. C. A. R. Dimon, who acted through the balance of the day as Chief of my staff, and Second Lieut. Norcross also rendered me every possible aid in the transmittal of orders from one section of the field to another. Lieutenant Dimon joined me after the action commenced from the hospital, where he had been confined for days.

Lieut. Clarke, Sixth Michigan, also acquitted himself handsomely.

I should forget one obligation, did I fail in my report to mention the conduct of Assistant-Surgeon A. F. Holt. He was by my side constantly, when not engaged in his professional duties, ready to transmit any order, transport to the rear, as he did on several occasions, under a hot fire, on his own back, the wounded; or discharge any duty that would contribute towards the success of the day.

The enemy having retreated, I ordered the